By Paola Mendoza, Certified Pediatric Sleep Consultant (CPSM) · Last updated October 2026
Quick answer: Teething can make sleep rougher for a few nights while a tooth is coming through, but it rarely explains weeks of night wakings. Most teething discomfort happens in the few days before and after a tooth breaks the gum. If your baby has been sleeping poorly for weeks, or wakes at the same times every night and settles the moment you help, teething probably isn't the main cause.
Your baby is drooling, chewing on everything and waking up at night. Everyone, from your mother-in-law to the pediatrician's waiting room, says the same thing: "It's the teeth." Sometimes it is. But teething gets blamed for a lot of sleep problems it didn't cause, and while you wait for it to pass, the real issue keeps going.
When do babies start teething?
Most babies get their first tooth around 6 months, but anywhere from 4 to 15 months is normal. Most children have all 20 baby teeth by about age 3. That's a lot of teeth, which is exactly why "it's teething" can feel like the answer to every bad night for three years.
Signs your baby is teething
Extra drool. Sometimes with a mild rash on the chin.
Chewing and gnawing. Fingers, toys, the crib rail, your shoulder.
Swollen or tender gums. You might see or feel the tooth right under the surface.
Fussiness. Especially in the days right before the tooth comes through.
A slightly higher temperature. Slightly, not a fever.
What teething doesn't cause
Teething doesn't cause a true fever, diarrhea, a runny nose that lasts for days or weeks of broken sleep. If your baby has a temperature of 100.4°F or higher, seems sick or isn't eating, call your pediatrician. Don't assume it's the teeth.
When do the teeth usually come in?
| Teeth | Typical age |
|---|---|
| Bottom front teeth | About 6 to 10 months |
| Top front teeth | About 8 to 12 months |
| Teeth next to the front teeth | About 9 to 16 months |
| First molars | About 13 to 19 months |
| Canines | About 16 to 23 months |
| Second molars | About 23 to 33 months |
Want a plan built for your baby?
The Restful Nights Plan gives you a custom sleep plan and schedule for your baby, a live call to walk through it, and 14 days of daily messaging with me while you put it into practice. It's the plan most families choose.
See the Restful Nights PlanEvery baby is on their own timeline. These ranges are typical, not a schedule your baby has to follow.
Is it the teeth or something else?
A few questions help you tell the difference:
How long has it been going on? Teething pain comes and goes with each tooth. Weeks of nightly wake-ups point to something else.
Is your baby uncomfortable during the day too? Real teething pain doesn't only show up at 2:00 a.m. A baby who is happy all day and wakes at night is usually not in pain.
Does your baby settle the second you help? If the same rocking, bottle or feed puts them right back to sleep every time, that usually means they need that help to fall back asleep, not that their gums hurt.
Are the wake-ups at the same times every night? Predictable wake-ups are more often about schedule or how your baby falls asleep at bedtime. Here's why some babies wake up every 2 hours.
How to help your baby sleep while teething
Offer something cold to chew during the day. A chilled (not frozen) teething ring or a cold washcloth can help before naps and bedtime.
Ask your pediatrician about pain relief. They can tell you what's safe for your baby's age and weight. Skip teething gels with benzocaine and teething necklaces. The FDA warns against both.
Comfort your baby, then keep your plan. It's okay to go in, soothe them and help them feel better. Try to keep the same schedule and the same bedtime routine so you're not starting habits you don't want once the tooth is in.
Watch the schedule. An uncomfortable baby who also skips a nap reaches bedtime overtired. An earlier bedtime on rough days helps.
Teething and sleep FAQ
Can teething cause night wakings?
Yes, but usually only for a few nights around the time a tooth comes through. If your baby has been waking every night for weeks, teething is rarely the whole reason.
How long does teething affect sleep?
Research suggests most teething discomfort happens in a short window, roughly a few days before and a few days after a tooth breaks through the gum. Molars can take a little longer.
Does teething cause a fever?
Teething can raise your baby's temperature slightly, but it doesn't cause a true fever. A temperature of 100.4°F or higher usually means something else is going on, so call your pediatrician.
Should I change my baby's sleep routine while they're teething?
Comfort your baby and check with your pediatrician about pain relief, but try to keep the same schedule, the same routine and the same way your baby falls asleep. New habits started during teething tend to stay long after the tooth is in.
Keep reading: The 18 Month Sleep Regression: Why It Happens and How Long It Lasts
Been blaming the teeth for weeks?
If the wake-ups keep going long after the tooth is in, something else is going on. Let's figure out what's really keeping your baby up, before you spend a dollar.
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