You’re up for the third time tonight, rocking your fussy baby in the dim glow of the nightlight. They tug at their ear, gnaw on their drooly hand, and let out a whimper that turns into a full-on wail. Teething, you think. It has to be. Why else would they be waking up so much?

Sound familiar? Many parents have been in this exact moment, blaming teething for sudden sleep struggles. But what if teething isn’t the real culprit? What if something else is at play? Let’s dive into why teething gets all the blame—and what’s actually going on with your baby’s sleep.

Why Teething Gets Blamed for Every Sleep Issue—And What’s Really Going On

Teething has long been the go-to explanation for every sleep disruption in babies and toddlers. Your baby is suddenly waking up every hour? Teething. Fussier than usual? Teething. Refusing to nap? Definitely teething. But is teething really the cause of all these sleep struggles, or is it just an easy scapegoat?

The Reality of Teething Discomfort

Let’s be clear—teething can be uncomfortable. Some babies experience drooling, gum irritation, and increased biting or chewing behaviors. Occasionally, they might have a low-grade fever or a slightly disrupted sleep pattern for a day or two. But teething is not a chronic, weeks-long sleep saboteur.

Most babies start teething around 4–6 months, and they continue cutting teeth well into their toddler years. If teething truly disrupted sleep every time a new tooth was coming in, babies would never sleep! The reality is that teething discomfort comes in waves and is often mild compared to other developmental changes happening in your baby’s body and brain.

Why Teething Gets the Blame

1. It’s an Easy Answer – Parents naturally want to understand why their baby is waking up more or fussier than usual. Teething provides a simple, tangible explanation, but it’s often not the real reason.
   
   
2. Coincidence with Sleep Regressions – The timing of teething often overlaps with major developmental leaps and sleep regressions (like the 4-month or 9-month regression). During these times, babies wake more frequently due to cognitive and motor skill advancements, not necessarily because of sore gums.
   
   
3. Temporary Sleep Disruptions – Babies have good and bad nights, just like adults. A random night of frequent wake-ups doesn’t always have a specific cause and doesn’t always need fixing.
   
   
4. Placebo Effect of Remedies – Many parents offer teething remedies (like cold teethers or pain relievers) on rough nights. If sleep improves, it’s easy to credit the remedy and assume teething was the culprit, even if the wake-ups were unrelated.
   
   

What’s Actually Causing the Sleep Issues?

If your baby is suddenly struggling with sleep, teething might be a small factor, but chances are other things are at play:

• Sleep Regressions – Developmental leaps and increased awareness can temporarily disrupt sleep.
• Hunger or Growth Spurts – Babies may need more calories, especially during growth spurts.
• Sleep Associations – If your baby relies on rocking, feeding, or being held to fall asleep, they might struggle with self-soothing when they wake between sleep cycles.
• Separation Anxiety – Around 6–9 months, babies develop a stronger sense of attachment, leading to more night wakings.
• Overtiredness or Schedule Shifts – Babies thrive on consistency, and even small changes to naps and bedtimes can lead to disrupted nights.

The Bottom Line

Teething can cause mild discomfort, but it’s rarely the main reason for prolonged sleep disruptions. Instead of assuming every rough night is teething-related, take a step back and look at the bigger picture. Addressing sleep habits and developmental changes will do far more for your baby’s rest than simply blaming new teeth.

If sleep struggles persist, there are gentle and effective strategies to help your baby get the rest they need—without waiting months for all those teeth to come in!

PS Great news: ff you don't wait for alllllllll the teeth to come in (and probably well beyond), you don't have to. Book a free call and find out how you can get your little one sleeping through the night in two weeks or less, guaranteed. 

If you’ve ever Googled “why is my baby suddenly not sleeping?” at 2 a.m., you’re not alone. You’ve probably heard of the infamous 4-month sleep regression. But what about the others? Sleep regressions commonly occur at 9 months, 12 months, 18 months, and again around 3 years old (or whenever a child transitions from a crib to an open bed).

What is a Sleep Regression?

A sleep regression is a period when a baby or toddler, who was previously sleeping well, suddenly starts waking up frequently, resisting naps, or struggling with bedtime—often out of nowhere. Unlike teething, there’s no obvious physical cause, like pain or illness. (And honestly? Most sleep disruptions blamed on teething aren’t actually caused by erupting teeth.)

Instead, sleep regressions typically happen when a child is experiencing a major developmental leap. At 4 months, babies’ sleep shifts from a newborn pattern (where they can doze off in a noisy room) to a more structured sleep cycle that includes REM sleep. Their increased social awareness means they now have a serious case of FOMO—so you may need to take them to a quiet space to eat and sleep.

Sleep Regressions by Age
 
4-Month Sleep Regression

What’s happening: Babies transition from newborn sleep cycles to more adult-like sleep patterns, waking up more frequently between cycles.

How to handle it: This is a great time to establish strong sleep habits and routines. Teaching independent sleep skills can help them settle between cycles.

9-Month Sleep Regression

What’s happening: Around this time, babies develop separation anxiety, start crawling, and pull up to stand. Many wake up to practice their new skills or check that you’re still nearby.

