One of the major reasons for sleeplessness in toddlers is teething problem, which can often become painful. The gums become tender and painful making the kids restless and unable to eat. The pain and irritation make the kids cry and gnash their gums. All these uneasiness and discomfort makes the kids sleepless at night.
There is nothing much the parents can do to stop the pain and discomfort. However, certain steps can make the pain bearable and enable the kid to have a comfortable unbroken sleep.
Teething can cause discomfort even without pain. If there is no pain, and still the kid is unable to have unbroken sleep or not falling asleep, then take it as a normal process. Don’t change the sleep routine just because the kid has some trouble in sleeping. Persist with the existing routine, and the kid will overcome the problem quite soon. However, if you change the routine now, you will have difficulty in reestablishing it.
However, if the teething is painful, as it often happens, then you have to do something to assuage the pain. The best method is to give him/her something plump and cold to chew on, such as a teething ring, bagel, or if nothing else put a washcloth in the freezer for a minute and then let the kid chew on it. Make sure that the teething ring is gel filled. If a plastic teething ring is frozen too hard, it can hurt the kid’s already swollen gums.
Sleeplessness can also occur due to fever or some other related symptoms besides teething. In that case you have to show the kid to a doctor.
Posted on April 5th, 2008 by admin
Filed under: Baby, Child Care, Sleep, Toddler
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