Is your baby not sleeping?
For a process so essential and natural, sleeping is something a lot of babies just aren’t very good at. Babies often need their parent’s help to learn how to go to sleep and then stay asleep for a reasonable length of time. Well-rested babies, who have regular routines of sleep and wakefulness, tend to be more content and easier to care for.
Life with a baby not sleeping day after day is exhausting. Every individual baby has their own unique needs for sleep and what is normal for one may not be for another. It can be hard not to compare your child with others, and baby sleep is a common topic of shared conversation for parents. Remember that your baby’s temperament, personality and age will play a big part in their sleep behaviour.
Common reasons for babies to not sleep:
Parents missing tired signs. Babies give signals such as crying, grizzling and yawning when they’re tired and need to sleep. Missing a baby’s “sleep window” by keeping them up can mean babies take longer to settle.
Over-stimulated and overtired babies resist sleep. They demand lots of attention, but their tolerance is short.
Lack of opportunity for sleep. Babies thrive on predictable, stable routines that support their general health and physical needs. Some babies are more sensitive to change in their usual routines, causing them to not sleep as well.
Hunger or feeling uncomfortable. Babies need to feel tired, calm and content before they will go to sleep.
Realistic sleeping guidelines:
Newborn baby sleep patterns vary, though they most generally need around 9-18 hours of sleep in 24 hours.As they get older, babies will need less frequent sleeps and are likely to be happy to stay awake for longer periods. By 6 months, many babies are sleeping through the night.
Your baby may sleep more on some days than others. Your baby’s sleep will be a constantly changing process and will be impacted by their maturity and development.
Young babies need their parents’ help to regulate their emotions and to feel safe and secure. They like to be wrapped or swaddled, cuddled or rocked to sleep.
Babies from around 3 months can gradually learn skills to self-settle after all of their needs have been met. They may also sleep for longer periods at night without waking their parents.
Your baby’s sleep is not under your direct control. Your responses to their sleep and settling will influence how they calm down and learn to go to sleep.
When does not sleeping become a worry?
Though parents understand how important sleep is, most little ones don’t seem to care too much. A baby not sleeping doesn’t generally cause significant physical problems other than causing the baby to become overtired and difficult to live with. That said, we shouldn’t underestimate the impact this can have on the whole family. Parents can become frustrated and overwhelmed when they don’t get a break.
Constant crying and not being able to get anything else done can be exhausting. Ask your partner, relatives, trusted friends or neighbours for practical support and help.
Recognise that you have needs as well. It is reasonable to have some time away from constantly caring for your child.
A sudden change in your baby’s sleeping behaviour may be a sign of illness. Be aware of symptoms that may indicate changes in your baby’s health. Trust you own judgement in knowing your baby better than anyone does.
If you feel overwhelmed by your baby’s lack of sleep, seek advice from your healthcare professional. Recommendations for managing a baby that is not sleeping depends on their age and what may work for each individual family.
