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Congratulations on your new baby! AND welcome to the world of sleeplessness! Every new parent has been through it � baby keeps waking up in the middle of the night to feed and play, baby cries every night at a certain time, baby doesn�t want to sleep at all both in the morning and night. Enough to drive you up the wall yet?
The problem is that when baby does not get good sleep, neither does the whole family. Sleep deprivation can affect your work, moods, appetite and health. It�s especially difficult when you have other small children in the family who needs constant attention too.
Why isn�t baby sleeping and what can you do about it? Let�s find out:
Why does baby keep waking up?
Babies have different sleep cycles from adults. Adults have a 90-minute sleep cycle comprising 75% deep sleep and 25% dream or REM (rapid eye movement) sleep, while babies have a shorter sleep cycle. Their sleep cycle is 45 minutes comprising 20 minutes of deep sleep and 25 minutes of REM sleep.
That�s why your baby keeps waking up every hour or so in the first few weeks. �But don�t worry, as this is only temporary,� says Dr M. Paranjothy, Consultant Paediatrician from Assunta Hospital. �Your baby�s sleep cycles will usually stabilise after 3 months and he should be sleeping longer hours. He�ll also wake up and sleep at the same time like everyone else.�
Why is baby sleeping throughout the day?
During the first month, your baby cannot tell the difference between day or night. Some babies tend to stay awake in the day time, but the surprising thing is that most babies like to stay awake in the middle of the night, when you can�t keep your eyes open!
�You need to train you baby on day and night activities. When he wakes up in the night, keep the lights dimmed and the environment silent. Don�t encourage the night waking by playing, singing to him, watching television or turning all the lights on,� advises Dr M Paranjothy.
My baby is easily jerked awake
Some babies are naturally light sleepers and can be awakened by even the slightest sounds � door opening, phone ringing, even the sounds of birds or a cockerel crowing. This is frustrating for moms as the lack of sound sleep makes him very cranky.
For smaller babies, swaddling in a large nappy or cotton cloth can stop baby being easily awakened. Some parents have also found that placing a small pillow or bean-bag on baby�s body will keep him reassured as he feels that he�s being held in your arms.
Should baby sleep on his back, tummy or side?
�All three are alright as long as your baby�s face is unobstructed by pillows, towels, soft toys or anything else. Also ensure your baby�s mattress is not too soft that he sinks into it and has difficulty breathing,� says Dr M Paranjothy
There�s also the misconception that sleeping on the back will flatten baby�s head at the back. Dr M Paranjothy reassures parents that this is untrue but adds that sleeping on the back might shorten baby�s sleeping time as he�ll be more easily awakened unless he is swaddled.
Sleeping on the side, holding a small bolster or on the tummy, is more reassuring for babies as they have something to hang on to for comfort.
Must I buy a baby cot?
Every experienced parent will tell you that the baby cot is the most under-utilised baby equipment they bought because baby will only sleep in it for the first few months. It becomes unsafe for your baby to sleep in a cot when he has learnt how to climb out of it as he might do so when you are not looking!
Getting a small mattress and placing it beside your bed is probably a more practical option until he can sleep in his own bed. This also makes it easier for you to breastfeed him at night, as you can share his mattress without leaving your poor spouse to sleep alone.
My baby keeps waking up every few minutes and crying
Babies cry to communicate a need. Check whether your baby is hungry because he did not latch on properly during breastfeeding. Also check whether his diaper is wet, or whether he is too cold, too hot, too tired or needs to be burped.
If all else fails, he probably has colic, which is wind trapped in the stomach. You may offer some gripe water, hold him against your shoulder to burp him or rub some baby medicated oil on his tummy to soothe the pain. If you are breastfeeding, avoid foods such as cabbage and beans that might give your baby colic.
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