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Becoming a parent is the most important job you will ever undertake. This is true especially when your little one needs you the most! Newborns can be taxing to say the least. There are a million things you need to tend to day and night. Feeding them, diaper changes, putting them to sleep and catering to their every need. And it’s never as easy as it seems. In fact even the simplest of tasks, like sleeping can be a herculean task for your baby. And sometimes, it’s not a phase. The truth is that every parent runs into a tricky situation like this even when they’ve tried everything to put their baby to sleep. Singing them calming lullabies, reading books, feeding them, co-sleeping, leaving them overnight in the nursery. But when the only person who’s droopy eyed at the end is you, it’s time to re-evaluate your options. Here are 4 common baby sleep problems and how to solve them.
1. The Rocker
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We all know just how much babies love to be rocked but being able to put them to sleep like this all the time is impractical and exhausting. Your baby must learn how to fall asleep on their own. Which means that they must have the ability to fall asleep in someplace other than in your arms and the ability to fall asleep without being rocked. Some parents attempt to teach their kids how to do this by pulling the plug all at once. That is, they just let the baby cry it out in the crib until they eventually doze off by themselves.
However, if you can’t seem to do this you create a new sleep association for your baby. Your baby has spent so much time inside their mother’s body that they’ve grown accustomed to drifting off with noise, tactile stimulation, and rocking. So, replace the rocking with white noise instead. Play the sound machine as you start to rock them to sleep initially. This will signal the beginning of the sleep process to them and soon, they won’t need anything else to promptly fall asleep.
2. The Anywhere But Home Sleeper
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This one is kind of odd. Usually at this age, babies are curious and excited about the world around them. So they are unlikely to fall asleep while outside. But if they do fall asleep, it may be because they aren’t getting enough rest to begin with. Observe your baby and see if you’re missing out on any telltale signs that they may be sleepy. Are they rubbing their eyes? Are they whiny and cranky? If so, then maybe it’s time to go down for a nap or think about shifting their sleep schedule. Some babies find it hard to sleep during the night if they go down for a nap in the evening. Move your baby’s sleep schedule so that they are well rested and engaged.
3. The Speed Napper
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Does your baby go down easily for naps but then gets up 15 minutes later and demands to play? And then within an hour they’re rubbing their tired eyes and yawning? That just won’t do! The first thing to do is get to the root cause of your baby’s issue. Why can’t they stay asleep? Is your baby uncomfortable with their nap environment? Are they too hot or too cold? Is your nursery right next to a loud and busy road? Or perhaps your baby is yet to learn how to soothe themselves back to sleep when they wake up.
If your baby consistently wakes up too early, work on their sleep routine. Being overtired can also prevent your baby from sleeping well. So make their sleep environment as comfortable and sleep inducing as possible. Buy black out curtains to block out any light. A white noise machine will also help put your baby to sleep. Create a pre-nap wind down so that your baby falls asleep faster and stays asleep for longer.
4. The Nap Resister
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If you’ve got a baby who refuses to take a nap, this one’s for you. If your little one would rather not go zzz in the morning, it’s probably because they are ready to give up their morning siestas. If your baby is good natured, happy and active, let them be. They are probably well rested and don’t need as many naps anymore. Try putting them down for a nap sometime in the afternoon or early evenings instead.
All babies experience issues at some stage when it comes to sleeping so there’s no need to get worked up. The trick is to not be hard on yourself. Some kids just have it harder than others. And although it’s not fair, your baby will eventually stay asleep for longer periods of time. If your baby doesn’t sleep at all however, consult your doctor. Remember to be kind to yourself. You are doing your best. Happy parenting and sweet dreams!
