Babywise states that between 4-6 months babies develop a "wake-up disposition--one that you highly influence" (BabyWise, p. 133). Hopefully this disposition will be a happy one. If not (and your child is above 4-6 months), most likely your child is not getting enough sleep. Sometimes the issue is with the sleep phase your child wakes up in which you can't do much about. Sorry :(
The following may result in a child getting less sleep than he actually needs:
Related Posts:
Signs of Sleep Deprivation
How Do I Know If My Baby Is Getting Enough Sleep
Waking up crying or cranky in the mornings
The following may result in a child getting less sleep than he actually needs:
- Inappropriate limit setting by parents (e.g. child wants to stay up so parents let him even though he really should be in bed)
- Anxiety
- Lack of a structured routine or an inconsistent routine (see Why have a schedule/routine?)
- The child wants something to help him sleep like being held (see sleep prop) or wants to do something instead of sleep (e.g. play video games)
- Psychological problem/s (rare)
- Medical problem/s (rare)
- You assume a nap (see Short Naps) or night time sleep (see Early Morning Waking) is finished when it really should last a bit longer (but you may need to do some work to make it do so).
- You rush in. Babies go through transitions in sleep and often move around alot and make noises during this time. When you rush in at this time, you may be getting baby up when he was really about to go back to sleep for a bit longer.
- Low blood sugar. I haven't read this anywhere but I really think it can make a difference for some kids. If you think this may be a problem, you may want to try offering a high protein food before naptime or possibly having a little snack available for your child to eat right as he wakes from his nap.
Related Posts:
Signs of Sleep Deprivation
How Do I Know If My Baby Is Getting Enough Sleep
Waking up crying or cranky in the mornings
i have been following the feed/wake/sleep routine during the day. Still my baby is awake 4-9 hours a night with little 20 minute naps during that time. What can I do? I am desperate.
ReplyDeletesheltonjc@gmail.com
There could be several things that are going on. First off, how old is your baby? If your baby has his nights and days mixed up, this will take some time to fix (maybe even a couple weeks). If he has colic, then there may not be much you can do during this time besides try comforting measures for your baby and try to get some help during this time.
ReplyDeleteDoes he/she take good naps during the day? Are these by him/herself? Are you truly allowing an awake time during the day making sure it is not too long or too short. If your baby is too overtired he/she may not sleep well at night, but if he/she is getting all his/her sleep during the day he/she will not sleep as well at night. What is happening at night that there are only 20 minute naps in between? Does baby seem alert after 20 minutes? Is he/she simply unable to get him/herself back to sleep? Are you playing with baby at this time when he/she seems alert? Make sure to make night time a calm/dark environment. If baby wants to play at night, don't. Also, if you let baby catch up in too much sleep during the day bc night sleep wasn't good the same pattern is going to keep going on since he/she won't be tired at night. There's a fine line here. Too little sleep the next day will make baby too overtired to sleep, but too much sleep will make baby not sleep again during the night (if this happens to be what is going on).
Look over the possible suggestions above and let me know where you think you are at.
I have had 3 children. Our oldest is 5 then 2 1/2 and now 3 months. I'm looking forward to our youngest waking up happy :). We've done "Babywise" will all of our children so far and it just keeps getting better. All 3 have slept through the night at a very early age - our oldest was the toughest but it keeps getting better. I have the LORD, my wonderful and helpful husband, my own desire for a schedule and 'Babywise' to thank for it. I recommend it to everyone and have never heard a legitimate bad comment on it.
ReplyDeleteOur oldest had trouble with her days and nights switched around and it can bevery tough to flip...especially if you live in a soundfroofless tiny trailer. I do believe in letting a baby 'cry it out' but that almost converted me. LOL
Now people can't believe that my oldest 2 sleep 12 hours a night and my 3 month old is at almost 9 hours every night and has been for a month! What a blessing!
Thanks for sharing your experience simplemom! I bet a sound machine is your best friend with the noise you may be experiencing. Best of luck with everything. That's awesome you're at 9 hours already.
DeleteRachel