For centuries, grandmas and doctors have chalked up night waking to teething pain. There’s no question, teething can make gums throb—and make your child want to bite on everything to help push the tooth through the surface. But is this really pain, or just discomfort?

In truth, teething happens—on and off—for many months. So the pain can’t be so bad, or all kids would be up every night for months. Besides, most kids show no pain during the day. In short, teething is usually just an annoyance: a bit of throbbing that is easy to ignore during the day, but a bit more bothersome when lying flat in a dark, quiet room.

The good news is good, rumbly white noise is usually all you need to distract your baby and help her sleep right though crummy-feeling gums. However, if you think discomfort is keeping your child awake, ask your doctor about giving a good dose of ibuprofen or acetaminophen thirty minutes before bed (it takes a little time to work). And, if you know that your child is going through teething, keep a few wash clothes in the freezer—whose corner was dipped in apple juice and then frozen—to let your munchkin chew on to help the throbbing while you’re waiting for the medicine to work.

About Dr. Harvey Karp

Dr. Harvey Karp, one of America’s most trusted pediatricians, is the founder of Happiest Baby and the inventor of the groundbreaking SNOO Smart Sleeper. After years of treating patients in Los Angeles, Dr. Karp vaulted to global prominence with the release of the bestselling Happiest Baby on the Block and Happiest Toddler on the Block. His celebrated books and videos have since become standard pediatric practice, translated into more than 20 languages and have helped millions of parents. Dr. Karp’s landmark methods, including the 5 S’s for soothing babies, guide parents to understand and nurture their children and relieve stressful issues, like new-parent exhaustion, infant crying, and toddler tantrums.

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Disclaimer: The information on our site is NOT medical advice for any specific person or condition. It is only meant as general information. If you have any medical questions and concerns about your child or yourself, please contact your health provider.