Which Sleep Issues Trouble Babies the Most?

Newborns and infants love to sleep. Newborns spend most of their time in bed. Infants get more active, but they also love to sleep several times a day. There are many things related to baby sleep that parents do not understand.

How often and how long the baby should sleep, such questions may puzzle new parents. This post will shed light on some important facts about baby sleep. So, continue reading to find everything about baby sleep.

Is It Normal for the Baby to Snore in His Sleep?

People have a perception that only adults snore and babies sleep calmly. That’s not true! Some infants may also snore in sleep and that’s what worries parents.

Is it due to an underlying health issue or a development-related health issue? A baby may snore due to several reasons. It can be due to cough or underdeveloped glands.

Babies also need quality bed and pillows to sleep comfortably. The baby may snore if the pillow height is not perfect. Obesity and other health issues can also be responsible for baby snoring. This situation improves with the growing age of your child. Consult with a pediatrician if the child’s health doesn’t improve.

Why Do Some Babies Drool while Sleeping?

Some babies get their mouth wet in sleep. Saliva flows out of their mouth and turns their pillow and clothes wet. Why do babies drool while sleeping? Is it due to a health problem? No! Your baby is completely fine and he drools in sleep due to excess secretion of saliva!

Newborns and infants have poor swallowing ability. That’s why most 4-12 months babies drool. Improper sleeping posture can also contribute to drooling. An infant will drool in his sleep if he sleeps on his stomach. Moms should correct the baby’s sleeping position to prevent this problem.

What’s the Issue If Your Newborn Child is not Sleeping Well?

Newborns and infants need a lot of sleep to stay healthy and grow properly. Poor sleep can become a troubling issue for the child. The child will wake up quite easily and start crying. Irritable nature also indicates that the baby can’t rest enough to feel happy. The following reasons can be responsible for poor baby sleep:

Hunger:

A baby won’t get enough sleep if his tummy is empty. Poor feeding routine and lack of milk can be responsible for this issue. Mothers should check the baby’s stool to assess whether he is getting enough food or not. Suppose the baby is not getting enough food, feed on demand or try mixed feeding.   

Wet diapers:

Babies find wet diapers quite irritating and uncomforting. The child will wake up and he may start crying due to a wet diaper. Parents should check the baby’s nappy whenever he wakes up shortly after sleeping. Change the nappy if it is wet and the child will sleep calmly.

Tight clothes:

Babies need loose and comfortable clothes to sleep well. Do not make the child wear small size clothes. He won’t be able to sleep and he will feel discomfort when awake. You have to check it because the infant can’t express his discomfort.

Clamor:

Some babies are extra sensitive. They wake up whenever there is a noise in the room. You have to maintain a calm environment in the house when the child is sleeping. Do not turn on the TV or music when the baby is sleeping.

How Long Do a 2 Months Old Baby Should Sleep?

A two-month-old baby does not sleep as long as newborns sleep. However, the baby will still sleep up to 16 hours a day. 2-month old babies do not have any specific sleeping schedule. Therefore, they may stay awake during the night and sleep during the daytime.  

2 months old babies sleep up to 3 hours at a time and then wake up. They play for a short while and then demand food. It is the regular routine of babies of this age. Their sleeping time reduces as they grow older.

How Long Does a 3 Months Old Baby Sleep?

A 3-month old baby will sleep up to 15 hours a day. Most babies become a little active by this age. They stay awake and play with you, but they still need sufficient sleep to stay healthy. Crying and playing for a short while becomes a daily routine of the child.

Even though the child is 3 months old, he cannot distinguish between day and night. It is the age when the baby will stay awake during the night and trouble parents. This type of sleeping schedule may last until the child is 4-5 months old and then your baby will start sleeping during the night.

What is the Best Time to Sleep for the Baby?

The baby’s sleeping time and schedule changes with his age. Newborns sleep 18-20 hours a day and this time reduces as the baby grows older. Babies do not have any specific sleeping schedule. So, you should not force the child to stay awake during the daytime and sleep during the nighttime. The baby will adapt to a normal sleeping routine once he is 6 months old.

What Does Disturb Your Baby’s Sleep?

The known causes of poor sleep include the following:

Wetness:

Whether it is a wet diaper or wet clothes, these things can discomfort anyone. Babies are extra sensitive to wetness. They also wet their nappies quite often. Therefore, they wake up before getting adequate sleep and start crying.

External noises:

Babies need a calm and comforting environment to sleep. The clamor and irritating sounds can irritate the baby and he will wake up. Stay out of the baby’s room while he is sleeping. Do not make irritating noises to disturb the baby’s sleep.

Sleeping during the daytime:

Some babies are daytime sleepers. They wake up during the nighttime and play for hours. It troubles working couples because they can’t get enough sleep to rest properly. It goes on for a few months and then the child adapts to the nighttime sleeping schedule.

Physical discomfort:

There should not be anything discomforting on the bed. Remove all the toys and put on loose clothes. Check twice that your baby is comfortable because physical discomfort will wake him up within a few minutes.

Hunger cravings:

Just like adults, babies can’t sleep when they are hungry. Mothers should feed the child on demand to soothe his hunger cravings. Thus, the child sleeps longer and stays healthy.

Why Do Some Babies Suddenly Start Crying in Sleep?

Infants enjoy a calm sleep of 2-3 hours and they wake up for food. It continues until the baby is mature. Some newborns and infants suddenly wake up and start crying. It scares mothers, especially when nothing disturbed the child. The following things can be responsible for such a problem:

Poor sleeping environment:

Suppose it is the summer season and you completely cover the child, he will sweat. It can also cause anxiety and other issues because of the hot environment. The baby will wake up and start crying.

Health conditions:

Babies with vitamin D deficiency and calcium deficiency can’t sleep properly. They wake up and start crying. It is normal if it happens once or twice a week. Take your baby to the doctor for a complete physical checkup if it becomes a regular routine.

Poor neurodevelopment:

This issue is also a major cause of poor sleep in babies. Babies can’t adapt to a day-night sleeping cycle for several months. It indicates poor neurodevelopment. Your child needs medical care in such a situation to recover faster.

Other factors such as hunger, external noises, teething, etc. can also interrupt the child’s sleep. So, you need to find out what is troubling the baby to fix the problem and let him sleep calmly.

Why Do Some Babies Grind Teeth while Sleeping?

The behavior of a child changes after teething. His molars become an obstacle in chewing. Therefore, the child frequently grinds his teeth to remove that obstacle. Babies have no prior experience in handling teeth. Therefore, they subconsciously grind their teeth to practice chewing action or just for fun.  

Parents should not worry if the baby grinds teeth. It is good for the child because he learns how to use both upper and lower teeth simultaneously. It is completely normal and the child will stop grinding teeth after a few months.

What If the Child Doesn’t Adapt to a Normal Day-Night Cycle?

The biological clock of most babies changes according to a normal sleeping schedule when the baby is 6 months old. If your baby still stays awake during the nighttime, you should encourage him to sleep. Maintain an ideal environment in the home for sleep so that your baby can fall asleep after having the meal.

Conclusion

Babies need 12-16 hours of sleep until they are 1-year old. This sleeping time will reduce as the baby gets older. Now, you know how long your child must sleep. So, create a perfect environment for the child to take rest and sleep without any trouble.

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