Baby Won’t Sleep at Night? These 3 Reasons Could Explain Why!
A peacefully sleeping baby means a good night for parents, too. But as your little one discovers more of the world, sleep becomes less straightforward—for your baby and for you. A baby who won’t sleep at night can become a challenge for the whole family.
Sleep is important for children’s growth because it supports brain development and helps consolidate memories of everything they have learned during the day. If your child is particularly active and alert, we have a few tips to help make nighttime sleep less chaotic.
Waking during the night is normal for babies and young children, especially babies in their first few months who still need to wake for milk feeds according to their bodies’ needs. As they grow, many children gradually begin sleeping for longer stretches on their own. But if frequent waking is affecting the quality of their rest, try these tips. (NHS)
Confusing Day and Night
When your baby sleeps all day, they may not sleep at night. Parents should establish a daily routine to help their little one distinguish day from night. You could:
- Let your baby sleep in a fairly dark room
- Reduce noise from outside
- Avoid having the TV on at night
- Sing a lullaby or repeat a familiar story
- Keep the lighting dim and perhaps play some soft background music
These things help your little one understand that the day is over and settle peacefully to sleep.
A Time to Let Their Imagination Run Free
When children start crawling or walking, they gain the freedom to explore the world for themselves. Their enthusiasm at this stage is stimulating and may affect their sleep-wake rhythm.
“Mummy, why do I have to sleep? There are so many more things I want to play with!” Your little one may be thinking this as bedtime approaches. So how can you handle the situation?
A little before bedtime, let your child know that playtime is nearly over. This gives them #a chance to say goodbye to their toys and whatever they are doing without getting upset.
For children aged 1 year and over, you could let them choose a favourite soft toy to cuddle at bedtime, giving them something they can reach for straight away if they wake.
Safety note: Babies under 12 months should sleep on their backs on a firm, flat mattress. Their cot should contain no pillows, blankets, cuddly toys, soft toys or cot bumpers, as these increase the risk of suffocation and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). (AAP Safe Sleep Guidelines) Read more: 5 Things to Avoid While Your Baby Sleeps and How to Choose a Baby Mattress
It is also important to establish a consistent bedtime routine and repeat it every night so your child recognises when it is time to rest.
A Change in Daily Routine
By now, we understand that “daily routines affect sleep.” When Mum has to return to work, children may start to feel anxious. For children aged 1 year and over, having a soft toy to cuddle nearby may make it easier to get used to being without Mum. It can also be helpful when your child starts kindergarten.
Other reasons your child may struggle to sleep, become fussy or wake during the night include colic, teething pain, or bloating and wind after milk feeds, among others.
When to consult a doctor: If your child struggles to sleep or wakes frequently for several weeks and this affects their daytime mood and feeding, snores loudly or has pauses in breathing, wakes crying unusually intensely, has a fever, pulls at their ears or has other signs of illness, take them to see a paediatrician.
Whatever the reason for your child’s fussiness, always remember that children need reassurance and to feel that Mum or Dad is there for them, even in small ways. Once your child is calm, you will have more energy to work out how to address any other problems. Try adapting these suggestions to your family—we hope they help every household! If you are preparing your baby’s room, read more here: Preparing a Newborn’s Bedroom
If you are looking for a great developmental toy, Hape toys are a good choice, with a wide range of wooden toys that support children’s development at every age.
Hape, a wooden toy brand founded in Germany, stands out for its colours, fun and support for well-rounded development at every stage of childhood.
Thoughtfully designed with children’s learning in mind, these toys help children practise important skills such as seeing, listening, observing, using fine motor skills, solving problems, imagining and creating. They also promote integrated learning across STEAM subjects.
With durable designs and sturdy materials, the toys focus on supporting children’s development while making their safety a priority. They use non-toxic colours and FSC-certified wood. Their durability gives them a long useful life and makes them environmentally friendly.
Hape is therefore a global wooden toy brand that places importance on toy safety standards and environmentally responsible manufacturing processes.
It is easy to see how Hape wooden toys can enrich these activities and help keep little ones away from screens.
What matters most is sharing happy moments as a family, because love is what makes a home complete! What activities do you and your child enjoy together? 😁
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