Is your baby or toddler waking up in the middle of the night and not wanting to go back to sleep? A lot of parents wonder why their baby can sleep through the night at one point and then begin waking up in the middle of the sleep. As just as babies grow and develop over time, so do their sleep patterns.
Many common sleep problems can result in sleepless nights and cranky babies. Sometimes baby won’t go to sleep because they are hungry, wet, or just need some soothing. Other times it may be that baby is overly tired and putting in too many waking hours during the daytime naps. There’s not always an exact fit for every baby because each child develops at their own pace. Below is a list of 13 common sleep problems that may be keeping your little one awake at night.
In This Article
What’s the common sleeping problems among infants?
The common problems for a baby not sleeping throughout the night are incorrect napping and feeding times. Some are serious and require medical attention, but most have causes that parents can easily remedy.
For example, the baby who has trouble napping during the day may be staying up too late at night. The one who is difficult to put down for a nap may not have had enough sleep at night. Because she or he kept coming into bed with their parents. Below we have discussed problems of babies trouble falling asleep and they are
1. Reflux
According to BabyCenter, many babies experience reflux as a result of the amount of air. They swallow during feedings and also due to rapid muscle contractions in the lower esophagus. As well very young babies with this condition may spit up often and tend to cry or fuss more due to stomach discomfort.
However, gastroesophageal refers to the stomach and esophagus, causing acid from the stomach to move up into the esophagus. This can damage the lining of your baby’s esophagus and cause pain. For avoiding this situation parents needs to maintain easy bedtime routine. And if there’s any need they can go for sleep training.
2. Flat Head Syndrome
In this case, the baby’s head is flattened from side to side because of their sleep position. This results in back and neck problems if not treated immediately. Therefore, it is important to change the baby’s head position while sleeping because this can cause trouble falling asleep. Parents must maintain a nap schedule if a baby will not sleep properly. And this way also helps to avoid sleep disorders among babies. A sleeping pattern is very sensitive to babies hence it is important not to make them nap for too long or at the wrong times.
3. Digestive Issues
Sometimes baby won’t sleep because of digestive issues. Babies whose digestion problems result in making bad gases are usually difficult to put down for a nap. This results in poor sleep patterns which affect their growth and development negatively.
During naps, women should take their babies for a walk. This will help them to fall asleep easily and also avoid digestive problems. According to many sleep consultants, a baby who is 2 month old won’t sleep because of their digestive issues. So, it’s on their parents to help them in developing healthy sleeping habits to avoid serious disorders of sleep.
4. Co-sleeping
Many parents feel that they have to sleep with their babies for them to fall asleep and stay asleep. Experts say, though, that this habit will not only interfere with the development of the child’s ability to self-soothe. But could lead to sleep problems as they get older, such as having issues separating from their parents.
So, don’t sleep with your baby and make sure a baby fall asleep on their own. You can start by putting the child to bed when she or he is drowsy but awake, then leave the room if babies fall asleep. And if a newborn won’t sleep then make sure they should be allowed to take two naps a day for several months after birth. And do it until the child is six months old or reaches about 10 pounds in weight.
5. Nightmares
A nightmare is an unpleasant dream that arouses feelings of fear or anxiety. Nightmares and frightening dreams are fairly common in children and they normally do not indicate serious sleep problems. This occurs when a child suddenly wakes from sleep with intense fear or panic, screaming inconsolably. The child does not recognize those who try to console them as their eyes remain closed throughout the episode.
In this situation, parents have to make sure to back to sleep and must not allow them to get up and walk around. This could make the situation worse for the child and it is the common sleep problems among babies.
6. Insomnia
Babies are not able to tell us what they want, so it is difficult to determine the cause of their insomnia. It may be that your baby does not need as much sleep as you think he or she does. They may not have a problem falling asleep but rather staying asleep.
Most babies wake up several times during the night, especially in the early months. If you have a baby who wakes up at night and cries, you may interpret this as insomnia. When in fact it is perfectly normal for an infant to wake up during the night. A better solution might be to see if your child falls asleep in a swing or rocker. You can also try putting them down awake so they learn to soothe themselves back to sleep.
7. Night wakings
A Night waking are common sleep problems among babies and they usually want comfort or the breast. Parents should always respond to their baby’s call as night waking is an important part of establishing a secure attachment between parent and baby. By a good bedtime routine or sleep training, a parent can teach the baby to sleep through the night without any disturbances.
As a parent, you have to make sure at their nighttime sleep time they are in a dark room, check the baby’s diaper. And be sure they do not have any clothing or blankets which can restrict their movement.
8. Separation anxiety
Separation anxiety usually occurs in children who are under 3 year old won’t go to sleep. But it may happen at any time after that. It is a normal stage of development and almost every child goes through it sooner or later.
