Why Your Infant or Newborn Isn’t Sleeping at Night: Reasons and Solutions
Every parent who struggles with putting their baby to sleep at night is anxiously waiting for that special night when their baby is peacefully napping throughout the night. If you have been living through sleepless nights and have been asking yourself why your infant refuses to have a sleeping schedule, welcome to the club! Understanding the reasons why your newborn doesn’t sleep at night and learning effective solutions will enable you and your baby to enjoy the much-needed rest.
Understanding Baby Sleep Patterns
Understanding your baby's sleep patterns is essential to ensure your baby's well-being and your own peace of mind. Newborn babies sleep a total of 14 to 17 hours every day, however, this sleep occurs in small fragments because they need feeding at intervals. As they grow, the sleep consolidates into long periods of time mainly at night. It is quite natural to understand that babies have shorter sleep cycles as compared to adults and last around 50-60 minutes. This is why they keep transitioning into light and deep sleep multiple times.
As the baby grows to 3 to 4 months, most babies start sleeping for longer stretches of time at night and are more likely to establish predictable sleep patterns. Introducing a bedtime routine will help your baby recognise that it is time for sleep. Knowledge of the baby’s sleeping patterns can ensure you allow your baby the sleep they need to grow in a healthy manner.
Reasons Why Your Infant Is Not Sleeping At Night
1. The baby doesn’t know if it’s night or day
A baby, especially a newborn does not have a developed rhythm that internally regulates sleep and wake cycles. Therefore, they cannot differentiate between day and night. It can take three to six weeks and even up to several months before an infant's sleep-wake cycle becomes stabilised according to the natural day-night cycle.
2. Your baby might be hungry
Infants have very small stomachs. They need to eat pretty frequently, regardless of the time of the day. Hunger is also the number one reason why your baby will not sleep well. Newborn babies generally need to be fed every two or three hours. This can be the reason why your infant is not sleeping properly at night.
3. They might not be feeling well
Underlying discomfort from gas or minor illness may distract a sleeping baby. If you have tried everything and still don’t know the reason for your infant not sleeping, one possible explanation is that they might not be feeling well.
4. The baby might be overstimulated
An overstimulated baby is unable to relax easily. So, bright lights, loud noises and too much activity before bed can be the reason your infant is not sleeping at night.
5. Your baby needs you
Babies wake and cry because they are seeking comfort and reassurance from their parents. They may need to be held or rocked or merely to hear a familiar voice before falling back into sleep security.
How to Deal with Head-banging and Body-rocking
Babies may use rhythmic, repetitive behaviours to help settle themselves to sleep at bedtime, or during the night to get back to sleep. It's most common in the first year of life. They hit hard from a few minutes to half an hour or more, but they're unlikely to hurt themselves.
Here's what you can do to make things quieter and more comfortable for your baby:
Move the cot away from the wall.
Put rubber carpet protectors under the cot's legs to cut down movement and noise. Place a thick carpet under the cot.
Try not to go in and check on your child. Your presence may reinforce this behaviour as an attention-getter rather than a self-comforting habit.
Nightmares
It’s also common for toddlers and pre-schoolers to struggle with their nighttime routine. They have the capacity to dream as soon as they learn to talk. Young children usually can't remember their dreams, even the ones that awaken them. If you notice that your child is having frequent nightmares, ask a health professional to help get to the source of the stress.
Separation anxiety
For a pre-schooler who is stressed by separation or has been co-sleeping with his parents for a long time, try placing a mattress on the floor of your room and giving him rewards for moving closer and closer to his own room.
Solutions To Help Your Child Enjoy a Sound Sleep at Night
1. Get to know your baby
Knowing your baby’s sleep patterns and what works for them can make all the difference. Spend time understanding their behaviour and responses to different environments and routines and tailor a sleep strategy that suits them the best.
2. Recognise when your baby is tired
You can tell when the baby is tired if they are repeatedly subbing their eyes, yawning or have become less active. Your baby can struggle to fall asleep when they are exhausted. Tiredness may be one of the reasons why your infant is not sleeping at night.
3. Create a bedtime routine and sleeping environment
Give your baby a regular bedtime routine that becomes a cue for them to sleep. You can help calm your baby by giving them a nice, warm bath, gentle rocking or even reading to them while settling into a soothing slumber environment.
4. Keep them awake a little longer during the day
Gradually increasing the length of your baby's awake periods during the day can help them sleep more soundly at night. However, be careful not to overstimulate them, as this can have the opposite effect.
5. Give your baby some sunlight
Natural exposure to daylight helps your baby regulate her or his circadian rhythm. Spend a bit of daytime outside, in the sun, with your infant; this helps distinguish night from day.
FAQs
To train your baby to sleep at night, establish a consistent bedtime routine, keep the environment calm and dark and try to put them down drowsy but awake to help them learn to self-soothe.
Conclusion
Understanding the reasons your infant is not sleeping peacefully at night is the first step to finding a sustainable solution to the problem. If you've tried these solutions and your infant is still not sleeping at night, it may be time to consult with your paediatrician. Persistent sleep issues can sometimes indicate underlying health concerns that may require professional attention.
Once you find out what works for your baby, you can use those strategies to help your child develop healthy sleep habits. Hopefully, some of the tips shared above help you achieve that, so you and your baby can enjoy the much-needed sound sleep at night.