Top 4 reasons for baby's restless sleep

Intermittent sleep

Situation. The child wakes up every few hours. To calm the baby, the mother gets up and begins to nurse him. The truth is that the result is even worse - her sleep is disturbed, the baby is agitated and it takes both of them more and more time to calm down and fall asleep. At the same time, during the day the baby is active, and the mother is overwhelmed.

Cause. This happens because the sleep phases of mother and baby do not match. Infants have a shorter sleep cycle than adults. And every time a child moves from a state of deep sleep to its superficial stage, he can easily wake up.

Some children at this moment continue to have sweet dreams, while others, on the contrary, wake up and demand the presence of an adult. As a result, the mother does not rest at all during the night.

What to do? Try taking your baby to bed as soon as he first wakes up. Breastfeed him, cuddle him, and he will fall asleep again. As soon as the baby wakes up next time, do not feed him, but simply stroke him and gently hold him close to you. After a while, you will notice that your sleep cycles and your baby's sleep cycles coincide.

As soon as the baby is tossing and turning and ready to wake up, feed him, hug him and hold him close. He will feel your presence, become calmer and you both will fall asleep soundly. Over time, the mother's proximity will ease the baby's transition from deep sleep to shallow sleep and he will stop waking up.

Causes of sleep disturbances

The most obvious reason for poor sleep quality in an infant is the presence of some kind of health problem. Such problems are caused by pain in the tummy, teething, colds, fever, snot and much more. If adults are worried when they see that something wrong is happening to their child, it is better to seek advice from a pediatrician.

Once the health problem is resolved, normal night rest will be restored.

Teething and colic will go away on their own in due time. Adults just need to be patient.

The most common reasons why a baby sleeps very little include the following:

Feeling malnourished and hungry

Sometimes the baby consumes a small amount of food. He begins to behave anxiously and roar after being fed. This is how the little one shows that he is not full. For this reason, he rests little and often wakes up to refresh himself.

Gas, bloating

At the age of one month, almost every baby stops wearing a bowel movement of a reflex nature. The baby should now be able to empty its bowels on its own. However, he does not always do it on the first try.

That is why in children from one month to three months of age, unpleasant symptoms such as constipation and bloating are common. Gas can cause a baby to cry for a long time. Naturally, we are no longer talking about any full night’s rest.

If the baby is breastfed, the transition to independent bowel movements is more difficult and longer. The thing is that mother’s milk tends to be completely absorbed by the baby’s intestines.

A nursing mother should adhere to a diet and not eat foods that contribute to the formation of gases. In difficult cases, medications like Espumisan and Baby Kalma are prescribed. You can also use a gas outlet tube.

If the baby is fed artificial formulas, they should be replaced with others if they cause bloating.

Intertrigo

A baby may have poor sleep and little sleep if he is bothered by diaper rash accompanied by diaper rash on the skin. The reason for its appearance is wearing diapers and improper hygiene. In diapers, the baby’s delicate skin does not “breathe” and steams. The problem is greatly manifested if mothers neglect barrier or protective ointments.

Infant stool is highly acidic. If parents do not change their baby's diaper in a timely manner, he will quickly develop diaper rash. It causes serious discomfort and pain to the delicate and sensitive skin of a newborn, which affects the quality of night's rest.

To correct the situation, parents only need to adhere to adequate baby hygiene. This is the best way to avoid diaper rash on your skin. It is recommended to change the diaper on time, wash the baby thoroughly, and use special ointments and creams.

Excellent remedies, according to doctors, that prevent the appearance of diaper rash and treat diaper rash are creams like Bepanten and Drapolene.

Various diseases

A child sleeps little and poorly when he gets sick. His rest is hampered by pain in the ear or tummy, a stuffy nose, and fever. Children especially often suffer from ear pain. Otitis media affects children under six months of age due to the wide auditory tube.

When regurgitation occurs, liquid food enters the tube, provoking an acute inflammatory process. In such a state, there is no need to talk about good and quality sleep.

Parents should closely monitor how the baby feels and behaves. If, in addition to disturbed sleep, your toddler exhibits restless behavior and decreased appetite, then it’s time to show him to the pediatrician. Since many childhood diseases are characterized by rapid development, it is impossible to delay seeking medical help.

Parasite infestation

Unfortunately, this problem is very common and occurs even in those families where sufficient attention is paid to hygiene. The source of parasites can be a crib purchased second-hand and infested with lice or bedbugs, or pet hairs on children's accessories such as pacifiers. All this is the cause of helminthic infestation in the baby.

The presence of parasites in the baby's body will negatively affect how he sleeps and will not allow the baby to rest normally in the dark and during the day.

