All Around Baby

As my firstborn was a night owl and I felt like he is not getting enough sleep even if he was sleeping through the day. So as a new parent, one of the biggest questions that I had was “Is he getting enough sleep?” It is a valid question for any parent, as getting enough sleep is essential to your baby’s physical, mental, and emotional development. After all, it’s during sleep that the body repairs and rejuvenates.

To help you out in this matter, the American Academy of Pediatrics has developed some guidelines for parents to understand how much sleep their baby needs in each stage of their life. With the right amount of sleep, you can ensure your baby is healthy and happy.

Content

The Benefits of Enough Sleep

How Much Sleep Does My Baby Need?

Tips for Getting Your Baby to Sleep.

The Benefits of Enough Sleep

Before getting into how much sleep your baby needs, it is important to understand the benefits of enough sleep. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, getting enough sleep is essential for your baby’s growth and development.

Sleep helps the brain consolidate information and aids in learning. It also helps the body to rest and repair itself. Furthermore, sleep helps the body to regulate hormones, which helps to foster healthy physical and emotional development.

So, it is important to ensure your baby gets enough sleep. To make the mission easy, the American Academy of Pediatrics has published a guideline on the sleep requirements of babies at each stage of their development.

How Much Sleep Does My Baby Need?

Now that you understand the importance of sleep for your baby’s health and development, let us look at how much sleep your baby needs. Here are the recommended amounts of sleep for babies up to one year old, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics:

0-3 months: 14-17 hours

3-6 months: 12-15 hours

6-9 months: 11-14 hours

9-12 months: 10-13 hours

As you can see, babies need a lot of sleep! It is important to remember that these are just guidelines. Some babies may need more or less sleep than the recommended amounts.

Tips for Getting Your Baby to Sleep

Although the guideline recommends big hours of sleep for babies, it will not be easy to get some babies to sleep. So you may be wondering how to get your baby to sleep. Here are some tips from me to help you out:

• Establish a routine: Developing a consistent bedtime routine can help your baby to relax and feel secure. This does not have to be a time-consuming routine. A relaxing bath and bedtime story time before bed will let your baby know that it is time to sleep.

• Make sure your baby is comfortable: Make sure your baby is in a comfortable sleeping position and that the room is not too hot or too cold.

• Do not overstimulate: Avoid overstimulating your baby before bedtime. This means no screens, loud noises, or bright lights. You can also use white noise or brown noise to calm down your baby and avoid background noises while your baby falls asleep.

• Watch for signs of sleepiness: Pay attention to your baby’s signals, such as yawning or rubbing their eyes, and put them to bed when they are ready.

• Do not give in to crying: If your baby cries at bedtime, do not give in and pick them up. Instead, try comforting them from a distance. If your baby is old enough let them sleep with something they consider as a comforter so they can self-soothe when they wake up in the middle of the night.

By following these tips and ensuring your baby gets enough sleep, you can help to ensure your baby is healthy and happy.

To sum up, it’s important to understand how much sleep your baby needs. Babies up to one year old typically need between 10 and 17 hours of sleep per day. Getting enough sleep is essential for your baby’s physical and emotional development.

By establishing a consistent bedtime routine, making sure your baby is comfortable, avoiding overstimulation, and watching out for signs of sleepiness, you can ensure your baby gets the sweet sleep they need.

Setting up the nursery for the baby is a dreamy experience for the expecting parents. We all fall in love with the colorful baby sheets, furniture, and toys more than we should. After a shopping spree, you might have installed the crib that you found ideal for your little chipmunk to fall asleep in. Now he has arrived home wanting to sleep anywhere but in the crib, you have set for him. Maybe your baby was fine sleeping in the crib but suddenly turned into a rebellion when it comes to sleeping in his cozy place.

A baby who does not sleep in his crib is a challenge for busy and tired parents. Therefore, this problem needs a quick and proper solution so both the baby and the parents can sleep well. I will discuss why the babies refuse to sleep in their crib, why they suddenly change their mind about sleeping in the crib and how you can get them to sleep in the crib you prepared with a lot of love for them.

CONTENT

1.   Why does my baby refuse to sleep in the crib?

2.   Why does my baby suddenly hate to sleep in the crib?

3.   How do I get my baby to sleep in the crib?

1.    Why does my baby refuse to sleep in the crib?

The most common reason why a baby will not sleep in his crib or the bassinet is that he is used to falling asleep comfortably in some other place. It can be in the parents’ arms, the parent’s chest, in a carrier, or a baby swing. When they know that there is a better alternative to the crib, they will not sleep in the crib which they believe to be less comfortable.

As soon as you try to transfer your baby from your arms or the place that he loves to fall asleep into the crib, they will make a big fuss and refuse to be in the crib. It is not easy to transfer a sleeping baby from a place to another. This is because they spend more of their sleep in REM than in deep sleep.

