How can a baby sleep through the night?

When we bring a newborn into the home, we are aware that sleepless nights full of inexplicable crying and barking are ahead. It is an exhausting and frustrating phase that all parents go through. But everyone is looking for an answer to the same question, how can a baby sleep the night in a cradle or a bed without jerks and sudden awakenings.

There are several methods that will work,  less is more, well depending on your child's difficulty.

In the following text, we give you some tips and tricks that will help your baby sleep through the night, and you to get enough rest for a busy day full of obligations.

Restless sleep in babies

We cannot expect a baby to always have regular sleeping patterns. Babies don't know the difference between day and night until they are 10 or 12 weeks old. In the beginning, they wake up when they are hungry, thirsty or feel uncomfortable because of a full diaper.

Every child has different sleep needs. At two months, for example, only one in four babies sleeps through the night. Restless sleep is a completely normal stage of their development.

During the first few months, the baby's brain goes through an intense maturation process. This also affects sleep patterns. Over time, as the baby grows, the sleep cycle becomes more structured.

Each baby is unique and what works for one may not be a good solution for others. That is why it is important to recognize the signals it sends us and adapt to its needs.

Sometimes restlessness during sleep can indicate a problem. If your baby is uncomfortable, too hot or cold, has a rash that itches, or a stuffy nose that runs and restricts breathing, she will often wake up and cry.  Some children have restless legs syndrome, which makes it impossible for them to sleep peacefully.

It happens that babies, especially older ones, can hardly break sleeping habits that they liked like swinging in a swing or sucking. They expect that kind of stimulation and wake up more often in the middle of the night because of those needs.

That is why it is useful to recognize the reasons why your baby sleeps restlessly and try certain techniques and tricks for continuous sleep.

Why won't the baby sleep?

The most common reason why babies do not sleep at night is the fear of being separated from their mother. Other factors may be single or may come in combinations.

• Hunger – Babies will not fall asleep if they feel the need for food. Sometimes they wake up shortly after a meal because they are still hungry and want to suck or drink adapted milk. This especially happens during growth, when they go through phases where they need more food. Night feeding is necessary for them to get enough calories for growth and meet energy needs. It should not be forgotten that a newborn baby has a small stomach and a fast metabolism, so they get hungry quickly, regardless of whether it's day or night.
• Thirst  – If the baby is thirsty, he will wake up at night and cry until you give him a drink. It may take you a while to figure out what he wants at what time, but you will quickly recognize the signals of when he wants water and when he wants something else.
• Full diaper - Most babies wake up quickly if their diaper is full during the night or is uncomfortable. Changing at night can be stressful for parents, especially if it becomes a habit.
• Heat or cold – If your baby is uncomfortable, too hot or too cold, this can lead to disturbed and restless sleep. Make sure that the temperature in the room where the baby sleeps is never too high or too low. The ideal room temperature is around 20 degrees. Clothing must also be adapted to sleeping conditions. Most parents dress their babies in thick pajamas and cover them with a blanket for fear of catching a cold at night. Light pajamas and a thin blanket are sufficient if the temperature in the room is adequate.
• Spasms – Almost all babies go through a phase of colic or colic and have difficulty sleeping due to stomach pain. It is one of the most common reasons for nighttime crying and sleeplessness in the first months. While sucking, the baby sucks in air and accumulates gases that it cannot expel. It is important to help them get rid of gas as much as possible before bed, by burping, patting their back and standing up immediately after feeding.

• Teething - Teething is unpleasant, painful, itchy and disturbs sleep. Babies are then irritable and refuse to sleep, even if they are overtired. In these situations, parents often resort to gum massage gels or rubber toys for nibbling. This way, the baby's pain is alleviated to some extent and she falls asleep more easily.

• Excessive daily stimulation - If during the day the baby is too active or has had too much stimulation and excitement, it will be harder for him to fall asleep, because he relives those moments and needs time to calm down.

Other causes of the baby not sleeping

• Developmental Changes – Any developmental change can affect sleep patterns. This applies to cognitive, physical and emotional milestones in development. When a baby begins to develop new motor skills, turning, sitting or crawling, he often continues to practice these skills in his sleep, then wakes up crying. Stages of intensive cognitive development, such as recognizing faces or learning to speak, can create restless sleep as the baby's brain processes new information. Separation anxiety, which occurs around six months, can also cause frequent awakenings as babies become aware of their parents' absence when they are alone in the crib.
• Inadequate sleep schedule - The baby will find it harder to fall asleep if he is too tired or has not had enough sleep during the day. Also, too long breaks between naps can increase irritation and restlessness, so you should monitor the baby's signs of fatigue (yawning, rubbing eyes or staring at a distant point) and adjust the daytime nap schedule to avoid excessive exhaustion. The more tired they are, the harder it is to fall asleep. If this happens often, it is an indication that the baby is potentially in a state of hyperarousal.
• Temperature - When a baby has a fever, it can be a sign of an infection or a reaction to a vaccine. She becomes restless, irritable and has difficulty falling asleep. In such cases, it is important to carefully monitor the condition and regularly take the temperature in consultation with the pediatrician.
• Cold – A stuffy nose due to a cold makes it significantly more difficult to get a good night's sleep. When a baby has difficulty breathing, it often wakes up suddenly from sleep, is restless and has difficulty swallowing food. This is because newborn babies generally only breathe through their noses, so congestion due to a cold interrupts their comfortable breathing. That's why it's good to wash your nose with a saline solution after bathing before going to bed so that the nasal passages remain open as long as possible during the night and the baby sleeps more peacefully.
• Allergy - When symptoms such as stuffy nose, cough, sneezing or itching occur, it is most likely an allergic reaction. This disturbs the baby's sleep and does not allow her to rest properly. It is important to identify and remove potential allergens from the environment.
• A tight wardrobe - Make sure your baby is always dressed in casual and comfortable pajamas when he goes to sleep. Narrow and tight clothing creates discomfort, irritation and overheating, and can also cut into the baby's skin and disturb her sleep. If you put socks on your child while he sleeps, make sure that the toes are properly adjusted. There are many cases where the thread of the sock gets caught on the toe and creates a welt and pain. The baby will scream and cry, and it will take you a long time to understand what is bothering her.

• Noise - Try to eliminate sudden and unpleasant sounds while the baby is sleeping. Turn off electronic devices, remove noisy toys so that they do not suddenly turn on during the night. However, it should be kept in mind that some children fall asleep more easily if they hear soft music in the background or some pleasant, continuous sound that calms them down.
• Inappropriate lighting - For the baby to sleep well at night, it is important that the environment is adequate and that there are no stimuli that disturb sleep. The room should be darkened or have dimmed lights. Too much light can confuse the baby and make it difficult for him to fall asleep.

How much should babies sleep?

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