Baby Sleep Training- Reasons Your Baby Won't Sleep and How to Cope
My little one, Daisy. Every day she sleeps early, but today, she started crying when I put her in the crib. Our little chubby Tom; just doesn’t want to go to sleep until his night ritual is over. And every day, the ritual seems to get longer and longer.
Sounds familiar???
Well, every baby is different. But there is something common in every baby story: Sleepless night.
Struggle-sleep of a baby, unfortunately, is an inevitable part for you and your partner. In fact, a sleepless baby at night is pretty normal. It may continue for months.
Sounds like a never-ending trauma?
Don’t worry; it will pass.
However, why your baby is not sleeping, there are some potential reasons behind that. Unless you know the reason, you cannot take your next step to baby sleep training methods spontaneously.
Wondering Is my baby ready for sleep training? So, let's talk about the reason first and tactfully turn your baby back on the sleeping track.
Why isn't Your Baby Sleeping?
Bedtime is precious for babies and new moms. But, after a nice warm bath, last feeding, special crooning, if your baby is not sleeping, it is disheartening. Though crying before bed is normal, if the fuss goes on and on, you need to consider other reasons.
Overtired Baby
It may sound crazy, but a wiped-out baby faces trouble settling down at night. A busy day full of sound, light, and activities makes it hard for the baby to switch to the sleeping mode. So, she remains awake at night.
Hungry Baby
Will your baby sleep if he or she is hungry? No. Even after feeding before bedtime, your baby may get hungry again with all those cleaning and crooning. Therefore, try feeding your baby after diaper duty, just before sleeping. It may help your baby sleep.
Not-at-all-Tired Baby
Some babies sleep during day time and stay up all night long. It is frustrating and exhausting. Now, your baby doesn’t know the distinction between day and night. So, at night, she is not that tired. Rather, she is busy exploring the world.
Overstimulated Baby
A busy household with bright lights, screens, sounds, and beeping may create difficulties for your baby to get sleep. Your baby needs a room calling out: it is time for rest. A room with dim light, no sounds, no screen, no noise, and beeping: bingo!
Anxious Baby
Is your baby crying whenever you are leaving her alone to sleep? It is separation anxiety.
This is a normal phase for a baby. As long as she seems alright, pat her back and talk to her softly. Do not encourage this by rocking, singing, or extra feeding.
Baby Teething
Teething pain is one major reason that your baby is not sleeping but wailing. Check carefully for any sign of teething: drooling, biting, feeding fussiness, and irritability. It is normal with a baby. This teething-related sleep struggle can start almost any time during the first year. So, stop worrying.
Try to comfort her with gentle words, pat, lullaby, and a cool teether.
Irregular Routine
Are you following a regular bedtime routine?
Doing the same thing at night helps your baby to form a routine. A warm bath, last feeding, storytelling, and then lights off to let your baby know it is time for sleep.
So, why delay? Start baby sleep training with a routine.
Late Afternoon Nap
Is your baby napping too late in the afternoon and now not sleeping at night? The less awake time of your baby before bed is a reason for struggling to sleep. Step by step, you can extend the last waking period of your baby before bed. Study shows that a baby, with a lengthy waking hour before bedtime, settles down sooner at night.
Did baby drop a Nap?
Sometimes dropping a regular nap can also be a reason your baby is not sleeping. Around 12 to 15 months, a baby starts to skip her frequent naps. It is normal. Give her time, and she will settle down with her new nap routine.
Also, if babies don't nap enough during the daytime, they may have trouble falling asleep at night. So, if you see your baby drowsy or cranky during the day, let her nap. Just make sure she is not napping too close to bedtime.
Sleep Regression
Around four months, you will notice, your regularly sleepy baby is ready for anything but sleep. Welcome to sleep regression.
You may face this around four months, then at 6, between 8 and 10, and finally at 12. Your baby just starts discovering the whole new world around him. Different things to see, abundant things to play with, people to interact with. Who wants boring and time-wasting sleeping??!!
Chill, this is temporary. Once your baby fully enjoys her new developmental abilities, she will return to her regular sleep patterns. Just make sure, during day time, she gets enough napping to make up her lost sleep at night.
Unwell Baby
Sickness is one major issue if your baby is not sleeping. Cold or allergy, gas, constipation, etc., are common with babies. So, if your baby is not sleepy and cranky, check for the signs of sickness. Try to comfort your baby as much as possible. Contact your pediatrician if necessary.
Baby Sleep Training & Coping with Baby Sleep Problems
Sleepless nights, fighting bedtime is a normal phase for a baby. The good news is: it is temporary and solvable. Just check for the reason and help her through it. Start her sleep training. You will see your sunshine is back on the sweet sleep station soon.
Do pediatricians recommend sleep training? Yes!
However, once you know the issue, you can smoothly cope with your baby’s sleep toddler problem. Here is some of the tips for baby sleep training.
Sounds familiar???
Well, every baby is different. But there is something common in every baby story: Sleepless night.
Struggle-sleep of a baby, unfortunately, is an inevitable part for you and your partner. In fact, a sleepless baby at night is pretty normal. It may continue for months.
Sounds like a never-ending trauma?
Don’t worry; it will pass.
However, why your baby is not sleeping, there are some potential reasons behind that. Unless you know the reason, you cannot take your next step to baby sleep training methods spontaneously.
