Baby Insomnia

BABY INSOMNIA

    Imagine being exhausted from all-day house chores and work, eagerly anticipating a good night’s sleep after putting your baby to bed in her crib. You want to ensure your baby sleeps safely in the crib overnight.

    However, when you’re about to go to bed, your baby starts crying for no apparent reason. This is called baby insomnia, where a baby’s sleeping pattern suddenly shifts from long stretches of sleep to waking up every few minutes to hours throughout the night.

   As a mother of four children (three are older and one is 13 months old), I have experienced this many times and can relate to mothers around the globe.

   Baby insomnia is quite common, particularly around 12 to 14 weeks. It’s often called a ‘sleep regression,’ which can occur at 4, 8, 12, and 18 months, coinciding with significant growth milestones in a baby’s life. However, sometimes young children also experience insomnia.

Possible Causes of Baby Insomnia:

    Newborns sleep approximately 16 hours out of 24. Baby insomnia can be a reason for any medical condition but mostly it happens around 3 months (12 weeks), when their circadian rhythm begins to influence their sleep-wake cycle. It can go back on its own and can come back again as the baby goes through different milestones.

• Experts suggest that one reason for this could be growth spurts. These spurts entail physical changes in the baby’s height, weight, and length, necessitating more frequent feedings, which can disrupt the sleep-wake cycle.

• For some babies, teething may start as early as 6 months, potentially causing sleep disturbances. • Environmental factors, such as changes in room temperature (too hot or cold), can also affect the baby’s sleep-wake cycle.

 • Separation anxiety can be an additional factor. Between 6 to 12 months, babies become aware of separation from their parents, leading to anxiety even during sleep.

• Sometimes, vacations or changes in routine for older siblings can disturb the baby’s sleep routine, making it challenging for them to adapt to new sleeping environments.

How long Does Baby Insomnia last:

  The duration of baby insomnia varies from one baby to another and depends on the specific cause. On average, it can last for a few days to weeks. However, in some cases, it can become a long-term issue affecting a baby’s daily activities.

Signs of Baby Insomnia:

 Several signs can help you identify if it’s insomnia or something else, including:

• Waking up more frequently during the night.

• Shorter daytime naps.

 • Fussiness and crying without an apparent reason.

• Taking longer than usual to go back to sleep after waking up.

 • Bedtime resistance.

Diagnosis and Coping Strategies:

 Patience is key in dealing with challenging situations like baby insomnia, as it can be exhausting for parents. Diagnosing baby insomnia involves analyzing sleep history, maintaining a daily log, and using questionnaires.

Coping strategies:

   Here are some tips and tricks to cope with baby insomnia:

• Maintain a consistent daily sleep routine and work on restoring it if your child deviates from it.

 • Ensure your baby consumes enough daily food to prevent nighttime hunger.

. Make sure the environment is comfortable to sleep.

• Put your baby in the crib when you notice signs of tiredness, like yawning, to help them fall asleep independently.

• A nighttime bath using lavender-scented shampoo can be soothing for the baby, as lavender has calming properties.

I would like to talk about these tips in detail.

1. Maintaining a Daily Routine: Keeping your baby’s routine as consistent as possible, even during vacations or day trips, can be beneficial. Babies thrive on routine; abrupt changes can disrupt their sleep patterns and behavior. It’s essential to be mindful of this when planning activities or travel.
2. Nighttime Feeding: Feeding your baby well during the day is a good practice to help reduce nighttime awakenings due to hunger. “Dream feeding” involves gently waking your baby for a feed before you go to bed, and it can help extend their sleep during the night.
3. Calm Atmosphere: Start dimming your lights as the nighttime/bedtime approaches. It will help create a calm atmosphere for sleep. Also, it helps increase melatonin levels in the body which is responsible for a good night’s sleep.
4. Ferber Method: The Ferber Method is a sleep training technique that involves gradually increasing the intervals between checking on a crying baby to encourage them to self-soothe and learn to sleep independently. It’s important to note that this method may not be suitable for all parents and babies, and it’s essential to research it thoroughly and consult with a pediatrician if you have concerns.
5. Night Bath: A soothing bath before bedtime can be a part of a calming bedtime routine. Lavender is often used for its potential relaxation benefits, and many parents find lavender-based products helpful for soothing their baby before sleep. It’s important to choose safe and appropriate baby products.

Still Concerned:

  Baby insomnia may be a temporary phase that resolves as the baby grows. This is true; many sleep issues can be attributed to growth spurts, teething, or other developmental changes.

  However, if you remain worried about your baby’s sleep, it’s advisable to consult a pediatrician who can offer guidance, rule out any underlying medical issues, and provide support.

  Overall, these tips offer some practical advice for helping your baby establish healthy sleep patterns, but it’s important to remember that every baby is unique, and what works for one may not work for another.

  Parenting choices should be based on your baby’s individual needs and preferences, and consulting with a healthcare professional can provide tailored advice.

REFERENCES:

https://raisingchildren.net.au/babies/sleep/solving-sleep-problems/baby-sleep-problems

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/baby/caring-for-a-newborn/helping-your-baby-to-sleep/