After the birth of your little one, there’s one thing that you start loving more than usual. Sleep. No one in your home gets enough of it, especially during the first few months. Even your baby starts sleeping through the night, baby sleep problems can still disturb yours from time to time. Dealing with sleepless nights is often a part of parenthood and you can’t skin that at any cost. Major sleeping troubles are caused by temporary issues like teething, colic or change in routine and that’s why there is nothing to worry about it.
Still persistent sleep troubles can be a cause of a bigger issue and therefore it is important to know the reasons behind it.
Sleep problems in infants
At this newborn stage, babies are still adjusting to the outside world and a regular sleep pattern. Babies need about 14-17 hours of sleep out of which eight to nine hours of nighttime sleep and another seven to nine hours of daytime sleep. A 3 month old needs 14-16 hours of sleep in a day. Babies sleep in bits and pieces and it often feels that your baby isn’t sleeping much. Very young babies sleep in short catnaps because they need to eat often.
Its completely normal if your little one is constantly bouncing back and forth between dozing and waking up. This will soon start to change. There are some challenges that makes your baby harder to sleep. Some of these are:
1. Back sleeping: Your baby might not settle when laid on her back to sleep. They feel more secure sleeping on their tummies but that sleep position is linked to a much higher risk of SIDS. So it is recommended to put your baby on back while sleeping.
How to solve it : If your baby won’t settle down on her back, talk to your pediatrician and check for possible examination. Include swaddling your baby and give her pacifier to encourage bedtime.
2. Mixing day and night : Your baby may sleep during the day and stay awake all the night long.
How to solve it: Your baby is adjusting to the life on the outside but there are things you can do to help baby. Make her daytime naps shorter and switch off the lights and TV when she is naping.
3. Restless sleep due to frequent late-night feedings : Most 2-3 months babies, breastfeed ones, need to fill their tummies for 2-3 times in the night. Waking up frequently during night disturbs their sleep routine.
What to do about it: Talk to your pediatrician about how often your baby should be eating overnight. Make your baby eat enough during the day to cut down the overnight feeds. Slowly stretch the time between night time feedings for a better sleep routine.
If you are still worried let us tell you a fact that babies change their sleep routine till they get an year old. Just be sure about your baby’s health and maintain a healthy sleep routine.
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