The baby does not sleep well - is there any cause for concern?

A newborn child is the main source of joy for young parents, but at the same time all their anxieties are connected with it. Parents are not yet accustomed to the daily routine of the child, they do not understand why the baby does not sleep or cry, when to feed and how often it should be done. Tranquility and self-confidence come with time, and any trouble eventually turns into a useful experience.

Why do we need enough sleep?

A healthy, sound sleep is the main indicator of a child's well-being. It is believed that a newborn child should sleep until he is awakened by a feeling of hunger, but since this is an ideal option, this is not always the case. If the baby does not sleep well, even if not hungry, this indicates that the baby is concerned about something (for example, a fever or a wet diaper). For a young child, sleep is extremely important, because it is in a dream that new knowledge and skills are formed, information received during wakefulness is processed. Long and deep sleep of the baby also gives mom a great opportunity to get some sleep or just to relax, do homework or a favorite hobby.

Problems with sleep - eat or not?

However, not always children sleep well. A bad dream is expressed both in a slow and difficult sleep, and in that the baby quickly wakes up, which can occur both during the day and at night. Short-term sleep is not satisfying, because if the baby is not sleeping well, he simply does not have time to sleep physically, and, therefore, feels constantly tired and broken, will be capricious and constantly cry.

In order to assess the degree of sleep disturbance, first of all, it is necessary to calculate the entire amount of time that a child sleeps per day and check the result with statistical data. Of course, you should not rely on these indicators as the truth in the last resort, because all children are different, and the lack of need for a long dream can be an individual characteristic of a particular child. To say that a baby is not sleeping well is possible only if his sleep lasts less than 16 hours a day, although the average babe sleeps about 18 hours a day.

Is it worth worrying?

If a child does not sleep much, but he is active enough and does not express obvious signs of anxiety, then the mother should not worry. But in the event that there are any external signs of trouble (except for a short sleep), the child should be shown to the pediatrician, who will tell if this condition is the norm. The doctor can also prescribe some additional tests and consultations of related specialists, for example, a neurologist.

How it is better to fall asleep?

There are several recommendations that help to put the baby to sleep, even if the baby usually does not sleep well and does not give rest to the parents. First of all, you need to lay a child without light, even during the day it's better to close the windows with curtains during sleep. You should also instill in the child a certain ritual that will become a signal for early sleep, for example, play with the child every day at the same time, then take a bath or sing a song. Over time, the child will get used to these actions, will be subconsciously ready for the fact that the song will be followed by a dream. Even if your mother does not have a voice or desire to sing, you can use soothing music or recording lullabies. The temperature in the room should not be too high, quite often the baby does not sleep well because of the stuffiness. Since thermoregulation in young children is imperfect, it is better to let the room be a little cool.

In any case, a bad dream in the child is not the reason for the tragedy, eventually everything will return to normal and the baby will choose the mode of the day that is right for him. Do not worry too much about a couple of hours of not getting enough sleep a day, but it's always better to consult a specialist once again.