7 Reasons Your Baby Won't Sleep and How to Cope
Sleep when the baby sleeps” is sound advice to heed if your newborn is really getting some sleep.
What if, instead of catching some Zzz's, you spend more time staring at the walls with your kid who has big eyes?
Your little one will have an unusual pattern of waking and sleeping, and it's different in every baby.
Scroll down to know some typical reasons why some babies prefer the nightlife and what you can do to cope with them and return to the sleep train.
Reasons Your Baby Won’t Settle at Bedtime
Here are the different causes for battling sleep:
1. Overtired
Exhaustion for a mother can be like falling asleep while scrolling her phone, but it is not the same for your little bundle of joy.
Babies often have a specific period of time during which they are ready to fall asleep. If you accidentally skip that time, they might get overtired, which results in irritability, crankiness, and trouble settling down.
2. Not Tired Enough
Apart from that, your baby is simply not willing to sleep because they still have too much energy left. This can be a one-time event caused by something like a recent nap lasting longer than ever, or it can be a sign that the baby is growing and their sleeping patterns are also evolving.
3. Overstimulation
No doubt you have heard this thousands of times: turn off screens an hour before you go to bed in order to sleep faster and enjoy quality sleep.
The same applies to your baby, but it is not just about screens.
Squeaky toys, loud music, or stimulating activities can make them feel overwhelmed and incapable of calming down for sleep.
4. Separation Anxiety
Is your child like a shadow, continuously crying to be held and never wanting you to leave them alone for a second?
It’s because they’re suffering from some sort of separation anxiety, which can develop at bedtime as well.
It is very common in babies of 8 to 18 months old. Your baby won’t sleep, as they don’t want you to go away.
5. Circadian Rhythm
After 6 weeks, infants start to develop their circadian rhythm. It is a 24-hour cycle that regulates our bodies. By the time they are 3 to 6 months old, these circadian rhythms get fully developed to introduce a sleep pattern in them. Since every baby is unique, some might not develop a true sleep schedule at an appropriate time.
6. Hunger
Most babies gain triple their birth weight when they are one year old. Your child grows rapidly during the first few years of life. All that development requires a lot of nourishment. Make sure your kid has the right number of meals per day according to his/her age and the amount they eat during every feed, whether they are being fed by bottles or directly by breasts.
7. Illness
Sometimes, the symptoms of an underlying medical condition can impact your baby’s sleep. Observe your baby’s behavior and look for symptoms like ear infections or colds.
Steps to Take When Your Baby Fights Sleep
The actions you take in response depend on the reasons for your baby’s restless sleep, but the below-given tips are valuable for building a positive sleep environment.
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Be familiar with your baby’s sleep signals.
Monitor closely for clues that your baby is sleepy and lay them on the bed within a couple of minutes of signs like rubbing their eye, yawning, not making eye contact, fussing, or not being interested in playing with you and the toys. Remember that young babies may have waking periods of 30 to 45 minutes only.
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Plan a bedtime ritual and stick to it. For example, bathing and cuddling are different ways that can help a child to sleep. Do the same activities in the exact same order at the same time every night.
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Develop day-night habits by playing and bonding with your baby and exposing them to sunlight for some time (not the young one, as they have sensitive skin, which is prone to burns and long-term sun damage). It will make them less active and more sedate by the end of the day.
- Create a sleep schedule in your mind. Note down their overall sleep needs and make sure they’re given sufficient time to get plenty of sleep.
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Make certain your baby is getting adequate feeds for a full day. Specifically, newborns need to be fed every 2 to 3 hours. As your baby grows, the duration between feedings will also increase.
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Give your baby a conducive space to sleep. You can use blackout or dark color curtains, white noise, or a soft bed to foster a comfortable environment.
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React to your baby’s sleep difficulties with patience and mindfulness. They can read your emotions, so interact with them gently or figure out what methods can calm them down.
Everything Considered
Sleep struggles are normal in babies, but they won’t last forever. Babies go through different phases, and with time, they naturally settle into a better sleep routine.
If your baby is having an irregular sleep pattern for a long time, don’t hesitate to ask for professional help. Also, be patient, trust the process, and take care of yourself too.
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