I wish he sleeps like a baby:) But unfortunately “sleeping like a baby” is not a very appropriate expression. Because babies wake up too often:)) So, what could be the cause of insomnia, especially in newborn babies? Do all newborns have insomnia or could this be a sign of a health problem that needs attention? Our research topic: causes of insomnia in newborns.
What are the causes of insomnia in newborns?
There may be more than one reason why a newborn baby does not sleep. Let’s talk a little bit about these, but let’s underline that babies in this process sleep for a short time.
- He may have gas
- May be hungry
- May not be able to poop (pediatrician should see)
- There may be a pain or discomfort
- The environment can be too noisy or too bright
- There may be something in the environment that makes him/her feel uncomfortable (humidity/mildew/noise/vibration/extreme heat…).
- His/her clothes may be uncomfortable.
- He/she may have dirty diapers / diaper rash.
- He/she may have difficulty breathing
- There is nothing wrong with him, he just sleeps less and shorter like every newborn because the concept of day and night is not established and he cannot get used to the new world, but you may be overreacting to this situation:)
Thequestion that new parents are curiously looking for an answer to: why doesn’t my baby sleep? Before answering this question, it is necessary to understand the newborn baby’s sleep pattern.
What is the sleep pattern of newborns?
During the first month, there is no concept of day and night. Everything in the outside world (sounds, the texture of clothing, light, movement and the effects of movement) is foreign or new to them. This can cause them to be frightened. In addition, their body is trying to cope with many problems such as gas pains and the digestive development process as it tries to get out of the womb and adapt to the outside world. But it also needs sleep. So, how much sleep does a newborn get?
Newborns experience very short periods of sleep during the first two weeks. They may sleep for an hour and wake up. Since we sleep for at least 8-10 hours without interruption, we cannot understand this situation and think that the baby does not sleep at all. However, it is normal for him/her to sleep like this for the first week or two. He sleeps/wakes up/ sucks/ passes gas/ sleeps/wakes up..
When is the newborn’s sleep pattern established?
Actually, you will wait a long time for a good uninterrupted sleep, but after the first 2 or 3 weeks, he starts to sleep longer. Of course, he also stays awake longer.
Solution for Newborn Babies Not Sleeping!
First of all, they may wake up frequently for reasons such as dreaming, wheezing, gas problems. These are normal and part of this process. In addition, the lack of day-night concept is the most important reason for the problem of falling asleep. However, as the baby gets used to the outside world, it will overcome these problems and sleep longer. Here it is important to focus on how you are helping and investing in the future. Let’s firstgive some tips for getting your newborn to sleep , and then explain the concept of “investing in the future”:
1.Tips for getting your newborn to sleep
Considering the following points can help yournewborn baby to sleep easily :
- Do not put him/her to sleep without burping him/her!
- Do not try to put him to sleep when he is hungry!
- Use a reflux pillowagainst baby reflux
- Put the baby to sleep in the correct position
- He may not be able to sleep in an environment that is too bright and noisy, so watch out for this.
- Dress too thinly and they will feel cold, but too thickly and they will sweat and be uncomfortable.
- Ventilate the sleeping room beforehand.
- If recommended by your doctor, use a steam machine in the room (the water tank of these machines should be cleaned regularly)
- Classical music is said to be good for babies to fall asleep. It’s worth a try.
- The diaper must be clean.
2.Investing in the Future:)
Dealing with a newborn baby can be quite a challenge for new parents and even for grandparents who have long forgotten how it works. Tired and sleep-deprived households do their best to get the baby to sleep as soon as possible, while the baby learns some habits while learning to sleep. For example, rocking the baby to sleep, breastfeeding the baby to sleep, feeding the baby to sleep, pushing the baby in the stroller to sleep… However, later on, the baby looks for this ritual. In the following periods, it becomes difficult for the working mother to apply these. For example, it becomes extremely difficult to rock a child weighing 16 kg standing up at the age of 2. At this point, the overtime spent to abandon the habit is difficult for both the child and the parents. Therefore, think about the future at every step;)
The best example is the habit of sleeping while breastfeeding. Let’s talk a little bit about it:
Breastfeeding Sleep!
In the first weeks, the baby sleeping while breastfeeding seems like the sweetest thing in the world. Mom is happy & baby is happy… However, when the baby grows up, he/she gets used to sleeping this way and it is no longer comfortable for the mother. So when the baby is very young and starts rubbing his eyes and shows signs of sleep fussiness, put him in his bed in his dimly lit and quiet room. Stay with him/her for a while and let him/her fall asleep. He will resist this at first, but he will get used to it.
Why do babies sleep shorter at night?
Many mothers say that their baby sleeps for a very short time at night but sleeps longer during the day. This is especially the case with newborn sleep. The main reason for this is that there is no concept of day and night. This changes with time. Be patient!