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

• Loud music and bright light
• Hard or soft bedding
• Overdressing or underdressing
• Room temperature
• Illness

2. Hyperstimulation

This happens if the baby is too excited, not letting him sleep. Hyperstimulation can be due to

• Too much playing before sleep time
• Screentime before bed
• Excess sugar intake (for babies who are on solids)

3. Curiosity

Some babies are very curious and wish to know all the happenings around them. This is especially common where family members follow different sleep timings disrupting the baby’s sleep.

4. Not Able to Self-soothe

It is common that many babies sleep by themselves if 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.

5. Wrong Timing

If the baby is not tired enough, if it is too late, is too playful, they will get too cranky, making it difficult for them to sleep.

6. Improper Bed Schedule

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

7. Separation Anxiety

It is common when a baby is nine months old and they might get disturbed, cranky or upset if they don’t see you when they search for you.

8. Reduced Sleeping Time

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

9. Sleep Apnea

A breathing problem while sleeping indicated by grinding teeth, snoring, breathing from mouth etc.

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 not be 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.

How do You Deal With a Baby That Won’t Sleep?

If a baby does not sleep, there are different ways to deal with a baby at different stages. Sleep problems are common for all babies, and they have an average sleeping time of 15 hours spread into segments throughout the day.

Sleep Problems in 0 – 3 Months Babies

This is the period when babies sleep for close to 16 hours in a day. A f

A few sleep problems at this age are as follows:

Resistance to Sleeping

Babies like to sleep in the lap or arms but not when they lie on their back. Sleeping on the stomach is not recommended due to the high chances of SIDS. Pacifiers and swaddles can be used for fighting resistance.

Sleep Issues Due to Midnight Feeds

Getting fed at night can result in sleep disruption so it is best to talk to the doctor and assess the right number of feeds for them to sleep well at night.

Sleep Regression

With growth babies love to explore more and that disrupts their sleep. For this, maintaining a proper sleep schedule can help. Milestones can also cause sleep regression in babies.

Sleep Problems in 3-6 Months Babies

By this time, the baby is old and slightly active as well, so the napping time is less with the average sleep time ranging from 10-12 hours. It is, however, important to keep giving them short naps within the day and feed them regularly as well, sticking to a set routine by a specific time to sleep and wake up.

Even though babies at this age sleep well compared to the previous months, sleep disruptions can happen. Some of the reasons can be

1. Restlessness

Frequent feeds throughout the night can leave the baby restless. In case they cry, picking them up should be avoided and instead sleep training should be put into practice.

2. Unable to Sleep Independently

Babies who are unable to sleep independently and need their mother around experience difficulty sleeping during the daytime when the mother is not around. Also, babies who are undergoing sleep training can have sleep problems as they get used to the process of sleeping alone.

3. Teething Issues

This is the time when babies get their first tooth and show symptoms such as drooling, irritation, biting and being fussy. An ideal solution for this is pacifier or teething rings etc.

4. Waking up Early

If the baby gets up too early it is best to change his schedule, trying to make them sleep at different times to see what schedule best suits your baby in helping them wake up early.

Sleep Problems of 6-13 Months Babies

Babies of this age sleep for 11-14 hours which changes after they turn a year old and take one long nap instead of smaller ones as they grow older. Though they still need naps in between depending on their age, moods etc.

Some sleep disruptions that can happen during this age are

1. Disturbances in the Sleeping Environment

The room must have dim lights as having darkness in the room can make them restless and scare them as well.

2. Too Much Water Before Bed

It is best to offer little water, make them visit the washroom and talk to them before tucking them in bed, stay for few minutes and then leave.

3. Missing Sleep Signals

Look out for signals that indicate they are sleepy especially stubbornness or being cranky, if missed can disrupt the sleep.

4. Not Having a Sleep Buddy

This is a time when babies need an association with something, which could be a pillow, toy, book etc. Transitional objects play a vital role in helping babies sleep on their own and sleep well

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 may not cause problems. Some of them are:

• Thumb sucking to soothe oneself.
• Rocking
• Needing to be fed to sleep
• Using pacifier
• Needing to go on a walk to sleep
• Needing to go on a drive to sleep

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

As babies 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 a smooth sleeping 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. What is The Reason For Baby Not Sleeping?

There can be many reasons such as lack of sleep routine, teething, uncomfortable sleep environment, sleep regression, separation anxiety, etc