Sleep Training During Teething or Illness
Short Answer :
Sleep training does not permanently fail during teething or illness, but these periods often require temporary adjustments, not rigid continuation of training rules.
Why Sleep Falls Apart During Disruptions
Teething and illness affect sleep because they:
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Increase discomfort or pain
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Disrupt feeding and naps
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Fragment sleep cycles
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Lower a child’s tolerance for frustration
These changes are physiological, not behavioral.
(Foundation: Why Sleep Training Fails)
Teething and Sleep Training
Teething can cause:
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Increased night wakings
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Shorter naps
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Difficulty settling
Helpful principles:
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Address pain first
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Maintain routines when possible
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Avoid introducing new long-term sleep props
Teething-related setbacks are usually temporary.
(Related: Night Wakings After Sleep Training)
Illness and Sleep Training
During illness, sleep training should be paused or softened.
Focus on:
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Comfort
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Hydration
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Recovery
Once health stabilizes, sleep training can resume without starting from zero.
(Read reassurance: Is Sleep Training Harmful?)
Should You Stop Sleep Training Completely?
Stopping entirely is rarely necessary.
Instead:
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Respond more quickly
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Offer comfort without creating new habits
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Return to normal responses once symptoms resolve
Consistency over time matters more than a few disrupted nights.
(Related: What Is Sleep Training?)
How to Restart After Teething or Illness
Restarting is usually faster than the initial process.
Helpful steps:
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Re-establish bedtime routine
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Reinstate previous response patterns
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Expect mild protest for a few nights
Progress often returns quickly.
(Read next: Why Sleep Training Fails)
Common Mistakes During Disruptions
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Introducing new sleep props “just for now”
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Changing bedtime routines entirely
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Expecting immediate recovery
These extend disruption unnecessarily.
Most Parents Also Struggle With
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Knowing when to pause vs continue
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Fear of undoing progress
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Prolonged regressions after illness
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