What to do: the child does not sleep at night

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

Sleep problems are very common in perfectly he althy newborns. If the child does not sleep, this does not mean that he may have he alth problems. Basically, with any sleep disorders, parents look for problems in neurology, which most often is absolutely unreasonable.

The first year of life is a year of unstable sleep

In order to learn how to properly regulate sleep patterns and normalize it, you need some time. Only a tiny percentage of babies fall asleep peacefully and for the whole night. The fact is that as they grow up from birth to infancy (in the first year of life), a child’s regimen is formed, respectively, many factors affect this.

And now let's pay attention to the main question of all parents: how to teach a child to sleep through the night. Nevertheless, in the first weeks, do not reassure yourself that the baby will finally begin to sleep, because he has his own waking hours, between which the most important aspect of life takes place - feeding. If the newborn sleeps during the day, periodically waking up only for food, then try to arrange at least 2.5 hours before bed at night.wakefulness. More precisely, a failure in the sleep cycle occurs due to the fact that the child in the evening from 18:00 to 20:00 can once again arrange a sleepy hour for himself. And this means that at the most crucial moment, when he sleeps, eats, he will have energy and wake up. Energy must be spent, therefore, either the baby will throw a tantrum, or he will wait and grunt until he feels his mother's hand.

"Ritual" before bedtime

Remember: a sleeping newborn baby is unpredictable. He can get hungry at any time, especially if he is breastfeeding. He may be disturbed by colic and gases, in connection with which it will be necessary to carry out auxiliary procedures, and the baby may also need an extraordinary diaper change. In order for the baby to fall asleep more calmly and not miss the most important phase of sleep, consider a certain ritual before bedtime.

First, prepare a bath with the optimal temperature for the baby. Brew chamomile or string, strain, pour the broth into the water. You can bathe the baby with the addition of chamomile decoction.

The next step in your ritual could be a massage. Place your baby on a soft blanket. After lubricating your hands with baby oil or a light moisturizing tonic, massage the tummy and back areas. Thoroughly but gently stretch your baby's arms and legs.

The next step will be the most favorite moment for the newborn. This, of course, is feeding. Feed the baby, and in order for him not to burp, hold him for 10 minutes in a column, slightly pressing his tummy toyourself.

First month of life: difficulties will soon subside

If a child in a month sleeps poorly at night, but does not cry and at the same time he is not bothered by colic, then follow the intervals of his daytime sleep. From birth, it is necessary to try to orient the child between daytime and nighttime. Without parental intervention during the day, newborns can sleep for hours on end. Therefore, wake up the baby, carry it in your arms, talk to him. He may protest in the form of crying, but over time he will get used to the waking mode.

Baby's daytime sleep: how important it is to regulate it

There are cases when a child does not sleep during the day, but this is not a guarantee that the baby will sleep peacefully and without getting up at night. In this case, it is necessary to carry out a preventive measure to identify the cause.

First, cut off discomfort and pain in the tummy. Perhaps the mixture is not suitable for the child, or the mother of the newborn, while breastfeeding, takes any medication without consulting the doctor. Or maybe new components in mother's milk affect the microflora of the baby and cause gas and discomfort.

Secondly, parents should control their morale during contact with the newborn. The child feels irritation, pain, fear of an adult, especially a mother. Therefore, for the benefit of the moral peace of your baby, you must remain calm next to him. Otherwise, multiple examples prove: if the mother, being in a nervous state, takes care of the child, then the baby takes over hermood. As a result, poor sleep, crying and even refusal to eat are guaranteed.

Third, it is important to arrange a comfortable place to sleep. If a newborn baby does not sleep well in a place designated for sleeping, but calms down and falls asleep in his arms, then try to get a cocoon for sleeping. In it, the newborn feels very comfortable and sleeps well, at least this is what satisfied mothers say.

Stay before bed

Parents may think that they have tried almost everything so that the baby finally calms down and sleeps. But in fact, in 70% of such cases, parents behave very passively. It is not enough just to rock the child in your arms, this may just make the baby tired and even more irritated. Walking is the most important aspect of normal development and restful sleep. Walk with your newborn baby day and night, fresh air has always had a positive effect on babies.

Perhaps the newborn will fall asleep during the walk. So much the better, sleeping in the open air will improve the general condition, blood circulation and even the mood of a small family member. Immediately after the walk, enter into the schedule feeding, 1-2 hours of wakefulness, and then try to go to bed again. With this mode, the child is easier to get used to a normal bedtime.

Teething time

Still, do not forget that in the period from 1 to 8 months, the child goes through the most important stage of development in his life, his emotional state with each discovery can overexcite the nervous system and thereby disrupt sleep patterns. ToAt this time, the teething stage begins, and then you can really understand and try to alleviate the cause of insomnia, accompanied by crying and tantrums. To do this, there are gels, liquids on a natural basis for painless teething, and even a special children's calcium. All this, combined with the boundless patience and care of parents, will help the baby cope, be less nervous and sleep better.

