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Original poster

Teething 12 month old - would you let him cry it out at night?

31 replies

BambinolovesBeccie · 21/01/2010 12:22

My DS has been teething for over a month (back teeth) but is waking up about 5 times per night every night, usually, 11pm, midnight, 1, 2 and then 5, and if he doesn't fancy going back to sleep then that's it, he wants to get up. This has been going on for 3 weeks.

DH and I take turns to go into him and put a dummy back in (he usually throws it out of the cot then cries), make sure he is ok temperature wise and that he's not gone over on his front (he can't seem to roll back - has always hated it on his tummy). But, I am wondering if this is now a habit rather than teething and him thinking if I throw my dummy, mummy will come in to me. I don't know what to do. Carry on going in until I know the teething is definitely over, or let him cry and settle himself hoping that the habit will be broken.

We are exhausted and I'm finding it very hard to function at work.

Be so grateful for any advice

Thanks you.

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Pennies · 21/01/2010 12:24

no. i'\d give him calpol or similar.

Original poster

BambinolovesBeccie · 21/01/2010 12:29

Pennies, I have given him calpol (not every time he wakes up) but he still wakes up.

OP posts:

neolara · 21/01/2010 12:29

No, if you think there is a strong possibility he is in pain, I wouldn't let him cry. Like Pennies, I would give calpol or neurofen. In fact, I would probably give this to him at the first waking to see if it stopped him waking so frequently.

My ds had terrible trouble with his teeth. To my shame, I didn't really realise how bad it was and tried CC on him. Three weeks in and he was still screaming for 2 hours plus a night. Eventually I realised what was going on and gave him neurofen and at last we all got a bit of sleep. Incidentally, calpol didn't seem to work, neurofen was much better. I've heard other mums say this too.

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OnlyWantsOneFartleBerry · 21/01/2010 12:31

No, if he is teething, then he is in pain. Can you not recolect tooth ache, or perhaps a wisdom tooth coming through?

Give the poor mite some calpol and a cuddle.

CybilRights · 21/01/2010 12:34

Teething can be a really horrid time for all involved. I suppose you have tried teething powder or gel. Works sometimes. My DD likes a small amount of cold water in a bottle that has been in the fridge for a while - think she likes gumming the cold teat.

I agree, I wouldn't leave him screaming his head off for long periods if he is in pain.

BunnyLebowski · 21/01/2010 12:36

No I wouldn't leave a distressed baby who's in pain to cry. It's cruel.

Give him calprofen (I've found it definitely helps dd go back to sleep - more effective than calpol) at the first waking and shush him back over.

I'm going through the teething with dd at the minute so can sympathise but imo teething babies need comfort and reassurance not to be left crying on their own.

littlemisslozza · 21/01/2010 12:40

Whenever DS1 was teething he would end up in our bed at sometime during the night, sometimes for a week at a time. Not ideal, but it meant that we all had a reasonable nights sleep and he got the cuddles he needed. He had Nurofen - much better too. No more teeth to come now thankfully, but DS2 is 5 months so about to start again! DS1 sleeps 12 hours in his own bed too so I wouldn't worry about 'making a rod for your own back' by bringing him to bed, as long as he starts the night in his own.

I wouldn't leave him to cry.

skidoodle · 21/01/2010 12:40

No, I wouldn't leave a child in pain to "cry it out".

Agree with the others, I would use calpol, gel, teething powders and cuddles.

Is he teething constantly? I know it can go on for months, but usually it's some nights on, some nights off. Waking so many times every night does seem quite bad. I might try using Nurofen too if it was that constant.

Poor little mite

Original poster

BambinolovesBeccie · 21/01/2010 12:41

He's never screaming. He cries but not a screaming one. This is where I am getting myself in a tizz. I gave him calpol and it did settle him for the first few nights then it didn't and that's where I thought a habit of waking at a particular time might be forming, and of course, I can't give him calpol every time he wakes up. I feel bloody shit now. I should try something stronger.

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messygarden · 21/01/2010 12:43

Not for everyone, but I would stick him in your bed.

LilRedWG · 21/01/2010 12:46

Anbesol liquid on his sore gums. It is wonderous stuff.

mommymeggie · 21/01/2010 12:46

I went through the same thing with ours at that age (she's 19 months now) and we stuck her in our bed after calpol. We put her down in her cot for nap and after a while she went back in her bed. Isn't the best remedy but it worked for us and we all got a night's sleep.

