Possible Reasons Why Your Baby Won’t Sleep (Plus, What You Can Do About It)
Does your baby have trouble sleeping? Are you wondering what you can do to help your baby sleep better?
If your baby is having trouble sleeping, this is a definite cause for concern. Sleep has a direct impact on babies‘ mental and physical development. If your baby is missing out on sleep, development in these areas may be stunted.
To help your baby get a better night’s sleep, you first need to know why he/she is struggling. Check out this guide to discover the reasons why your baby won’t sleep and what you can do about it.
Why Sleep is Important for Babies
Before we talk about the reasons why your baby isn’t sleeping, let’s first talk about why sleep is so important for babies. As we mentioned in the intro, sleep is important for a baby’s physical and mental development.
Additionally, forming good sleep habits as a baby will carry over into the rest of one’s life. Also, we can’t forget that babies who do not get enough sleep tend to be fussy and cranky when they’re awake.
REM Sleep
But, to say that babies need sleep to be healthy isn’t enough. In particular, babies need REM sleep. REM stands for rapid eye movement, and this refers to the period of sleep in which your eyes quickly move in different directions. This is a light period of sleep that is often characterized by vivid dreams.
Babies spend about half of their sleep cycles in REM sleep.
REM sleep is important for humans at every age of life, but it’s especially important for babies. It’s during this sleep cycle that the brain regions used in learning are stimulated. REM sleep is also associated with increased protein production, which is important for helping your baby grow.
Why Your Baby Won’t Sleep
Now that you know why sleep is so important for babies, let’s take a look at some of the reasons as to why your baby is struggling to fall asleep. Here are some reasons why:
- Your baby is too hot/cold
- Your baby is overstimulated
- Your baby is hungry
- Your baby is too tired/nap deprived
- Your baby lacks routine
- You’re interfering too quickly when your baby doesn’t fall asleep right away
- Your baby is napping too late
- Your baby is sleeping in different rooms
- Your baby is transitioning through sleep cycles
- Your baby is sleeping in the wrong position
- Your baby is experiencing teething or growing pains
- Your baby is sick
- Your baby is suffering from a sleep disorder
As you can see, there are many reasons why your baby may be struggling to sleep.
How to Promote Better Sleep
Luckily, there are things you can do to help promote better sleep in your baby. One of the most important things to do is to make sure that your baby is sleeping in the right position.
For a good night’s sleep, we recommend placing your baby on their back. Not only will this promote good sleep, but this will also ensure that your baby sleeps safely.
You may also want to consider gently massaging your baby to help him/her sleep. Or, you may want to consider taking your baby to a chiropractor to get adjusted which will improve parasympathetic nervous system which will ultimately help them sleep better.
Are You Ready to Help Your Baby Sleep?
Now that you know why your baby won’t sleep, it’s time to take action. If you’ve tried all sorts of things to help your baby fall asleep but are still having difficulties, it may be time to take your baby to a chiropractor.
If you’re looking to schedule an appointment in the Mill Creek, Washington area, contact us today.
