Welcoming a newborn into your life is one of the most joyous and fulfilling experiences. But as much as you adore your little bundle of joy, it can be frustrating when they won't sleep well at night (who wants to sacrifice precious shut-eye time?!). In this article, we'll explore why some babies don't sleep through the night and ways to make sure both baby and parent get adequate rest.
Understanding Newborn Sleep Patterns
Your newborn's sleeping patterns are not uniform; in fact, their cycles are highly irregular. When they're first born, they might only sleep for short stretches (up to 3 hours) before needing another feed or diaper change.
During a typical day (if there's such thing with a new baby around...), babies have several naps up until about six months old. At night, however, the aim should be long periods of uninterrupted slumber - though this ideal scenario does not apply equally across all infants.
Genetics Play A Role
Every baby is different — even siblings! One reason some newborns may struggle with sleep more than others has to do with genetics(yep - blame those pesky chromosomes again). Some families are prone to being light sleeper while others could almost nap on top of an earth-shattering plane landing close by (now that's some amazing skill right there!).
This means that parents will inevitably experience diverse levels of exhaustion after having children whereaas other family members might share different opinions each reflecting their prior exposure.
Common Reasons Why Your Baby Won't Sleep
If you feel like you tried everything possible but still can’t think straight from lack of sheltered eyes proper shut eye-time underneath thick circles below them thanks to unending midnight feeds!, read further for insight into what could be causing these clingy and finally asleep babies( not!) to disturb your night's sleep:
Hunger
A hungry baby won't sleep well. Every time they become excited, eat something or fuss you, it can mean that they are hungry.
Tip: Overfeeding is also a concern here so be sure not to go overboard with quantity.
Digestive Issues
Some newborns experience tummy issues resulting from gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), milk intolerance or even celiac disease which might cause trouble breathing among other underlying symptoms like bloating diarrhoea.. The discomfort tends to keep them up at night. If you suspect digestive problems such as painful gas build-up in the stomach especially after feedings(even better if mommy has taken meals) then this may be the trigger for their wailing all-night shows (It’s showtime folks!).
Dirty diapers
No one likes wearing dirty clothes all day - neither does a baby!. A wet diaper can make a newborn relentlessly cry interrupting their rest-cycle endlessly!. Parents should change diapers regularly (sometimes without waiting for cues, take initiative) ensuring that they're dry and clean enough before placing baby back down into sweet heavens of slumber myself when dressing fresh (am I right?).
Tip: Use scent-free gentle wipes during diaper changes.
Ways To Help Your Baby Sleep Better
Baby that little munchkin in the house needs lots of love — patience — understanding but so do moms(lot more actually!). As challenging as those few first weeks with an infant are(cue attention-craving cries), practice these effective strategies (these have been put to test by fellow new-parent-grunta-ers) for getting your newborn sleeping through till morning(for massive rejoice on our part) :
Swaddling (wait that sounds familiar..yeaaah).
Newborns enjoy being wrapped snuggly in a swaddling blanket. This replicates the feeling of being inside the womb — it's cozy and comforting (is that why they end up drooling so sweeter?!).
Tip: Only use light blankets for this, dry clean are best or any from your previous shopping bag.
White Noise (btw, Lullabies work like magic too!)
White noise can help establish an environment conducive to sleeping (you haven't experience white-noise until you've had babies) as newborn ears are sensitive hence it might be difficult sometimes especially if one is sharing a room with baby but the convenient thing is there’s plenty of devices available- clever technology!
Tip: If living in noisy environs then try cushions around doors & windows .
Dim Lights / Dark Environment
Babies love spending time in peaceful slumber zones which means having low lights in their surrounding right before bed signals(sonar?) them that its dimming down time.
When Seeking Professional Help Becomes Important
It's worth noting that some babies develop difficulty sleeping due to underlying medical issues. Such instances shouldn't be left untreated since it would mean further distressing long term effects on both baby and parent(s). When seeking professional advice remember(seriously though!!) seek someone not just experienced but certified to give correct judgment based on symptoms explained thoroughly by parents(less assumptions better). Use cue gestures provided during such consultations like stools color range etc.
Some common sleep disorders include:
Periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD)
Periodic limb movements occur when a patient moves vehemently('heave-ho' kind of) characteristic sudden jerking limbs causing poor sleep quality overall.
Obstructive sleep apnea
This form of Sleep Apnea results from obstruction(duh!) or narrowing in the throat and upper airway’s passage which leads to pauses while breathing, usually for up to a minute; common in adults but not so much youngies.
Conclusion
In summary, new parents might struggle with their newborn's lack of sleep even though every baby is unique. It's important to understand that hunger, digestive issues & dirty diapers are some possible reasons why they frequently wake up throughout the night.
However, there are tried-and-true methods like white noise consistency(baby needs all those sounds memorized), dim lights before bed-time(swirting through a dark peaceful slumber-zone) and Swaddling techniques (all cozied up -womb-like mush). But if neither undertakings seem helpful after seeking professional assistance then treating underlying conditions is the way forward(luckily it's 2021 : ) )
So snuggle away fellow parent-grunda-ers!