Why Your Baby Won’t Sleep – Causes and Tips to Cope With it

Given below is a list of a few common points that make a baby struggle while sleeping at night without getting restless.

1. Startle Reflex

Babies are born with a set of involuntary reflexes, one among them being the startle reflex. which will cause them to suddenly wake up in the middle of their sleep. Remember that you should know the right ways of swaddling and should stop this process once your baby is older than 2 months.

2. Uncomfortable Bedding

Babies can find it difficult to fall asleep and stay asleep if their sleeping surface is too soft or too hard. Your baby should be comfortable resting on the surface you choose. SIDS is a very real threat for babies, and you must be extremely careful in choosing the right sleep surface. You can choose a crib or a bassinet for your baby to sleep on. A firm mattress that snugly covers the cot or crib is ideal.

3. Room Temperature

The room temperature should be moderate too to allow your baby to sleep comfortably. According to the Sleep Foundation, the ideal room temperature should be between 68 and 72 Fahrenheit or between 20 and 22 degrees centigrade. High temperatures can increase the risk of SIDS in babies too so it is vital that you maintain a moderate temperature.

4. Clothes

Dress your baby in comfortable and breathable clothes. If the weather is chilly, you may add an extra layer of clothing. Bundling up may cause overheating which is not good. The clothes your baby wears should not be too tight or too loose.

[Read : Dressing Baby For Bed]

5. Bedroom Ambience

Babies, just like adults, may not like too much light or noise when sleeping. If your baby is finding it difficult to sleep, try to keep the room dark and quiet. A white noise machine can be helpful in getting your baby to fall asleep quickly.

6. Hyperstimulation

Hyperstimulation is one of the most common causes of babies being unable to sleep. Screen time and too much activity or excitement before bedtime can hamper their sleep routine. Have a pre-bedtime routine for your baby. Following the same routine before bedtime every day will condition your baby’s brain to fall asleep by the end of the routine. Once your baby is slightly older, let’s say 3 months, their bedtime routine can include dinner, a warm bath, bedtime feed, story time and then lights off.

Screen time at least a couple of hours before bed is strictly recommended for babies. Allow your baby to wind down with light free play at least an hour before the start of their bedtime routine. This will help them relax and fall asleep faster. Avoid sugars at least a couple of hours before bedtime- avoid candies and soft drinks at all costs. Better sleep health and dental health for your baby.

[Read : Establishing a Bedtime Routine For Babies]

7. Curiosity

Babies can be extremely curious and wish to know all that’s happening around them. This is especially common where family members follow different sleep timings disrupting the baby’s sleep. Sleep training your baby to sleep in a different room from an early age can help your baby stay away from these unnecessary distractions and let them sleep well.

8. Not Able to Self-soothe

It is common that many babies sleep by themselves as they can self-soothe, but others might need to be nursed, patted, rocked, cuddled etc. to be out to sleep. They can even get scared due to bad dreams as well. As a part of sleep training, you can teach your baby to self-soothe and fall asleep.

9. Improper Bed Schedule

If there is no set routine for the baby, it becomes difficult for them to understand when to sleep. A good and properly scheduled bedtime signals them to sleep and even keeps them calm

10. Separation Anxiety

Separation anxiety is a common growth milestone among babies who are eight months and older, Babies get disturbed and restless when they don’t find their mother or the primary caregiver nearby. They tend to wake up in the middle of the night too to search for that familiar face.

11. Growth And Milestones

As the baby grows, they start playing more and sleeping less thus dropping a few naps in the day. This is also a reason that does not let them sleep.

12. Teething Issues

Babies who are sprouting teeth can experience irritation, pain, restlessness and can constantly cry. Appetite comes down and they can clingy too. All of these can bring down their nap and sleep times. Teething rings can provide some relief to babies in such conditions.

How Much Sleep Do Babies Really Need?

The ideal sleeping time for a baby is around 12-16 hours a day till they are one month but the sleeping pattern will be not the same throughout the day. It could be two or four hours at a stretch in the initial weeks depending on their age and temperament. One thing common in babies is to get up at night at regular intervals. It is difficult for them to sleep throughout the night at a stretch.

[Read : How Many Hours of Sleep Do Babies Need By Age?]

Are There Other Sleep-Related Issues That Can Affect a Baby’s Sleeping Schedule?

The sleep of a baby is very important for proper growth and development. There can be many common sleep-associated issues that can hamper the sleep schedule of a baby. Though all of them are not causing problems. Some of them are:

• Thumb sucking to soothe oneself.
• Rocking
• Feeding to sleep
• Using pacifier
• Walking baby to sleep
• Driving the baby to sleep
• Sugar intake in the form of juice and candy before bedtime

All these issues can however be sorted with patience and time. Even though breaking the habits needs a lot of time and babies are also reluctant to accept the change but with time a new routine can be made.

Thus, it is important that as children grow their nap time will start reducing. But the important thing is to establish a proper bedtime schedule and be consistent with it to have smooth sleep throughout the night.

FAQ’s

1. Is it Safe to Give Syrup For Babies to Sleep?

Giving medicines or syrup for making the baby sleep though is not a good option as it can have side effects as well unless prescribed by a doctor.

2. How to Get Baby to Sleep Longer?

To get your baby to sleep longer, create a schedule and a bedtime routine and make sure you and your baby stick to it. Follow regular bed timings, keep the room temperature comfortable and put your baby in comfortable night clothing before going to bed. Night weaning also helps babies sleep longer.

3. Why Doesn’t a Baby Sleep at Night?

There may be many reasons why a baby doesn’t sleep at night. Improper sleep schedules, sleep regression, teething, illnesses, and uncomfortable sleep environment at night can all be reasons. If your baby is sleeping excessively during the day, you can adjust day naps. Sleep training and routine can also help.

Read Also: Baby Safety – Crib and Baby Bed Safety Tips by Dr Chetan Ginigeri