Just because a baby is normally a good sleeper doesn't mean that she won't occasionally have sleep problems. She, like anyone else, may experience sudden sleep interruptions due to a change in her body. Although illnesses or environmental disruptions, such as cold temperatures or loud noises, may also cause sleep problems, developmental milestones are common culprits, as well.
Separation Anxiety
According to Baby Center online, a baby can begin to show signs of separation anxiety as early as six to seven months but most babies experience separation anxiety between 12 and 18 months. Around this time, a baby has started to feel strongly attached to his caregivers, he recognizes that he is a separate person, and he knows that his caregivers continue to exist when they have left a room. A baby begins to act needy and upset if he sleeps in a separate room from his parents when he goes through a phase of separation anxiety. Parents may help alleviate some of the stress and anxiety by spending extra quality cuddle time with their baby before turning out the lights.
Teething
A baby as young as three months old may experience teething pain that interrupts her ability to sleep. The most pain typically occurs during the acute phase of teething, when a tooth actively cuts through the gum. KidsHealth online says that parents can help alleviate the discomfort with acetaminophen as long as they have permission from a pediatrician.
Gross Motor Development
New motor skills such as sitting, crawling and standing can cause so much excitement in a baby's life that he doesn't want to slow down for sleep. If he isn't resistant to going to bed, he may still wake up more frequently than normal. His caregivers can help sleep better at night by giving him lots of opportunities to burn off his new energy during the day. They can also help keep him safe by lowering the crib mattress when he seems capable of escaping his crib.
Dietary Changes
Some babies sleep longer when they transition to solid foods because they are likely to stay full longer. However, not all babies transition as easily. A baby may have a poor reaction to a cereal, have extra intestinal gas pain or even have an allergy to a new food that has been added to her diet. To recognize any adverse reactions, caregivers should create a solids plan with a pediatrician and introduce new foods days apart from each other, according to "The Sleepeasy Solution: The Exhausted Parent's Guide to Getting Your Child to Sleep from Birth to Age 5," by Jennifer Waldburger and Jill Spivack.
Budding Autonomy
A baby begins to explore his limitations as her enters his toddler years. As a result, weary parents become used to hearing, "No!" on a regular basis. Power struggles can translate into refusal to sleep. However, parents can make sleep time a more pleasant experience by allowing their child to choose the order of the bedtime routine and to pick a beloved bedtime activity such as reading.
