Night waking is a fairly common complaint for most mothers. Especially in the first year of the baby’s life. Sleep deprivation is not pleasant, we can all agree on that. The crying at night is a gut-wrenching experience for every parent out there. But hey. You’re not alone. Almost every parent goes through this, and you’ll have to hang in there. Your child needs you and they’ll never be this small again. So, it’s best to learn about the possible reasons for your baby’s night wakes. These are some of the causes of your child’s night wakes.
Do you recognize them?
Hunger
Yes, the night wakes because your baby is hungry can last for months, and at times even beyond the first year. That’s completely normal and there’s nothing to be alarmed about. Your newborn has a tiny stomach capacity and needs frequent feedings at night in order to grow and develop properly. Sometimes up to 12 times a day, and that can be quite hard for the parents. Make sure that your baby has regular feedings during the day in order to intake the daily calories needed, a in time night awakenings should reduce.
Underdeveloped Circadian Rhythm
All babies are born with underdeveloped Circadian Rhythm. Your baby cannot distinguish between day and night and the sleep cycles are mixed up. However, there’s a way to improve your baby’s circadian rhythm even from a young age. It takes most babies up to 8 weeks to start distinguishing day from night, and that’s the perfect age to start their sleep training.
One of the tricks would be to not let your baby sleep more than 3 hours during the day. After 3 hours, it is recommendable to wake up your baby for feedings. Try to keep the room bright and loud, turn on the TV or the vacuum cleaner during the day.
Do the opposite at night. Dim the lights, turn off any electronic devices, and any other loud music. Establish an evening bed routine and stick to it. It can be soothing like: bath, putting on pajamas, gentle cuddling and singing, and off to the crib. That’s how your baby can know when it’s nighttime and when it’s time to go to sleep.
Gassy babies also wake up frequently
A gassy tummy can cause a lot of discomfort and a lot of tears. Especially at night. Just when you think that your baby is fed and changed, the tears start at night. Have you tried burping your child? That gas in the tummy needs to escape and a good burping session after feeding and even a massage on the belly will do the trick.
Teething
This is self-explanatory but it can become quite a problem for a lot of parents. Teething hurts and the pain can disrupt your baby’s sleep. Make sure to use teething remedies, cremes, and cold compressions for the swelling gums. During this time your baby will become clingier and will cry a bit more but you and your baby will have to persevere. Those pearly white teeth are coming out anyway.
Sleep regressions due to growth spurts
We’re using plural here because there are several sleep regressions in the first year of your baby’s life. Babies are constantly developing and growing. Only during the first 4 – 6 months your baby will double their birth weight. The development process is also very intense during the first year of life. And this affects their sleeping patterns. Sleep regressions happen around 4 months, 6 months, 8 months, 12 months, 18 months, and 2 years of age. They usually last between 2 and 6 weeks and they’re also normal.
Hey tired mama. If you’re in the thick of it, don’t hesitate to ask your partner for help. Especially at night. Sleep deprivation is hard for both of the parents, but it can be especially hard for the mother. It’s important to know that all the sleepless nights are going to pass and the joy of seeing your baby grow is priceless. You can do this.