With the birth of a child, many mothers forget about quiet nights, as the sleep of newborns is anxious and sensitive. Some babies wake up only a couple of times a night to feed, others flinch from any rustle and squeak. There is a third group of babies, which gets enough sleep during the day, and is active at night. Many parents are interested in when a child starts sleeping all night without waking up. This problem is solved for everyone individually, since the reasons that interfere with a sound sleep of newborn children are different for everyone.
Features of children's sleep, depending on their age
A child's period of sound sleep lasts about an hour. After it comes another phase, during which the baby may wake up from feeling hungry, or simply bored.
British scientists conducted an experiment: one group of infants slept in silence, for another - they included audio recordings with a heartbeat. The second group of babies slept better, as they felt this rhythm in their stomach for nine months.
For the most part, babies sleep superficially, so a sharp sound and loud conversations can wake up. However, there is no need to walk on tiptoe and remain in deathly silence while the baby sleeps. The child should gradually adapt to sleep with light noise, extraneous sounds: you can turn on classical music at low volume. You can download suitable audio recordings on the Internet (choose with good sound quality) and play them when you put your child to bed. Closer to six months, the child begins to sleep more soundly, without being distracted by sounds.
Healthy sleep is necessary for a child at any age, since it is in childhood that the nervous system is formed. How and how much the baby sleeps depends on his mood, well-being and development. A child who sleeps more readily learns the world around him, eats better and performs the necessary exercises.
Based on how the child sleeps at night, they can be divided into groups:
- The kid practically does not sleep at night. People say about such newborns that they "confused day with night." With age, other problems may appear that interfere with long and sound children's sleep. In the first three months, the child may be bothered by colic, then teething.
- Children's sleep at night is interrupted several times. Often, newborns have hypertonicity of the arms and legs, so they are not responsible for their body movements. At night, an unfaithful wave can wake a child up and he can get scared.
- The child wakes up a couple of times to eat. Frequent feeding of newborns is associated with the rapid absorption of milk. The kid will not be able to fall asleep with a "rumbling tummy".
- The kid sleeps all night without waking up. This is extremely rare in newborns, it is a controversial issue. Some pediatricians recommend compulsory night feeds.
Based on which group the baby belongs to, recommendations are given on how to help him sleep soundly and soundly at night.
How does your child sleep?
- Baby owl is awake at night, asleep during the day
In many ways, young parents are to blame for this behavior of the baby. You should talk and play with such children more often during the day, but you should not overexcite the child's condition. In the daytime, do not close the curtains, blinds: let sunlight penetrate into the room.
In the evening, before going to bed, take a bath with the possible addition of chamomile, string. When using herbs, be sure to monitor the condition of the child's skin, in some people they cause allergies, and instead of sound sleep, your child may experience discomfort and itching. The water temperature should be 37-38 degrees, the baby will begin to freeze and, as a result, warm itself with various body movements, which will lead to an excited state.
Also, try not to give new toys to your child before bed, let the already studied environment surround him. So it will be easier for him to fall asleep without arousing his consciousness. Before going to bed, you can also either sing a specific lullaby, or turn on specially prepared music. Such a ritual will help the child realize that he is being put to sleep.
If the child has hyperactivity that prevents him from sleeping soundly, swaddling may be applied. There is a debate on this topic now. Some pediatricians already in the maternity hospital advise not to swaddle children. The behavior of each child is individual and does not obey strict rules: some children sleep peacefully in their undershirts, others wake up from their movements. Up to three to four months, you can swaddle a baby, at least before going to bed at night, this will help him sleep without being distracted by his arms and legs. (Swaddling: "FOR" and "CONS")
- The kid sleeps soundly, but sometimes wakes up
This is explained by both temporary reasons (colic, teething), and some kind of physical discomfort. In such cases, it is necessary to analyze these awakenings. Perhaps the diaper is full, or the baby is uncomfortable.
Set the room to a temperature that promotes sound sleep: ventilate the room, increase or decrease the humidity. If the newborn is breastfed, maybe he just does not have enough mother's breast to calm down. It is noticed that if you refuse to breastfeed, the baby begins to sleep all night without night feedings. But do not rush to wean the baby, this can lead to the opposite effect: the baby will start to get nervous and cry. Pediatricians consider the time after a year from birth to be optimal. (when to wean a baby from breastfeeding?)
- A child wakes up at night hungry
The most common case is when a baby wakes up to eat. In the first months after birth, frequent small meals are recommended. With age, the required daily amount of food consumed increases: the child eats less often, but more. The daily diet as they grow up becomes more varied: fruit, vegetable purees, cereals, soups are introduced (the first complementary foods: how to start). In this case, the child can also sleep through the night from feeling of hunger. Although sometimes such awakenings can be associated simply with habit. Try replacing milk or formula feeds with plain water. If the child does not fall asleep and is capricious, then he is hungry.
The normal age for weaning feeding at night is nine months. But do not rush to think that at this time the baby will stop eating in the dark. As mentioned, the development of a child is individual, and if a child is worried about teething, it is unlikely that he will sleep peacefully. Other pediatricians advise against avoiding night feedings until one year of age. If you are breastfeeding, they must be continued throughout breastfeeding or expressed at night. Prolactin, essential for lactation, is only produced at night.
Toddlers cannot tolerate hunger, unlike adults. It must be remembered that the child begins to sleep all night without food, when they become mentally and physically capable of it. If you decide to give up night feedings, you need to do this gradually. There are a number of tips to help with this process.
- Most of the daily food intake should be given to the child during the day.
- Compliance with a clear daily routine.
- Before going to bed, you should feed your baby well so that he sleeps longer.
- Replacement of milk / formula with water or baby tea at night. Reducing the volume of the night portion.
- The child must fall asleep by himself. Thus, having rocked him a little on his hands, in a cradle or in a crib, you need to leave the baby in a half-asleep state.
- The kid does not sleep at night after reaching the age of one
As the child grows older, it becomes possible to verbally contract with him. At this age, the inner atmosphere in the family, the necessary affection and care are important for the baby. The calmer the relationship between the parents, the stronger the child's nervous system and sleep.
On the topic of child sleep
- How to put a child to sleep without tears and whims;
- The child does not sleep well during the day;
- A child under one year old does not sleep well at night;
- The child often shudders in sleep;
- Can a baby sleep on its stomach?
Pay attention to your child: his desires and problems. This will help the child sleep soundly and soundly at night, and during the day to develop and learn. When the children start sleeping all night, mom and dad have more free time, and for the further replenishment of the family as well.