Emotional mood before sleep

During the period from 8 to 12 months, the baby still needs daytime sleep. So, after waking up, having done all the morning activities, you should definitely try to take the child for a walk. A full and eventful morning will enrich your baby's horizons, pleasant emotions will positively affect the nervous system.

By the way, let's look at two examples of the relationship between emotions experienced during the day and a child's good sleep. There is an opinion that the more emotionally the child behaved during the day, the better he will sleep at night, but, unfortunately, a too active child before going to bed can receive a whole charge of new energy. He will spend this energy on protests against sleep, crying and tantrums. Therefore, it is necessary to monitor the baby during the day, his games, moments of activity and calmness. If the house has a TV, pay attention to what the baby is watching. For the he alth of the nervous system, it is desirable to exclude viewing of any programs until the age of three.

The second option is a passive child. More precisely, a kid who prefers sedentary games pays attention to toys. Especiallyit is good if parents are engaged in the development of fine motor skills with the child during the day. A baby who has been calm all day, walked and felt the mother's care, feels more comfortable. This directly affects the child's sleep, it is easier for him to learn to fall asleep on his own, it is easier to "move" from his parent's bed to his personal bed and sleep much more peacefully at night.

Night feeding and sleep

Parents mistakenly believe that if night feeding is canceled at the age of one to two years, then the baby will wake up more often due to hunger, be capricious, as a result of which the sleep pattern will be completely disturbed. In fact, children who are not accustomed to night feedings sleep more calmly and without awakening, oddly enough, do not wake up and do not require a portion of porridge. So, not exhausted by hunger.

Night is for sleep, you need to teach this principle from infancy. Closer to two years, it is recommended to wean the child from supplementary formula feeding at night. This will favorably affect the full uninterrupted sleep of the baby and save parents from additional rises at night.

How to put a baby to sleep if he does not eat formula at night while being bottle-fed? Do not exaggerate the importance of eating before bed. If the child refuses the mixture, then he is ready to fall asleep without it. If the child is accustomed to the nipple, then give it to him, turn on the recording of the pleasant sounds of birds or nature. Particularly suitable for laying the sound of rain. And try to put the baby in the crib, rocking a little.

Co-sleeping - whim or necessity?

Why does the child not sleep separately from the parents? All because next to them he feels more comfortable. If parents choose to co-sleep with their child, there are a few important things to keep in mind to keep the baby calm and safe.

First of all, the mattress on which the baby sleeps must be hard. Therefore, it is important to purchase orthopedic. The child should sleep either on the side of the father or on the side of the mother; the baby should not be placed in the middle for safety reasons. If a mother is breastfeeding, then co-sleeping is only a plus in such a situation. The child is able, without fully waking up from sleep, to get enough, calm down and sleep on. According to observations, it is clear that the joint sleep of mother and child has a very beneficial effect on the nervous system. If a baby sleeping in a crib often wakes up at night and cries, and this continues for a long time, then you should not persist in sleeping separately. Move him to your place for a while. The baby calms down, feeling a close relationship with the mother.

Newborn sleep and factors that affect it

Let's return to the topic of newborn sleep problems. During the period of the child's acquaintance with this world, it is important to maintain his usual conditions, those to which he is accustomed under the mother's heart. Swaddling will help you with this. But not the one that figuratively pops up in my head from the time of the USSR to the present day. You should not use tight swaddling, it hampers the movements of the baby too much,arms and legs in this state can become numb. This will bring the strongest discomfort to the baby, he will not only refuse to sleep, but also burst into tears.

An alternative to tight swaddling

There is a gentler and even he althier alternative to tight swaddling. These are ready-made diaper bodysuits and pajamas, diapers with Velcro or locks. If the child is slightly swaddled during sleep, then he will sleep much calmer and even longer. Why is that? Because newborns do not control the movements of their arms and legs until a certain point in development, everything happens spontaneously and unconsciously. So during sleep, waving his arms, the baby is frightened, from which he subsequently wakes up. The child does not sleep sometimes only because of this factor, which adversely affects him.

Sleepwear

Try to dress your baby as lightly as possible. No need to pull on a hundred clothes, this also causes discomfort. It is best to choose a few replacement slips that you will wear to him at night. If you are afraid that the child may catch a cold during sleep due to the low temperature in the room, buy a tighter and more insulated sleeping bag.

Temperature conditions are an important point

For a comfortable sleep, you need to monitor the temperature in the room. Many parents make a gross mistake by trying to additionally heat the room. This can negatively affect not only the baby's sleep, but also the general physical condition.

Observe the temperature regime in the range from 18 to 22 degrees, ventilate in a timely manner, especially beforesleep, do wet cleaning. These are the simplest, but important actions that will help normal development, full sleep and wakefulness.

The child does not sleep well and often wakes up because he is too stuffy, because he sweats, from itching on the body and head. Remember this, do not focus on one factor, consider all possible nuances.