The best preventative measure for parasitic infestation is strict adherence to hygiene measures and keeping the house clean. Everything that the baby comes into contact with must be clean and sterile. If helminthiasis manifests itself, it is necessary to visit the clinic as soon as possible, show the baby to the doctor and urgently begin treatment.

There are many other reasons that cause sleep problems in infants. One of them is failure to follow the correct regimen. In addition, a child up to one year of age may sleep little if overtired.

Putting your baby to bed too late can make it difficult to fall asleep. This happens due to increased production of the stress hormone – cortisol. It prevents the baby from falling asleep deeply.

Another factor that negatively affects the quality of sleep of infants is the presence of external stimuli in the nursery. Newborn babies tend to fall asleep easily in environments with good light or noise, but over time, their environment has a greater impact on their sleep.

It is easy to correct the situation by eliminating the external irritant. It is enough to turn off the lights, the TV, and close the windows so that the noise from the street does not interfere with the baby’s rest.

Incorrect temperature conditions in the room where the baby stays are also the reason why he sleeps poorly and little. Sleep disorders occur if the temperature in the house is below 20 degrees Celsius or above 22 degrees.

The baby needs to create comfortable conditions for sleeping in the nursery, take care of the normal temperature in the room and humidify the air. You should ventilate the nursery before going to bed, as advised by the famous pediatrician, Dr. Komarovsky.

Mommy may be too coddling with the baby, rocking him to sleep for a long time in the evening hours. Kids quickly get used to this treatment and then can no longer fall asleep without it. Parents need to teach their baby to fall asleep on his own by putting him in a crib without first rocking him to sleep in his arms.

For some time they will have to put up with the whims of the baby, who does not want to fall asleep without his mother’s arms. However, soon the method will work, and the baby will begin to fall asleep on its own.

In order for your baby to sleep well, it is necessary to introduce a ritual that helps him fall asleep. Every day, twenty minutes before bedtime, parents should perform the same series of actions, which the baby will associate with falling asleep:

• bathing;
• massage;
• fairy tales;
• bedtime lullaby.

Thanks to this ritual, which does not require much effort on the part of adults, it will be easier for the baby to move from wakefulness to sleep. However, making changes to it is highly undesirable. This may make it difficult to fall asleep.

To sleep or not to sleep?

Situation. The mother puts the baby to bed and leaves the room. But as soon as she leaves, after a few minutes the baby wakes up and starts crying.

Cause. Does your baby wake up as soon as he falls asleep? This means that he did not enter the deep sleep phase.

What to do? Stay with your baby a little longer than usual, let him fall asleep more soundly. Make sure of this: if his hands are not clenched into fists, his eyebrows are not moved towards the bridge of his nose, his breathing is even, and his body is relaxed, then the baby is fast asleep and can be carefully transferred to the crib.

How long should a child sleep at night (child’s night sleep by month):

Note: * – newborn babies (in the first 4 weeks of life) usually do not separate day and night, so their sleep is evenly distributed throughout the entire day and can total up to 20 hours.

Older children may sometimes not sleep during the day if they do not want to. But you just need to sleep at night. There are times when children have great difficulty going to bed at night. What to do?

Night games

Situation. At night the baby wakes up and starts playing. If this behavior becomes a habit, it becomes a problem for sleep-deprived parents.

Cause. The baby has formed the opinion that the bed is the same place for play as the entire space of the children's room. And his parents always play with him. It doesn't matter whether it's day or night.

What to do? Let your baby understand that the bed is a place for sleeping, not for playing, and do not give in to the desire to play with him. Try not to notice his intentions, even if he reaches out from the crib and starts to bother you. You may have to endure several “night attacks” that encourage you to play, especially if you once succumbed to his persuasion and played with the baby. Try to pretend to be deep sleep, even if you really want to fuss with the baby. One day he will understand that night is sleep time.

Features of infant sleep

The duration of rest depends on the age and individual characteristics of the person.
Babies sleep almost constantly, waking up to eat and going back to sleep. By the end of the first month of life, the baby's biological clock begins to work, and he feels the difference between day and night. Night sleep becomes longer, but the need for daytime rest remains. A newborn cannot sleep all night long. Its ventricle is too small to hold much food, so small children need to eat at night. With the right routine, after night feeding, the baby instantly falls asleep. When the sleep pattern is disturbed, the child will be nervous and cry bitterly. The baby needs to be taught to play during the day and rest at night.

Before bedtime, babies are soothed with baths and lullabies. Some parents put their newborn to sleep next to them and then move them to a crib. This can be done if it is easier for him to doze off with his mother.