 You might have noticed that your baby move their arms, legs, and roll around during their sleep and, it is a sign that they are in the REM stage. A slight change in the surrounding can wake up a baby who is in this active stage. Therefore, falling asleep somewhere else and moving to the crib later will not work for them.

2.    Why does my baby suddenly hate to sleep in the crib?

The baby who loved to sleep in his crib before hates to be in it now. There can be several reasons for this and, most of them are likely to be temporary problems that will fade away in a week or two.

Teething pain

Your baby will start to get his teeth around the age of 3 to 4 months. As the first tooth erupts, his gums will be sore and swollen. You will also notice that your baby is fussy and has a slight fever. When the baby is in teething pain, he will prefer to be in the parents ‘arms rather than being alone in the crib.

Growth spurts

The babies are growing up fast and they may experience a growth spurt at any time. But they will typically experience 3 weeks, 6 weeks, and 3 months of age.  During these growth spurts, they will be extra hungry and clingy making them hate the crib.

Sleep regression

Same as the growth spurts, sleep regressions will also appear as your baby grows up. They will typically happen at the age of 4 months, 6 months, between 8 and 10 months, and then again around 12 months. Sleep regressions will drive away your baby from their usual sleeping patterns and habits.

Physical discomforts

A cold, fever, stomachache, or ear infection can be bothering your baby. When he is in pain, he will like to be in your arms rather than being alone in the crib.

Developmental milestones

During the first year of a baby’s life, he learns many interesting new skills. As their body learn and adapt to these new skills, there will be many changes happening. Your baby will respond to those changes by becoming extra clingy or fussy.

3.    How do I get my baby to sleep in the crib?

If you conclude that your baby is refusing to sleep in the crib suddenly due to any of the above reasons, do whatever you can to make their situation better. If he is going through a growth spurt, feed him frequently. Use soothing techniques to relieve the babies teething pain and teach self-soothing to survive sleep regressions.

There are a few steps you can follow if your baby still hates to sleep in the crib or has never been fine about sleeping in the crib.

Do not let your baby fall asleep in your arms, chest, or on your bed. You can rock him, sing to him, or dance with him until he is drowsy but not asleep. Put him in the crib when he is half asleep so he will fall asleep by himself in the crib.

Do not run to the baby as soon as they wake up and cry. Give them a minute or two to settle down by themselves. As the babies are light sleepers, they will wake up for the tiniest reason but will fall back asleep again.

Do not change the bedtime routine of the baby during a transition period like from the bassinet to the crib. The babies do not prefer big changes. When one thing changes it is good to have the other things not changed.

Do not let your baby fall asleep in your bed, the car seats, or the baby swings. They are not designed for babies to sleep safely. If they find it comfortable, they will refuse to sleep in the crib which is designed for safe sleep.

Do not take away the playtime of the baby for any reason. Let them practice their new skills during their playtime.  Then, they will get used better to the changes happening in their body.

Do not be tempted to put soft toys, soft blankets, or pillows into the crib because it does not seem comfortable to your baby. Those are sleep hazards that you should not let your baby sleep with.

With the new level of exhaustion, you will be introduced to after becoming a parent, you will yearn for a good long sleep. Once the baby falls asleep you might be trapped in the illusion that the baby will sleep for 6-7 hours in a stretch. But he will probably wake up in the middle of the night and make you run for him.

 It is not a surprise if your baby wakes up randomly with a hysteric cry. They were cozily held in the mother’s tummy for nine months with almost disturbance. Your baby will look for the comfort of being tightly held in his first few months in this new world. Apart from that, crying is the only way that your baby can let you know of his needs and discomforts. Therefore, these hysterical cries at night will last for several months until your baby grows up enough to sleep for longer stretches.

Although the comfort of an adult is the main reason that makes a baby wake up and cry in sleep, there can be a few other reasons too. In this article, I will discuss those reasons, how to soothe a crying baby at night and when to seek help.

CONTENT

1.   Why does my baby wake up at night crying historically?

2.   How to soothe a crying baby at night?

3.   When to be concerned about the baby crying at night?

1.     Why does my baby wake up at night crying historically?

The baby is hungry.

The youngest babies need to be fed once every 2-3 hours. If your baby is younger than 4 months of age, he will wake up a few times in the night just to get his tummy filled. They have a very little stomach that holds a small amount of milk and it is essential for them to be fed frequently.

 If it has been a few hours since his last feed, your baby is probably crying out of hunger. Although several night feeds are required in the first months, your baby will drop them gradually as they grow up. Click here to know when you can stop feeding your baby at night.

The baby is having gas problems.

The babies eat frequently and they swallow air while being fed. Both breastfed and bottle-fed babies can experience gas problems. Improper bottle feeding methods and poor latch are the main reasons that make the babies suck more air during their meals. Their digestive system is still developing so they are incapable of handling gas by themselves.

