September 11, 2025

Teething is not for the faint of heart.

Hearing your baby scream-cry — to the point that you know their vocal cords must hurt — all because they’re in pain and don’t know how to soothe it or express it… it absolutely shatters you.

We have tried all the tricks: teethers, Tylenol, gum massages, breast milk, breastmilk popsicles, a cold wet rag he can chew. You name it, we’ve tried it. At night he just wants us — but also doesn’t, because he’s so sad and tired he can’t even function.

Mike and I swap in and out until we can’t stand the crying anymore. We’ve resorted to car rides, long walks, and co-sleeping. When he finally falls asleep, we fist bump like champions — not because we won, but because we’re just so relieved he’s relaxed.

Of course, his teething has also demolished every ounce of sleep training and scheduling we worked so hard to accomplish. Before last night, I was running purely on two-hour stretches of sleep and an IV drip of caffeine.

Thank God for my mom. She came into town and many times I’ve just handed him off so I could take a second. Or a nap. Or both.

What Teething Has Taught Us (So Far)

• We are stronger than 3 a.m. tears.
• We’re getting plenty of exercise walking him around the neighborhood.
• We’re meeting all the neighbors (even the ones who come outside in pajamas to ask if everything is okay).
• We’re finding hidden gems, like the little park that’s perfectly maintained but rarely visited.
• We are stretching our marriage muscles — because teething is a true test of partnership (more on that in another post).
• We are learning to cling to gratitude in the tiny reprieve moments, like extra snuggles on contact naps.

And here’s the truth: I secretly love that he wants me. That I can soothe him like no one else can. That even when I’m exhausted and running on fumes, he leans on me.

I’m grateful. But this is hard. Teething is hard.

Pray for us. Send me your old wives’ tales. And if you see me walking the block at 2 a.m., just wave. I’ll wave back — if I can find the strength to lift my coffee cup.