What Affects Your Baby’s Sleep? How to deal with frequent awakenings

New Delhi |

19 December 2020 2:15:31 p.m.





Your baby spends 70 percent of their time sleeping. (Image: Pixabay)

By Shruti Malani

“I want to sleep like a baby,” said a mother ever! There are several factors that contribute to the frequent awakening of a baby. Because babies have very small stomachs, hunger and thirst are the main causes. In addition, babies can get up if they are sick, wet, too hot or cold, over-stimulated or in need of packing.

It is also important to understand that even though babies sleep for 15-22 hours a day – there is a lot going on during this time. They are developing physically; their bones connect to each other, and the muscles gain strength (before five months, babies should double their birth weight). Their brain activity during sleep has a direct effect on their ability to learn and leads to healthy brain development. Therefore, good sleep is just as important for babies as nutrition and activity.

As babies wake up so often, it can cause sleep deprivation for parents (especially the mother if the baby is breastfeeding). So it’s important to understand a child’s sleep and change the right habits that will help your baby sleep better.

Hacks for smart parents to ensure better sleep for their baby:

  1. Sleep cycle: Children understand repetition. A regular sleep routine that includes a light massage, bath, or light music, may help them sleep better. Babies need to be pacified so that they show signs of sleep and are gently put to sleep in bed.

  2. Avoid Rocking / cradles: From a safety and usability standpoint, babies should not be twisted or rocked to sleep on a daily basis. This makes them sleep faster and creates problems for parents as they grow up.

  3. Hygiene and health: Hygiene factors such as the baby should be kept clean and dry, well fed and burped. Health issues such as colic and GERD or acid reflux create discomfort and prevent your baby from falling asleep.

  4. Temperature: Pediatricians recommend a temperature of 24-25 degrees Celsius for a baby’s room. If children feel too hot or cold, they can wake up.

  5. Choose a good baby mattress: Doctors / paediatricians around the world recommend that babies sleep on a FIRM mattress, on their backs only. This reduces the chances of SIDS / asthma. For the first six months, babies should sleep in their own crib that can be placed in the parents ’room.

Your baby spends 70 percent of their time sleeping. So it is very important where they sleep. A baby crib should be strong and safe. Because the mattress is in direct contact with the baby, it should be sturdy, unused, made from proven and safe materials (natural best), waterproof and sourced from a reliable source.

  1. Get help: Taking care of a child who needs regular attention, as well as running a house, can be daunting. So it makes sense to ask your family and friends for help, especially for the first month until the baby and parents settle in.

While everything may look awful, with a little patience, the baby will sleep, so you get it!

(The writer is Co-Founder, Beddy by Centuary.)

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