Below is a table of average baby sleep time by month:

A baby's sleep by month is given for planning the day. There is no need to force the baby to sleep or interrupt his rest. The duration of naps depends on various psychological, physical factors and even the character of the child. If he sleeps for a short time, but is generally alert and active, then there is no reason to worry.

In the first days after birth, the baby can rest for up to 20 hours. However, each person is individual. Your baby's readings may differ from the table figures by an hour to an hour and a half. But if they go far beyond the normal range, parents need to contact their pediatrician.

In the first 3 months of life

Babies need a lot of rest: 17-18 hours after birth, 15-17 hours by 3 months of age. Wakefulness lasts 3-4 hours. By the 8th week, some babies no longer wake up at night, but for most, uninterrupted night sleep stabilizes for 5-6 months. For the health of the child and your peace of mind, it is very important to maintain a routine.

The following tips will help you develop a normal daily routine:

• Notice the first signs of your baby's fatigue. A 3-month-old baby is not able to be active for more than two hours. If you miss the moment of falling asleep, he will begin to be capricious and will not be able to fall asleep quickly. A sleepy child rubs his eyes, touches his ears, and dark circles may appear around the eyelids. Immediately send the baby to the cradle. Experienced mothers intuitively know when it’s time for their baby to take a nap.
• Teach your baby to play during the day and sleep at night. It happens that newborns remain active even in complete darkness in the room. Lull the restless one to sleep. Don't disturb him at night, he should eat and take a nap. During periods of wakefulness, play with him and maintain a lively atmosphere in the house. Before resting, talk more quietly, turn off noisy household appliances and phones. So the baby will feel that it is time to sleep.
• Give him the opportunity to fall asleep on his own. It is recommended to put a dozing baby 6-8 weeks old in a crib. He should do without rocking and additional feeding.

A 2-3 month old baby may wake up frequently not only because of the need to eat. Try to swaddle your baby so that he does not wake himself up with involuntary movements.

Don't rock your baby constantly. Perhaps the child does not like this process, he will be nervous and have difficulty falling asleep. Or the baby will develop a habit and you will have to rock him constantly.

At 3-6 months

Toddlers rest 15-17 hours a day for 3-4 months, 10-11 of which are at night. During the day, babies can take 3-4 naps for 2 hours each. The mother wakes up several times at night to feed the baby. The quality of his sleep depends largely on what habits his parents instill in him. Desirable:

• Develop a clear rest schedule and stick to it.
• You shouldn’t focus only on “sleepy symptoms.” It's better to stick to a set schedule.
• In the evening go to bed at 19.00-20.30. Later, the child will become overtired and find it difficult to sleep. Even if the baby is energetic, he still needs to be calmed and prepared for rest.
• Consider the daytime sleep schedule, focusing on the baby’s sensations. After all, it happens that the child himself feels the need to rest at the same time. In any case, it is important that the baby sleeps enough time.
• Carry out a set of procedures that will relax the child and set the mood for rest. It is worth giving the newborn a bath, giving a light massage with a pleasant cream, telling a fairy tale or singing a song at night. Be sure to kiss your baby and wish him sweet dreams. Do these steps every evening.
• If the baby sleeps longer than 11 hours, his morning nap must be interrupted to maintain the routine. By systematically falling asleep at the same time, the baby will easily wake up in the morning.

Children of this age have already begun to explore the world; it can be difficult for them to fall asleep due to overexcitation and accumulated emotions. Don't overtire your child. Your main task is to instill in your baby the feeling that sleep is necessary and pleasant.

Going to bed should not cause any discomfort in the newborn. Some children refuse to rest, cry and scream loudly. Leaving your child alone in this state will have the opposite effect: the baby will become even more upset and may throw a tantrum at night. You need to pay attention to what calms him best and use it based on your baby's preferences.

At 6-9 months

People at this age sleep up to 15 hours a day. The duration of uninterrupted night sleep increases to 7 hours. If your child rests longer than this, he may have woken up but was able to go back to sleep on his own. An indicator of a good regime is rest for 2 hours 2-3 times during the day, 10-11 hours at night.

To put a six-month-old infant to sleep, you need:

• continue to perform the ritual of preparing for a night's rest;
• stick to a daily routine;
• walk with your baby in the fresh air;
• play quiet games before bed.

When the baby refuses to go to bed and begins to be capricious, do not rush to please him. Check to see if he's really upset about something or if it's just a little trick to extend playtime and get more attention. If your baby is really upset, try to take action.