At this age, most children feel insecure and frightened when away from their parents or carers. They are afraid that they may be abandoned, which can cause difficulty in adapting to new situations or being unable to sleep away from their parents. So try to keep the child occupied rather than allowing them to become clingy. As a parent make sure to develop a good bedtime routine for getting to your baby sleep.
9. Teething Troubles
Many parents have asked why my baby won’t sleep? And teething is the most common problem they have found. Teething problems can keep babies awake and cause them to wake frequently during the night. To soothe teething pain, give your baby a clean and wet washcloth or a bit of vanilla ice cream to chewing on for about thirty minutes before bedtime routines.
Most pediatricians recommend that babies receive acetaminophen (such as Tylenol) to relieve their discomfort. However, check with your pediatrician to see if this is safe for your baby or not. For a baby sleep, it’s important to make sure your baby’s gums are pain-free before you put them to bed.
10. Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Obstructive sleep apnea is a condition in which the airway is obstructed by tissues during sleep. It happens when the tissues lining the back of your throat relax and block the airway, causing temporary breathing problems. Baby sleeps with mouth open and doesn’t arouse when breathing difficulties happen. Untreated it may lead to other problems, such as poor sleep quality, frequent nighttime arousals. And when you find these issues in your infant, you must consult with a doctor.
11. Parasomnias
Parasomnias are unusual sleep behaviors that can include sleepwalking, talking, thrashing around in bed. And even more dangerous acts like headbanging or removing all clothing. Most kids outgrow these early problems by age five.
However, parasomnias may indicate a deeper problem such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. These could be serious sleep problems among kids. In this situation, the baby wakes up with a start and often looks terrified. They may scream and flail their arms and legs. They might even jump out of their own bed to escape the apparent danger in their bedroom.
12. Physical or medical discomfort
These babies don’t sleep because they are too uncomfortable to relax and fall asleep. They may be hungry, wet or need a fresh diaper or have some other physical need. That must be met before the baby will feel comfortable and go to sleep. And for a few nights, as the baby is eased back to sleep, they may cry more than usual. There are also some medical reasons baby won’t sleep as well. For example, a baby who becomes inconsolable and begins to cry uncontrollably may have an ear infection or colic. These conditions require medical attention immediately.
13. SIDS
The sudden infant death syndrome occurs in babies from one to twelve months old. SIDS is the number one cause of death among infants between one month and a year. The risk of SIDS drops as the child grows older, but it isn’t completely gone until they are at least five years old.
According to academic research institutions if a newborn baby won’t sleep properly for three months it will be considered as one of the serious infant sleep problems. In this situation, a child sleep problem should be assessed by your pediatrician.
What’s the sign that baby isn’t getting enough sleep?
For healthy babies, it’s necessary to take two or three naps per day. But even with a regular sleeping pattern, most babies will wake up at least once or twice during the night. To help the baby get back to sleep without too much crying and fussing, follow your instincts. You must understand the signs of sleep problems that need attention. Below you will get some common signs which indicate that your baby isn’t getting enough sleep and they are
1. Irritable or Cranky behavior
Many babies will be cranky or irritable when they are sleep-deprived. But you should also watch for other signs that the baby isn’t getting enough rest. In general, a newborn babies will cry when they are tired and need help calming down. A 3-month old who is not getting enough sleep might have trouble staying awake during playtime, or might be overly cranky during the day. A 6-month old who isn’t sleeping well might act fussy or startle more easily than usual. So, parents must get pediatrics for a baby immediately and cooperate with sleep training to let back to sleep their baby.
2. Overtired at Bedtime
Sometimes baby lost sleep due to overtired. If your baby has been sleeping less at night because they’re overtired during the day. Then you need to help them to develop better sleep habits during the day. One way is to set up a regular schedule that gives them enough time for naps each day.
Overtired babies often cry more than usual at bedtime and take longer to fall asleep. For a baby sleep schedule, aim for two to three naps each day and a bedtime routine for young children to sleep longer and a great bedtime story may help too. A baby sleep training schedule that begins with a predictable pattern of good sleep habits will make your life easier.
3. Crying and clinging at parents
Crying and clinging to parents usually means that the baby isn’t getting enough sleep. If infant sleep patterns are interrupted, this can lead to long-term sleep deprivation. At the first sign of a baby crying all day and night, parents should look for common reasons behind their baby’s lack of adequate sleep. In this situation, the night sleep of the child is usually more disturbed than the day sleep.
As well as babies transition to new or prolonged day sleep causes awakening at night. Babies often get upset when they feel hungry or wet; this is a completely normal part of growing up. But if babies cry after their feeding time, don’t use it as an excuse to feed them again. It’s important to understand that hungry babies will insist on feeding.
