Know About Night Waking

Infants and night waking

Does everyone always ask you: ”So, is your baby sleeping through the night yet?” Sleep is often a major topic of conversation when there’s a baby in the family. Remember: it is normal for babies to wake up at night. Breastfed babies may wake more often than formula fed babies because breast milk is so quickly and easily digested. Your new baby is likely hungry every two or three hours, and needs to nurse to get back to sleep. Some time after about 6 months of age, your breastfed baby will probably be able to go 6-8 hours without nursing.

To help you cope with night waking, try taking turns with your partner to get up and comfort your baby. Remember, this is a time to comfort and re-settle your child, not a time for play or anything else exciting. Be comforting but boring. Don’t respond to any games your child may try to start.

What causes night waking

Babies and young children are less likely to sleep through the night if they:

Were premature or had complications during their birth.

Have a difficult temperament.

Are breastfed.

Are feeding at night. Before about 4-6 months, babies need to eat at night—they wake up and are hungry. Six-month-old babies can go longer at night without being fed. Older babies may develop the habit of feeding to get back to sleep.

Sleep in their parent’s bed (co-sleep). It may be that parents bring night waking children into their bed, rather than bed-sharing causing night waking. Parents who are accepting of co-sleeping report less sleep problems compared to those who are not.

Live in a family that is under stress.

Have a mom who is depressed. Research does not show that mom’s depression causes sleep problems, only that children with moms who are depressed have more night waking. In any case, we do know that kids with parents who are blue or depressed have more sleep problems and more problems overall. If you are feeling down, don’t hesitate to get help.

When you are tired at night you are at your lowest point. If you start feeling desperate, get help--get your partner, call a friend. If you feel that you might hurt your child, make sure they are safe and then leave until you can cope.

If your child is waking often, then consult your child ’s doctor about:

Separation anxiety

Uncomfortable pajamas or scratchy tags

A formula or food sensitivity or allergy

Gastro-esophageal reflux (GER)

Airborne allergens

Colic

Pain, such as from an earache, abdominal gas, or teething. If the waking is due to pain, your child may not settle even if you are there to comfort them.

Itching from pinworms

A urinary tract infection (bladder infection)

Discomfort, such as too hot, too cold, thirsty, hungry or a wet bed

Being in a pattern of waking

Being in a light phase of sleep so that something like a noise rouses the child into being fully awake

VISITOR COMMENTS on "Know About Night Waking":

1. Sleeping: International Health Problem
Sleeping: International Health Problem Sleep disturbances place an uncalculated, but enormous, burden on the American public. Many industrial and automobile accidents are [...]

2. Insomnia: Causes and Causing Drugs
Insomnia: Causes and Causing Drugs Causes of Insomnia The practice of Yang style [...]

3. Narcolepsy: Sleep Attacks
Narcolepsy: Sleep Attacks A sleepy feeling during the day could be caused by insufficient, inadequate, or fragmented sleep, by insomnia, or by boredom, [...]

4. Know about How Babies Sleep
Know about How Babies Sleep Infants go through a complete sleep cycle about every 50-60 minutes, so they are in light sleep and [...]

Sleepings Basics Sleeping Disorder Sleeping Treatment

Sleeping Problems | Sleeping Disorders

Know About Night Waking

Infants and night waking

What causes night waking