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.
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By Age
What to expect by age
6-12 months
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.
12-18 months
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.
18-36 months
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
Trust your instincts. If something feels wrong, reach out to your pediatrician.
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Related Sleep Concerns
How Long Should Baby Be Awake Between Naps?
The ideal awake time between naps (called a "wake window") increases as your baby grows. Newborns may only handle 45-90 minutes awake, while toddlers can manage 4-6 hours. Getting wake windows right is one of the most effective ways to improve nap quality, because both too-short and too-long wake times lead to poor sleep.
Is a Bath Before Bed Really Necessary?
A nightly bath is not medically necessary and some babies with sensitive skin do better with less frequent bathing. However, a warm bath can be a powerful sleep cue because the subsequent body temperature drop triggers melatonin production. If you include a bath, keep it calm and warm rather than stimulating.
How Long Should the Bedtime Routine Be?
An ideal bedtime routine for babies and toddlers is 20-30 minutes. Shorter routines may not give enough time to wind down, while routines longer than 45 minutes can become a stalling tactic. Consistency in the routine order matters more than exact length.
Is My Baby's Bedtime Too Early?
For most babies over 3 months, bedtime between 6:00-8:00 PM is appropriate. A bedtime that is too early can cause early morning wakings (before 6 AM) or long periods of wakefulness in the middle of the night. However, during nap transitions or on days when naps were short, an earlier-than-usual bedtime helps prevent overtiredness.
Is My Baby's Bedtime Too Late?
For babies over 3-4 months, consistently going to bed after 8:30-9:00 PM may result in overtiredness, which paradoxically makes it harder to fall asleep and stay asleep. Cortisol rises when babies are overtired, leading to more night wakings and early mornings. Moving bedtime earlier, even by 15-30 minutes, often improves overnight sleep quality.
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.