How to handle it: Give plenty of practice time during the day for new motor skills, provide extra reassurance, and reinforce a consistent bedtime routine.

12-Month Sleep Regression

What’s happening: Taking those first steps and the transition to fewer naps can cause night wakings or nap strikes. Some toddlers also begin testing boundaries.

How to handle it: Stick to a predictable schedule and avoid dropping naps too soon. Encourage soothing techniques that don’t involve rocking or feeding to sleep.

18-Month Sleep Regression

What’s happening: Toddlers develop their own agendas, test boundaries, and experience a surge in independence. Many are also running and jumping.

How to handle it: Stay consistent with bedtime rules, offer extra reassurance, and avoid making big sleep changes during this phase.

Crib-to-Bed Transition Sleep Regression

What’s happening: Moving from the security of a crib to the freedom of a bed can be overwhelming. Toddlers often get out of bed repeatedly, test limits, or struggle with falling asleep without the familiar crib enclosure.

How to handle it: If you haven’t transitioned yet, toddler-proof the room first. Use a doorknob cover to keep them from leaving at will, and never introduce the habit of lying down with them to fall asleep—unless you want a long-term bed partner!

How to Get Through a Sleep Regression

If you haven’t sleep trained yet, now is the perfect time.

Counterintuitively, sleep training actually builds confidence. When a child knows they can fall asleep and stay asleep on their own, they feel secure in the knowledge that you’ll come back when sleep time is done. For babies who rely on an adult to sleep, sleep becomes an anxiety-ridden experience because they have no control over their rest.

If you’ve already sleep trained, the good news is that sleep regressions tend to be shorter and less severe. If your child suddenly starts waking up at night, first check for physical discomfort—illness, temperature issues, or a dirty diaper. If everything checks out, reinforce your existing sleep training method (whether CIO, timed checks, or the chair method).

The key is consistency. Most kids return to great sleep in just 2-3 nights.

PS If your family is stuck in a sleep regression, you’re not alone. I can help. Set up a free consult, and let’s get you unstuck in two weeks or less--guaranteed.

Never before released: Meet Abby and get advice on how to prevent and treat the 4-month sleep regression.

And if your baby is like many babies and has a serious case of FOMO, don't panic. Set up a free consult to get some advice and see if coaching is right for your family.  

Dear Abby,

How long do you normally give a schedule adjustment before deciding whether you think it's working? We had a rough night with the baby last night and I feel like I did everything "right" yesterday — all three naps were on time and I put her to bed early last night. She woke up and got herself back to sleep in a few minutes at about midnight; but then woke up at 2 and cried off and on until I went in at 3a. 


The confounding factor: She started flipping onto her belly on Sunday. When I went in at 3a she was on her belly and crying, and I'm wondering if she was upset because she didn't know how to flip onto her back. I will say, when I went in at 7a this morning, she was sleeping happily on her belly, so maybe she came to terms with it quickly?? She also rolled belly-to-back for the first time while playing this morning, so who knows??

Thanks, 

Anna, mom to 5 month old baby S

Welcome to developmental leaps. They are exciting but they can really mess with sleep! The good news is that the disturbance will be temporary if you are consistent in your response. In other words, refrain from rewarding the unwanted behavior.  

In the case of this particular developmental leap, rolling, this mom did perfectly. She left her baby alone to sort it out. She could have gone in sooner to flip her baby over onto her back again... but the baby might well have rolled back onto her stomach again and cried all over again. You can certainly try rolling her back and if it works, great, but if she keeps rolling back, there's nothing to do but let her figure it out.

The best way to help takes time but it is to give her lots and lots of floor time to practice her rolling skills. Limit your baby's time in containment devices such as swings, bouncers, exersaucers, Bumbos, Jumparoos as much as possible. This baby learned to roll back to her belly just three days after rolling to her stomach but it can sometimes take a month or longer. A clean blanket on the floor is always the ideal place for a baby to play unless there is a toddler or pet around who poses a risk to her safety. In that case, I recommend a Pack n Play for safety if there is not an adult closely supervising her. Toddlers can hurt an infant very, very quickly and it's not fair to expect them to know better. Same with animals. If you can create physical boundaries to keep them apart, I highly recommend doing so.  

In terms of safe sleeping, the American Academy of Pediatrics says that once a baby can roll onto his back indepdently, it is safe to leave him there. This typically happens between 4 and 6 months of age. The important thing is that you make sure that the crib has nothing in it but a tight-fitting bottom sheet and perhaps a pacifier, if desired. Bumpers, soft toys, and blankets are dangerous for babies. A sleep sack is safe but a swaddle -- once a baby can roll -- is not.  

The good news is that once babies grow accustomed to rolling, they often sleep more soundly on their stomachs. Assuming you have not been rewarding her new wakings, you may well experience better sleep for the whole family once baby learns to sleep on her belly. 

If you want your family to receive all the benefits of being well-rested but need a little help getting there, schedule a free consult and to get the sleep you deserve.