My Baby Grinds Teeth While Sleeping
The short answer
Teeth grinding (bruxism) is surprisingly common in babies and toddlers, affecting up to 30% of children. It often begins when babies first get teeth and may continue through early childhood. While the sound can be unsettling, occasional grinding is usually harmless and most children outgrow it by age 6. It may be related to teething discomfort, jaw development, or simply exploring their new teeth.
By Age
What to expect by age
Grinding often starts when babies first get teeth, around 6-10 months. Your baby is exploring their new teeth and learning how their jaw works. The grinding may be a way of soothing sore gums or simply discovering the sensation of teeth touching. It usually happens during sleep but can also occur while awake. As long as your baby isn't causing damage to their teeth or seeming distressed, this is developmentally normal.
Toddlers this age often grind their teeth during sleep as their jaw and bite continue to develop. Some grinding is related to teething molars, which emerge around 13-19 months and can be quite uncomfortable. Stress, changes in routine, or illness can temporarily increase grinding. If your toddler grinds their teeth frequently and you notice wear on the teeth, jaw pain, or headaches, mention it to your pediatrician or dentist.
Teeth grinding remains common in toddlers and may be associated with sleep-disordered breathing, misaligned bite, or stress. If your toddler snores, breathes through their mouth, or has restless sleep, these could be contributing factors worth discussing with your doctor. Most toddlers who grind their teeth will stop on their own by early childhood as their adult teeth come in and their jaw fully develops.
What Should You Do?
When to take action
- Your baby or toddler grinds their teeth occasionally during sleep
- Grinding started around the time new teeth were coming in
- Your child's teeth don't show significant wear or damage
- Your child doesn't complain of jaw pain or headaches (if old enough to communicate)
- Grinding happens during sleep transitions or periods of teething, illness, or routine changes
- Grinding is happening every night and is very loud or prolonged
- You notice wear on your child's teeth, chipped teeth, or changes in their bite
- Your child complains of jaw pain, headaches, or tooth sensitivity
- Grinding is accompanied by snoring, mouth breathing, or restless sleep
- You're concerned about the intensity or frequency of grinding
- Your child has broken or severely damaged teeth from grinding
- Grinding is accompanied by severe pain, swelling, or inability to open the jaw
- Your child has difficulty breathing during sleep, turns blue, or has pauses in breathing
Sources
Related Resources
Related Sleep Concerns
Baby Only Napping 30 Minutes
Short naps of 30-45 minutes are extremely common in babies under 6 months. Your baby is waking at the end of a single sleep cycle and has not yet learned to link cycles together during the day. This is developmentally normal and typically improves on its own between 5-7 months as the brain matures.
Baby Fighting Sleep
A baby who fights sleep is usually either overtired, undertired, or going through a developmental leap. It can feel exhausting, but it is very common and does not mean anything is wrong. Adjusting wake windows and creating a calming pre-sleep routine are the most effective strategies.
My Baby Moans in Their Sleep
Moaning, groaning, and grunting during sleep are extremely common in babies and are almost always harmless. Babies spend a large proportion of their sleep in active (REM) sleep, during which they naturally vocalize, twitch, and make facial expressions. These sounds typically decrease as your baby's nervous system matures over the first few months.
My Baby Naps Too Much
How much daytime sleep is "too much" depends heavily on your baby's age. Newborns naturally nap frequently and for long stretches, while older babies and toddlers gradually consolidate daytime sleep into fewer, shorter naps. Excessive daytime napping becomes a concern mainly if it consistently interferes with nighttime sleep or if it signals an underlying issue like illness.
Baby Needs Rocking to Sleep
Rocking your baby to sleep is a perfectly natural and loving way to help them drift off. It is not a bad habit - it is responsive parenting. If rocking is working for your family, there is no need to change anything. If you would like your baby to learn to fall asleep with less help, gentle, gradual approaches work best.
My Baby Only Sleeps When Being Held
It is completely normal and biologically expected for babies, especially newborns, to prefer sleeping while being held. Babies are born with a strong instinct to stay close to their caregiver for warmth, comfort, and safety. While this is not a problem to "fix," most families eventually need their baby to sleep independently, and gentle, gradual transitions can help when you are ready.