At this age, the baby has already learned to sit, roll from side to side, crawl, and perhaps even stand up on his own. He happily practices during the time set aside for rest. Half asleep, the baby may try to sit up or stand up, but it can be difficult for him to lie down on his own. He finally awakens and begins to call for help. Calm him down and help him get comfortable.

If you notice that your child goes to bed at the same time in the evening, but his night sleep is restless, try shifting the rest half an hour earlier. This technique gives good results.

Physiological problems

Situation. Mom tried everything to improve the baby's sleep. But he continues to wake up frequently.

Why. The baby may be awakened by teething pain, a wet diaper, a full diaper, a stuffy nose, or synthetic clothing. It may also be substances that irritate his respiratory tract: lint, perfume, dust, cigarette smoke.

What to do? Consult your doctor to figure out what’s wrong with your baby together. Getting your baby to sleep is not that difficult, the main thing is not to panic.

My child has trouble falling asleep in the evening, what should I do?

In order for the baby to fall asleep peacefully in the evenings, mothers should create all the conditions for this:

• Bedtime ritual.

All children are actually little conservatives. It will be easier for them to settle into a good night's sleep if they have the same routine every day. Everyone has their own unique rituals, but there are also common points. Parents need to try to accustom the baby to regular activities that will be repeated at the same time and in the same sequence. For example: an evening walk, a quiet game of blocks, swimming, eating. After which the baby sees you preparing the bed for bed. Very soon he will understand that if these events occur, then the time for night rest is approaching. Therefore, it is useful to develop a similar bedtime ritual for your child.

• Conditions for night sleep.

Before going to bed at night, the children's room must be ventilated. It should not contain bright light sources. A night light is the best option. The air humidity in the room is on average 60%. Air temperature 20–22°C. The humidity level both in the child’s room and throughout the apartment should be optimal. If this is difficult to achieve on your own, you can purchase a humidifier.

• Nice atmosphere in the evening.

Before going to bed, you should not allow any excessive physical activity. Loud music is also not advisable, as is running the TV at high volume. Before bedtime, keep your child busy with calm games: mosaics, drawing, or read his favorite book.

• Daily regime.

The daily routine consists of set times for sleeping, eating, walking, and playing. Some mothers and fathers believe that the regime infringes on the freedom of the little man and interferes with self-determination. But this is a wrong opinion. Regime is discipline. It has the best effect on health and teaches the child how to properly organize his time from an early age. It is important to adhere to a certain daily routine. For example, 15–20 minutes before bedtime, a mother can read her baby’s favorite fairy tale or sing a lullaby. He will very soon get used to this routine, which means he won’t have any problems with getting him to sleep.

The child does not sleep well at night. Why and what to do?

1. A baby's poor sleep may indicate that he has a stomach ache . From the third week of life, he may suffer from colic in the abdomen. In some children, this illness goes away in just a couple of months. For others only by 5–6 months. In this case, the mother should take action and eliminate the cause of this ailment. Colic may be due to formula milk if the baby is bottle-fed.
2. Another cause of restless sleep is teething . This period is worth enduring, and the child can lubricate the gums with a special baby gel before going to bed.
3. Another reason is night sleep disorders in weather-dependent children. At these moments, it is important not to leave him alone. After all, such behavior can be accompanied by a headache, which a baby under 1 year old cannot talk about. A mother's tight hug and a lullaby will help you fall asleep.
4. Poor night sleep can also be caused by more serious health problems : neurological disorders, ear pain (otitis media), sore throat, flu and other viral infections accompanied by high fever. In this case, you must definitely call a doctor.
5. One of the reasons for poor night sleep may be changes in life: moving to another apartment or having another child in the house . Changing your sleeping place can also affect your sleep . If before this the baby slept with his parents and they decided to accustom him to a separate crib, then at first he will sleep poorly due to worries about this.
6. If a toddler falls asleep half-starved or, on the contrary overfed , he may wake up at night. The mother should control the amount the baby eats when feeding.
7. You can't put your baby to bed in an upset state . Identify the reasons for your bad mood and eliminate them. Do not forget that children perfectly sense their mother’s mood and adopt it.
8. Cold or hot. Did your child wake up in the middle of the night and cry? Perhaps he is hot or cold. Touch his forehead and back. If the baby is wet, immediately change him into something dry and clean, just don’t wrap him up as before. Give me some water to drink. If the baby has a cold nose and hands, it means he is cold. Dress warmly and go to bed.

The main thing parents should know is that it is quite normal for children to wake up at night. The number of such cases in one night, the baby’s behavior and how he falls asleep again after that are of great importance. If problems arise with sleep disturbances in a baby, parents need to show calm, care, patience and love. Only in this case the child is guaranteed the sweetest dreams.