4. Fluttering eyelids
Therefore, less sleep makes your baby’s eyelids flutter. It might look like your baby is awake but still, her eyelids are fluttering. In the newborn stage of your baby girl or boy, eyelids usually flutter in the second stage of their sleep. So the baby might be awake but then fall back to sleep. These two kind of eyelid movements indicate that the baby is falling asleep. And becoming more alert during their naps by moving their eyes from side to side. And make sure to sleep through the night by using a white noise machine or a sound conditioner for your baby.
5. Baby becoming fussy while breastfeeding
Typically, babies will feed every 2-3 hours. If your baby is breastfeeding at least eight times in 24 hours, they are getting enough food. But if they’re feeding more than 10 times a day, there is a chance that your milk supply is low and you may want to add formula or expressed breastmilk into their diet. It is natural for the baby to be fussy while breastfeeding. However, if the baby continues to cry after breastfeeding, it may be an indicator that there is something else wrong with your child. The child age sleep problems have many reasons. And for avoiding that moms should be stuck on a consistent routine of feeding, it helps to get them more sleep at night.
6. Do not wake up easily
Some babies sleep like they’re in a coma. They sleep through everything except for very loud noises or vigorous shaking. Other babies wakes up at the slightest provocation, even when you’ve managed to get them to sleep soundly. If the baby is waking up more than once in the middle of the night, it may be because he or she isn’t getting sleep during the day. But if an infant sleep more than the estimated hours, it is a good idea to see your pediatrician. Sometimes it’s more likely that the baby just needs quiet music and comfort to go back to sleep.
7. Yawing and frustrating
Yawing and frustration is common sign that your baby not getting enough or more sleep. There are many sleep issues your child is having during their development period. If your baby’s sleep is interrupted or gets cut short, you may notice that he or she becomes frustrated and inconsolable for the rest of the day. These changes they face when it comes to sleeping time will be noticed by children.
Similarly, if your baby seems to cry for no reason during the day, he or she may be tired. Some babies become frustrated by their decreased ability to communicate as they develop language skills. Help your baby feel safe and secure by staying near them and talking in a soft, soothing voice.
8. Sleepy But Refusing to Nap
Sometimes an over-tired baby simply refuses to take a nap. And yet by this age, babies usually need two naps per day, at least. If your baby is not taking naps but seems exhausted anyway, something may be bothering him or her during the day.
The circumstances of each child will determine whether the child needs a regular nap schedule. Then stay alert, and check the baby’s activity level from day today. If you notice a “pattern” of non-napping, try changing a baby sleep routine until something clicks. Many babies refuse an early-afternoon nap or wake up during the middle of the night when they’re tired at bedtime. Try pushing back your child’s bedtime earlier by 30 minutes and see if this change helps or not.
How to start good sleeping habits?
For starting good sleeping habits you have to put the baby down drowsy but awake. If your child takes little sleep at night then it’s normal but in some situations, you have to care about that. There are many reasons for this problem including teething, illness, or worry about something. Below we have shared some facts with you that will help your baby sleep well and it is
1. Consider a pacifier
A clean, unused pacifier may be the perfect sleep prop. If you’re breastfeeding, offer your baby a pacifier at bedtime and naptime. It does not interfere with breastfeeding if your baby doesn’t have it in her mouth while nursing. In young children to start sleep habits of using pacifiers for a few weeks at least. Therefore, the night wakings to feed are often shorter and lighter. And if a baby start sleeping well using a pacifier, you can stop using it when your baby is 6 to 8 months old as well.
2. Avoid overtired state
Though your baby may not sleep because she is overtired. Over the age of 6 months, the AAP recommends limiting daytime activities such as playing with toys and watching television to promote regular nighttime sleep. Avoid stimulating activities just before bedtime such as taking a long bath or reading stories. Ideally, put your child down when he or she shows signs of tiredness. Sometimes singing lullabies can also help the baby to sleep quickly. As a parent developing these sleep habits makes your baby healthy and wealthy at the same time as well.
3. Keep it routine
As we all know, children are creatures of habit. If you want your baby to sleep well at night, establish a bedtime routine for yourself and your baby. Keep bath time, storytime, song time, and cuddle time the same every day so that your child becomes familiar with it.
For an infant sleep longer than eleven hours, the routine needs to be more than 45 minutes. And give your little one a chance to fall asleep on their own. If you rock or nurse your child to sleep every night. That energy will become a crutch that he/she may come to rely on as they get older. The baby’s temperament will also affect the routine so make sure about it.
