3 reasons why baby isn’t sleeping well

Does your baby keep you up at night? Are you having difficulty putting your child to sleep? Night wakings are completely normal for newborns, as they feed every two to three hours. But as baby gets a little older, there should be minimal sleep interruptions. If your baby is six months old or older and is still not sleeping through the night, here are possible reasons why.

1 He relies on you to fall asleep

There’s a good chance your baby isn’t sleeping well because of what you do when you’re together. It could be that you nurse him to sleep, rock him to sleep, or hold him until he nods off to dreamland. Because of these, he learns that sleep happens when you’re around. When you aren’t, sleep eludes him.

Establish a sleep routine which doesn’t involve you. Using sleep cues and sleep-associated comfort objects like a swaddle blanket, pacifier, or favorite toy would help your child make the transition to falling asleep without you.

Find out what helps your baby fall asleep without your presence. You may also bring in an object as you continue your current sleep system (rocking, nursing, etc.). After a few nights, your baby will begin to associate that object with falling asleep, and he may sleep as soon as he has it.

If you want to remove nursing as a crutch, consult with your pediatrician to ensure your baby is getting enough food and nutrients throughout the day.

2 He’s too tired

It may sound funny, but sleep makes sleep. If a child doesn’t sleep enough or well enough during the day, he could be too tired and cranky to fall asleep at night. The more your baby sleeps during the day, the easier it will be for him to fall asleep at night and sleep well. Now, we’re not encouraging your baby to sleep four or five times a day; two to three naps will do. As he gets older, this rule continues.

Toddlers will need about one or two naps a day, and most kids will take a nap in the afternoon until five or six years of age. Encouraging children to nap is good for them. Human growth hormone is released when asleep, which means napping helps them grow.

3 No routines were established

Just like having a comfort object, having a routine is one of the best ways to help your baby go to sleep and stay asleep. Each step of your routine should help him wind down and relax. Doing it the same time every night also helps teach him the time of day and what he’s supposed to do.

Most bedtime routines involve a bath, some quiet time with a toy or story, one last feed, and then being laid down in the crib. The sooner you begin (many recommend starting at 4 months), the faster your child will learn how to sleep through the night and without you.

 

There are other reasons why babies may have a difficult time falling asleep. Snoring, sleep apnea, overstimulation from screens, and being too young are just a few of the reasons why they may have a hard time sleeping and staying asleep. Consider their daytime activities, how they are when asleep, and what surrounds them when they’re trying to sleep to best determine the cause of their nocturnality.

 

Image by Minnie Zhou on Unsplash

Featured image by Filip Mroz on Unsplash