From the moment of birth, a baby’s sleep pattern is a very important issue for parents. For the first three months after birth, the baby is getting used to the outside world and even to its own body, and this period is very difficult for both the baby and those around it. After these three months, if a certain routine is established, the baby will begin to sleep at the times to which it is accustomed. After the age of one year, he/she reduces daytime sleep to one and sometimes even refuses to sleep during the day. So, what solutions can be found in this process and what should be done to get the baby to sleep?
My baby won’t sleep!
If your baby is a newborn or in the first 5 months of life, gas pains in babies are often at the root of sleep problems. It can make things easier if you burp the baby after feeding and put him/her to sleep in a quiet, dim, warm room where he/she can feel your warmth. Sometimes the baby can sleep more easily after a warm bath. Feeding should be done after the bath, not just before.
Ask the following questions to help your baby fall asleep easily:
- Is he full?
- Is he cold or is it too hot?
- Has he passed gas?
- Is the diaper clean?
- Are there any offensive odors, light or noise in the environment?
Why doesn’t the baby sleep?
There may be many reasons why the baby does not sleep. However, the age of the baby is also a very important detail here. In other words, the same sleep recommendations cannot be given for a 1-month-old baby and a 1-year-old baby. Because in these two cases, the reasons why the baby does not sleep are quite different. However, with a very general approach, you can review the following topics for the question of why my baby may not be sleeping.
- May have gas
- May be in pain
- May be hungry
- The bottom may be wet
- She may be in pain because of diaper rash.
- Their clothes may not be comfortable enough
- He may not have fallen asleep
- He may not be tired enough
- The environment may be too bright or noisy
- The routine may have changed (a different home or environment)
- A food eaten or a medicine taken may have had a different effect on him
- He may be afraid to leave your mother’s side
- He might want to play games
- He may have pooped but he can’t do it
- He/she may have an illness / onset of flu etc. that you are not aware of.
- He may have a stuffy nose.
A few tips for putting a baby to sleep
Make sure the environment is dark enough fornyour baby to fall asleep faster. Avoid room odors or scents such as your perfume or hand cream. Even the smell of fabric softener, which we don’t feel, can be a very intense stimulus for your baby. The mother’s voice reassures the baby. For this purpose, singing lullabies and close contact can comfort him/her. Stroking her hair and rubbing her back is also good for the baby. Details such as choosing a bottle that does not cause gas, that is, does not leak air, and the correct breastfeeding position should also be considered in terms of colic pain.