Wondering Is my baby ready for sleep training? So, let's talk about the reason first and tactfully turn your baby back on the sleeping track.
Why isn't Your Baby Sleeping?
Bedtime is precious for babies and new moms. But, after a nice warm bath, last feeding, special crooning, if your baby is not sleeping, it is disheartening. Though crying before bed is normal, if the fuss goes on and on, you need to consider other reasons.
Overtired Baby
It may sound crazy, but a wiped-out baby faces trouble settling down at night. A busy day full of sound, light, and activities makes it hard for the baby to switch to the sleeping mode. So, she remains awake at night.
Hungry Baby
Will your baby sleep if he or she is hungry? No. Even after feeding before bedtime, your baby may get hungry again with all those cleaning and crooning. Therefore, try feeding your baby after diaper duty, just before sleeping. It may help your baby sleep.
Not-at-all-Tired Baby
Some babies sleep during day time and stay up all night long. It is frustrating and exhausting. Now, your baby doesn’t know the distinction between day and night. So, at night, she is not that tired. Rather, she is busy exploring the world.
Overstimulated Baby
A busy household with bright lights, screens, sounds, and beeping may create difficulties for your baby to get sleep. Your baby needs a room calling out: it is time for rest. A room with dim light, no sounds, no screen, no noise, and beeping: bingo!
Anxious Baby
Is your baby crying whenever you are leaving her alone to sleep? It is separation anxiety.
This is a normal phase for a baby. As long as she seems alright, pat her back and talk to her softly. Do not encourage this by rocking, singing, or extra feeding.
Baby Teething
Teething pain is one major reason that your baby is not sleeping but wailing. Check carefully for any sign of teething: drooling, biting, feeding fussiness, and irritability. It is normal with a baby. This teething-related sleep struggle can start almost any time during the first year. So, stop worrying.
Try to comfort her with gentle words, pat, lullaby, and a cool teether.
Irregular Routine
Are you following a regular bedtime routine?
Doing the same thing at night helps your baby to form a routine. A warm bath, last feeding, storytelling, and then lights off to let your baby know it is time for sleep.
So, why delay? Start baby sleep training with a routine.
Late Afternoon Nap
Is your baby napping too late in the afternoon and now not sleeping at night? The less awake time of your baby before bed is a reason for struggling to sleep. Step by step, you can extend the last waking period of your baby before bed. Study shows that a baby, with a lengthy waking hour before bedtime, settles down sooner at night.
Did baby drop a Nap?
Sometimes dropping a regular nap can also be a reason your baby is not sleeping. Around 12 to 15 months, a baby starts to skip her frequent naps. It is normal. Give her time, and she will settle down with her new nap routine.
Also, if babies don't nap enough during the daytime, they may have trouble falling asleep at night. So, if you see your baby drowsy or cranky during the day, let her nap. Just make sure she is not napping too close to bedtime.
Sleep Regression
Around four months, you will notice, your regularly sleepy baby is ready for anything but sleep. Welcome to sleep regression.
You may face this around four months, then at 6, between 8 and 10, and finally at 12. Your baby just starts discovering the whole new world around him. Different things to see, abundant things to play with, people to interact with. Who wants boring and time-wasting sleeping??!!
Chill, this is temporary. Once your baby fully enjoys her new developmental abilities, she will return to her regular sleep patterns. Just make sure, during day time, she gets enough napping to make up her lost sleep at night.
Unwell Baby
Sickness is one major issue if your baby is not sleeping. Cold or allergy, gas, constipation, etc., are common with babies. So, if your baby is not sleepy and cranky, check for the signs of sickness. Try to comfort your baby as much as possible. Contact your pediatrician if necessary.
Baby Sleep Training & Coping with Baby Sleep Problems
Sleepless nights, fighting bedtime is a normal phase for a baby. The good news is: it is temporary and solvable. Just check for the reason and help her through it. Start her sleep training. You will see your sunshine is back on the sweet sleep station soon.
Do pediatricians recommend sleep training? Yes!
However, once you know the issue, you can smoothly cope with your baby’s sleep toddler problem. Here is some of the tips for baby sleep training.
- Memorize her drowsy signs and signals: If she is yawning, ear pulling, eye rubbing, thumb sucking, and fussing, she is drowsy; make her sleep. Do not let her be overtired.
- Keep things calm and quiet: Darkroom, no screen, no sound, no people around, no talking or eye contacting. Create this soothing surrounding for your baby to know it’s sleep time.
- Establish day-time as playtime: Introduce her to the natural day-time and day-time activities. It will set your baby's inner clock.
- Routine even on the road: Bath, bottle, cuddle, bed: make this a routine before bed. Be on this route even when you are traveling.
- Practice separating: Your baby needs reassuring. Leave the room for a few seconds at a time and return. It will teach her: you go away, but you will always return. She will learn to stay away from you.
- Avoid intervening: Let your sleeping baby sleep. Do not check on her frequently, considering she is awake.
- Tank up, sleep up: Feed your baby just before bed. With a happy tummy, she will sleep longer.
- Baby sleep training: How old should you start sleep training? Start your baby’s sleep training for six months. She will learn to sleep by herself shortly. Will baby learn to sleep without training? Of course, but the schedule may not be suitable for you then.