When you're a new parent, the term "Sleeping like a baby" takes on a new meaning. Your baby likely wakes several times throughout the night, and comments from parents whose baby is sleeping peacefully all night long can make you feel discouraged and confused. Consider the reasons for a baby not sleeping; you'll find that many can be remedied for better sleep for your baby, and subsequently for everyone in your home.
Routine
Babies are generally creatures of habit. Even if your baby doesn't need to wake for feedings, he might be in the habit or routine of waking up at a specific time each night. By recording your baby's night wakings you can detect a pattern of night wakings that alert you to a habitually waking baby. Tracy Hogg, known as the "Baby Whisperer" suggests a wake-to-sleep method in her book, "The Baby Whisperer Solves All Your Problems." Record when your baby most often wakes, and set your alarm to wake up 15 to 30 minutes before that time. Wake your baby momentarily by stirring him in his crib to disrupt his sleep. It will reset his internal clock so he isn't prone to waking up habitually anymore.
Hunger
The truth is, most newborn babies simply cannot sleep all night long because they are hungry. The average newborn's stomach is too small to hold enough food to keep her full all night. Babycenter.com notes that the typical 1- to 3-month old baby needs from 12 to 24 oz. per 24-hour period, yet can only drink 2 to 4 oz. at any given time. As your baby ages and her stomach matures, you'll find yourself stretching time between feedings, but when your baby is still young, it's expected that she won't sleep through the night.
Environment
Your baby's sleep environment is directly related the quality of sleep you both enjoy. KidsHealth.org, a division of the Nemours Foundation, suggests analyzing your baby's sleep environment for factors that could be disrupting sleep. Spend a night in the nursery and think about the temperature, lights and noises that could wake your baby up. Find solutions such as a nightlight, fan or white noise machine to make your baby's environment more conducive to sleep.
Sleep Cycles
Just like adults, babies go through several sleep cycles each night. If you disrupt your baby during a lighter sleep cycle, you could wake him up and cause him to have trouble going back to sleep. Dr. William Sears, associate clinical professor of pediatrics at the University of California, Irvine, School of Medicine, suggests that if you typically rock your baby to sleep and then attempt to put him in his crib during the cycle of light sleep, you disrupt him and cause him to wake up without reaching deep sleep. Try allowing your baby to fall asleep on his own so as not to disrupt his sleep cycle.
References
- KidsHealth.org: Sleep and Your 4- to 7-Month-Old
- BabyCenter.com: Sample Baby Schedules for 1- and 2-Month-Olds
- "The Baby Whisperer Solves All Your Problems"; Tracy Hogg; 2005
- AskDrSears.com: 8 Infant Sleep Facts Every Parent Should Know
