6 Baby sleep regression causes and their solutions
There are a lot of discussions out there about what constitutes healthy sleep for an infant. Is it the average amount of time a baby spends sleeping? What about how much sleep they get in their first year?
For many parents, baby sleep problems are the root cause of parental stress. This is because not only does this lead to increased worry, but also general well-being issues such as post-partum depression. The following are some baby sleep problems and their treatment, along with the legitimate causes:
1. Lots of crying
Crying is a baby's way of communicating, be it hunger, pain, fatigue, or stress. Crying may also be caused by indigestion or gas. Babies will cry when they are overly tired and have difficulty falling asleep.
They may also cry when they are hungry and their mother's breast milk is no longer sufficient to soothe them back to sleep. If the mother has recently resumed work or has just stopped breastfeeding, it could result in her baby's sudden refusal to go to bed at night.
Solution:
Attempt to establish a consistent schedule. This can be achieved by trying to have the baby sleep at the same time every day, even on weekends. Try to feed him just before bedtime. Keep in mind that babies younger than 4 months should not be fed late at night as it could result in an upset stomach and colic.
Attempt to have a relaxing activity with your baby before bedtime, such as ensuring that his room is dark and quiet or having him suck on a pacifier while he goes to sleep.
You may also want to read: Preparing for a baby girl - checklist.
2. Little or no night's sleep.
Many parents have the experience of their baby sleeping for very short periods at night. This can lead to problems in a baby's development, and may even affect the child's daytime behavior. If you notice your child sleeping less at night or after normal bedtime, likely, he is not getting enough sleep.
Solution:
Try to keep to a regular sleep schedule, ensuring that both you and your baby are getting enoughrest. Avoid overstimulation or exposure to bright lights and television just before bedtime. This will help you and your baby to relax into a deep sleep much more quickly.
3. Irregular bedtime.
Some parents of babies find it difficult to establish a consistent bedtime cycle. It is also common for older children to have trouble falling asleep, even if they have slept well previously.
Solution:
Try to establish a regular bedtime routine with your baby, particularly when he is an older child. This can include setting aside a special time of day for the child to take his bath and get ready for bed. Ensure that there is a quiet time of day, also. Try to establish a consistent sleep pattern with your child.
4. Sleep terrors.
This is a reflexive behavior that babies develop at around the age of six months. The baby may be pulled out of bed and tossed to the floor, or even strangled. This can be frightening for the parents and tend to result in parental anxiety and stress.
Sleep terrors usually last from two minutes to 30 seconds, and if they are not treated this way, they could continue for many hours.
Solution:
Do not react with anxiety when your baby sleeps. Make sure that you remain calm at all times, as well as your child. The way you respond affects the way your child reacts to situations. Babies with sleep terrors are often very hungry, which is why it is important to try and feed them before they go to bed.
5. Breathing problems.
Babies can have a problem in sleeping due to a lack of oxygen while they sleep, and this is called sleep apnea. It can be due to a variety of other reasons, but this is one of the most common causes. It could be related to the baby having a snore or it may occur during deep sleep.
Solution:
Ensure that your baby's head is supported during sleep as much as possible. This means that there should be no pillows in between the pillow and the head. Use extra blankets and sheets on the bed, as well as reinforce your baby if you suspect he has had trouble with breathing during the night.
6. Reactive attachment disorder.
It is normal for babies to want to be held by their parents during the night. This can be a very soothing experience for them. Reactive attachment disorder, also known as RAD, is a problem that is seen in babies less than four months old.
They may stop crying but will remain awake at night presumably because they do not feel that they have been cherished enough by their parents.
Solution:
Go to your baby during the night and hold him. This is essential in dealing with RAD, as well as other baby sleep problems.
Baby sleep problems, particularly those that are more serious, may require medical intervention. If the issues you are facing are due to a psychological nature, such as infant iron deficiency or newborn jaundice, you may want to seek the advice of your pediatrician.
Ensure that you take time to discuss your concerns with a doctor before taking any type of medication or making changes to your child's sleep routine.
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