At birth, the infant does not know the difference between day and night. He wakes up when he is hungry, that is to say, up to 8 to 10 times a day. Around 3 months, he is ready for a full night’s sleep.
My newborn won’t sleep at night – This post will provide you with useful advice on how to help the baby sleep in his crib through the night.
Baby doesn’t sleep all night , is it normal?
Before the child has reached the age of 6 months, on average, it is normal that he does not sleep all night long and segment his rest times, a rhythm certainly disturbing for parents.
Two factors explain this disorderly rhythm of his sleep times:
- Infants are not physiologically able to stay a long time slot without replenishing their energy reserves.
They need to eat regularly.
It is estimated that children are able to extend their sleep times from a weight of 11 pounds (5 kg), which provides them with sufficient reserves but rest assured, many babies weighing less than 11 pounds can already sleep through the night.
2. At birth, babies are not locked into a 24-hour circadian rhythm; and it will take them a little time to acquire this cyclical rhythm.
It is only after a few weeks of life that your toddler will begin to differentiate between day and night, and to understand, with your help, that the night is conducive to a long rest and the day to times of awakening and exchanges.
How do you know if the baby is ready to sleep through the night?
Around 3 months, your child’s life is generally organized with a rhythm of ten hours of nocturnal sleep, as well as six hours for naps during the day.
The important thing then is to make him aware of the day/night alternation. The first tip, very simple but effective: during naps throughout the day, leave the shutters open enough for light to enter your room. Don’t be afraid to make noise in the house either.
To prevent the baby from confusing day and night, turn off the light at night, on the other hand, close the blinds and make them as calm as possible around him.
Indeed, if we get into the habit of leaving the light on, instead of helping him fall asleep, it may create confusion in his mind. It is preferable to accentuate the alternation between darkness and light so that the baby can find his rhythm between daytime life and nocturnal rest.
Provide good sleeping conditions for your baby
Until your baby has the physical capacity to sleep for more than 7 consecutive hours, there is not much you can do except being patient.
However, there are certain things you can do to help your baby sleep through the night.
Do not disturb his sleep cycles by picking him up as soon as he makes the slightest noise or fidgets a little. Indeed, he may simply go from a REM sleep phase to a slow-wave sleep phase.
This transition occurs several times each night and it is normal for it to cause micro-awakenings. Only intervene if, really, he does not go back to sleep on his own!
Help him tell the difference between day and night by acting differently depending on when he wakes up. At night, make as little noise as possible, whisper, and avoid bright lights.
During the day, when he is taking a nap, do not close the shutters or the curtains (or not completely), let daylight enter the room, and do not hesitate to continue to live and talk normally next to him.
Put him to bed as soon as you spot signs of fatigue, without waiting for exhaustion: baby whines, has a little more jerky movements than usual, his mood changes, he sucks his thumb, yawns or rubs his eyes.
Baby keeps waking up at night to eat
Children over 6 months old, who weigh more than 10 pounds and eat 4 meals a day, no longer have a physiological reason to wake up at night to eat.
It is a habit, an adaptation that is not yet in place with respect to the highway of sleep.
Not only is it not serious, but in addition you, mum and dad, can gradually reduce these nocturnal awakenings of your child, provided you are convinced of the goal to be achieved, with patience and kindness.
Baby sleeps but wakes up too early
It is difficult to condition a very early-morning baby. The only thing you can do is gradually delay taking your breakfast to settle baby on a time that suits you better.
Your little one will probably shift his wake-up time as well. Do not hesitate to leave your baby to babble alone in his bed in the morning when he is awake but not crying.
Final word
Getting your newborn to sleep through the night is not impossible. However, it should be done by following a few simple rules that will ensure the child’s health and wellbeing.
You will be surprised at how quickly your little one will come to sleep through the night.
Before you know it, you will have a baby who sleeps for longer periods of time than you ever thought possible!