4. Create a comfortable sleeping environment
As well as peer-reviewed studies, this is something even the oldest generations of grandparents still agree with. They say if the baby is having trouble sleeping, move him or her to another own room for a while to see if any obvious factors might be holding them up. Providing a comfortable environment is the first thing for your baby. If you find that still does not work, it might be time to check on more serious conditions such as allergies or colic problems.
5. Keep night dark or calm
For a baby sleep to be good to feel safe at sleep time. Keep their bedroom dark or dim during nighttime sleeping because when they wake up in the middle of sleeping through the night. They should see that nothing is lurking around. If you prefer to use a night lamp then it should be dimmed low so that it does not disturb your baby at all.
As a parent, it’s your responsibility to not stuck with the maternal mood. And for a calm environment avoid TV or computer screens too. Black-out curtains are useful to make sure the room is dark enough even for sleeping through the night.
6. By encouraging napping
For an infant sleep good habits, parents and a whole family must allow the child to have a daily nap. By encouraging napping in the day, it will help in the evening when the child is ready for bed. For newborn babies it’s should be recommendable for parents to sleep with them in the same room as well.
And parents should avoid having electronic gadgets like mobile phones and television in their bedroom. There should be some consistent time to go to sleep and wake up, which means the baby must take naps at another consistent time. It will help in establishing an early bedtime ritual, especially when they’re growing up from toddler to a two-year-old child.
How much sleep do young babies need?
The time a baby needs to sleep varies depending on their age, but between 12 to 18 hours seem to be the typical range. Baby’s sleep habits are as individual as their personalities. So remember that your baby will have a different preference from another baby. Some babies love being wrapped up in a blanket and cuddled against you while sleeping, some love having a pacifier to suck on during the night, others prefer to sleep in their own space.
However, one thing almost all babies have in common, though, is that they will wake up often during the night. This can be anything from once to seven times a night. Parents need to know how much their baby needs to take nap at what age they are.
From Birth to 6 months
Newborns need to take a nap almost every few hours. According to a study, newborns should sleep 16 to 18 hours over 24 hours, including one long nap during the day. By four months of age, babies should be getting 14 to 15 hours of sleep in 24 hours. Most babies will last one or two hours at a time in between feedings before they are ready for another short sleep session.
During this age, it’s necessary to have many short naps during the day and feed your baby frequently to increase their sleeping cycles. If you do not give your baby a long period of sleep. It will be difficult to keep up the same routine during the night. Also, try to wake them from their naps at about the same time each day, as this will help establish a consistent bedtime routine.
From 6 months to 2 Years
During the toddler years, children usually sleep less than before. They still need to go to bed between 7 and 8 hours a day, but can not stay in one place for a long time. It is necessary to understand the difference between the baby’s sleep habits. And how they behave when awake to make sure you do not miss opportunities for rest time.
During this stage, some children may not be able to fall asleep without a lovey or transitional object. While others will only need the comfort of a parent’s touch. If your baby wakes up at night crying for you, it is best to check on them immediately. But if they are calling for you from their room or bedroom door, you might want to let them cry it out for a few minutes until they calm down.
From 2 years to 5 years
Most children in this age group will remain in bed until morning. If they get up early, do not try to put them back to sleep. Just wait for them to wake up and then deal with it. The best thing you can do is continue your child’s consistent sleep schedule and bedtime routine.
If your child wakes up at night, keep the lights off and go to him or her quietly. If necessary, give your child a sip of water before putting them back into bed. Be sure to spend some time playing with your child in the evening after dinner is finished. When it comes time to tuck in, go into your child’s room with them, but do not linger longer than about five minutes.
Why My 3 Year Old Won’t Go To Sleep?
Do Birth Injury Can Affect The Baby Sleep Duration?
Why do 2 year old refusing to sleep?
- Keep the same bedtime and wake time every day
- Provide bedtime routines like stories/talks, songs (regular ones - avoid ones with sudden changes in volume), breather in rocking chair or in lap; longer baths; lavender oil on sheets etc
- Avoid too much milk/late dinners, caffeine drinks late at night
Did nursing help my baby to take enough nap?
The Conclusion.
We know that the lack of sleep can be frustrating, but there are some things you can do to help. If your baby won’t sleep because they’re hungry or just need a diaper change, try giving them something to eat and changing their diaper before bedtime. Take care not to give too many bottles in one day we recommend no more than 3-4 per 24 hours at most.
However, you should also make sure that your kid’s nap when they get tired during the day. So they don’t come home from school overtired and unable to fall asleep easily. Lastly, always remember that consistency is key for babies. And spend time with them right before bed each night by reading books or playing music together, then put them down sleepy but awake. As well if you have any questions regarding your baby or child then contact us through a comment section below, respectively.