Original poster

BambinolovesBeccie · 21/01/2010 12:52

Skidoodle, he isn't a poor little mite thank you very much, he is a much loved baby. I would never leave himn screaming in pain. I never said he was screaming at all. The fact that he wakes at the same time every night made me think it could be habit now rather than teething.

I will go and by some baby Nurofen I think and try that tonight.

I don't think I'd sleep if he was in bed with us so cosleeping is out.

Anyway, thank you all.

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Original poster

BambinolovesBeccie · 21/01/2010 12:53

.....buy, rather.

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tinierclanger · 21/01/2010 12:56

Nurofen definitely works better for teething in our experience, probably because it's anti-inflammatory. Give him the benefit of the doubt, try the Nurofen for a couple of nights before assuming it's habit.

People/children do tend to wake at the same times every night as that's what happens in the sleep cycle, but normally they roll over and go back to sleep. But if something disturbs them at that point (eg pain), they wake properly.

Original poster

BambinolovesBeccie · 21/01/2010 12:58

tinierclanger, thank you. I will buy some this afternoon.

Sorry if I bit at anyone, I am very cranky.

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tinierclanger · 21/01/2010 13:01

Oh, and I forgot to say - massive sympathy on the sleep deprivation. It is horrible and of course it will make you snappy. Hope the Nurofen helps.

Flightattendant · 21/01/2010 13:03

No, never. Sorry.

There's always a reason they do this and if it's because they need you there, you just have to be there.

I know it's hard to juggle work etc but you'll not be doing this sleepless thing for ever. Babies need you when they feel bad, and you should go to them...

skidoodle · 21/01/2010 13:10

"Skidoodle, he isn't a poor little mite thank you very much, he is a much loved baby. "

So, so sorry OP. I just meant poor little thing because he's teething, not because he wasn't loved, or you were doing anything wrong

I always feel so sorry for DD when she's teething, and worse for my DN because he seems to teeth really hard and does go through stages like your DS where he wakes multiple times a night for weeks at a time.

It just seems so unfair that they have to go through this pain when they are so little and don't understand. My DD is 22 mos now and it's a bit easier because she does understand it a bit and can tell us when she's sore (although sometimes I think she's just looking for a bit of "special medicine", so not actually that reliable )

"The fact that he wakes at the same time every night made me think it could be habit now rather than teething. "

Yes, you could well be right about that. That's why I was asking whether the teething was a constant thing, or you thought it was intermittent, but had led to regular waking. Is it easy for you to tell when he's woken with teething pain and when he's just woken up for other reasons?

Again, I'm so sorry you thought I was getting at you. I don't think you have any reason at all to feel bad about what you've been doing. And I can quite appreciate that if this waking is now a habit that you want to see if you can help him to stop it. Apart from anything else, the better he sleeps the more chance he has of sleeping through the pain of growing more teeth.

Original poster

BambinolovesBeccie · 21/01/2010 13:26

Skidoodle, I'm so sorry for snapping. I am just so tired and emotional.

I am definitely going to give the nurofen a try tonight. I have tried everything else, calpol, powders, gels but he is dribbling so much, it isn't sticking IYSWIM.

Sorry again, and thank you for your advice

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skidoodle · 21/01/2010 14:30

Good luck for tonight Bambino, hope you get some sleep

busymummy3 · 21/01/2010 22:22

I used Anbesol liquid on cotton bud to wipe it gently on gum sometimes that was enough and like lilred WG says it is really good and seems to work instantly. it is better than the gels as i found it always just slid off gum,then swallowed.

Original poster

BambinolovesBeccie · 22/01/2010 22:15

Quick update. We tried the babynurofen last night and DS only woke up once!! Gave him half a dose before bed at 7, then he woke at 1am so gave him another half dose and he went through till 5.15 - was wide awake and wanted to play by then so we got up. Mad I know, but after weeks of waking 5 times per night, it's definite progress.

Thank you all so much for suggesting the nurofen.

OP posts:

tinierclanger · 22/01/2010 22:17

Yay! Hope tonight goes well too.

Original poster

BambinolovesBeccie · 22/01/2010 22:26

Thanks TC!

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