Gas accumulated in the tummy can be uncomfortable and painful for the baby. If your baby is fussy and arches his back it can be a sign that your baby is experiencing gas problems. Read this article to know how to help a gassy baby.

The baby is teething

Your baby will get his first tooth at around the age of 4-6 months. Some babies get their teeth before or later this age but the first tooth will always be difficult you a baby. Teething will last for years and eventually, they will get used to it but your baby will need your support more while those first few teeth are erupting.

The achy and swollen gums will make your baby fussy and sad. If your baby drools excessively and puts everything in their sight to their mouth, you should expect pain-driven historical cries in the middle of the night.  Click here to know how you can help your teething baby.

The baby is having physical discomfort.

We all hate being disturbed during sleep and so do the babies. A wet diaper, a loud noise or strong light, too hot or too cold room temperature, a soaked bassinet sheet can disturb your sleeping baby and he will let you know his discomfort in the loudest way possible. They cannot talk so, it is the only method of communication they can use to tell you that their sleeping environment needs to be fixed.

The baby is sick

The babies will get sick frequently until they turn one. Your baby will wake up crying if they have a fever, stomachache, or nasal congestion. Touching ears, nose, or tummy while crying inconsolably is a hint that he is in pain. The body temperature is an easy way to find if your baby is suffering from an illness although it does not cover all the possibilities.

Read this article to know how to help your baby get rid of nasal congestion.

The baby is experiencing separation anxiety

The babies between the age of 9-12 months will wake up at night and realize the mom and dad are not around. It will be the reason that will make them cry out loud in the next moment. After the age of 9 months, waking up and crying during sleep becomes more of a developmental problem than a physical issue.

This is easy to recognize because the little one will stop the crying as soon as you appear before them and, they do not have any other need to be attended to like a wet diaper.

The baby is going through a sleep regression

Sleep regressions will happen during certain stages of your baby’s development. They are mostly observed in the months of 4, 6, 8, 12, 18, and 24. At these ages, the babies are marking the most important developmental milestones in their life and the process happening inside their bodies will lead to sleep regressions.

If your baby is below twelve months of age, sleep regression can be a result of the change in the bedtime routine or habits. As an example, the pacifier of the baby may fall off waking your baby with a cry. It is easier to deal with a sleep regression if you understand the reason behind it.

Growth spurts will also wake your baby frequently and demand food quicker and more aggressively. In case only a good meal can soothe your baby back to sleep, it can be a growth spurt. A growth spurt will not last for more than 2-3 days.

The baby had a nightmare/night terror

Nightmare and night terrors are most common after the age of 3 years. But babies who are older than 18 months can also randomly experience nightmares and night terrors. Newborns who experience overactive startle reflex might look like they had a nightmare.

2.     How to soothe a crying baby at night?

Make sure that they are fed, changed, and comfortable. Check the sleeping environment of the baby for temperature and moisture.

Look for the signs of physical pain like a stomachache, congested nose, or a fever.

If you suspect that your baby has separation anxiety, gradually try to teach him to self-soothe. Read this article to know how to practice self-soothing.

3.     When to be concerned about the baby crying at night?

Most of the reasons that wake up your baby with a cry are harmless. If your intuition tells you otherwise, do not hesitate to call or pay a visit to your doctor. Unless your baby is having a fever, not eating properly, and do not have the expected amount of soiled diapers, there is no urgent need to meet a doctor if he wakes up crying at night.

When an adult falls asleep with his mouth open, it is a funny sight that might appear on social media on his birthday. But when seeing a baby who sleeps with his little mouth open is the cutest thing to watch as a parent. But wait! Why does he sleep with his mouth open? Why is he breathing from his mouth instead of his nose? Your parent instinct will have you questioning the opened mouth of your baby.

Although sleeping with the mouth open is rarely a symptom of a health condition, it can be a sign of an upper respiratory disease of your baby. Therefore, it is always better to be concerned about the sleeping behavior of your baby. Keep reading this article to know why your baby keeps his mouth open while sleeping, remedies, and when to seek medical advice.

CONTENT

1.   Why does my baby sleep with his mouth open?

2.   What causes my baby to breathe from his nose?

3.   How can I help my baby who is mouth breathing?

4.   When to be concerned about the mouth breathing of a baby?

1.    Why does my baby sleep with his mouth open?

We breathe through our noses unless our nasal passage is blocked for some reason. It is the same for babies. It is a reflex of the human body to breathe through the mouth when the nasal passage is blocked. The babies will breathe through the mouth when they are crying. But they do not have this reflex at least until they turn three months old.

The most common reason why babies mouth breathe is congestion in their upper respiratory system. A blockage in the throat or the nose can easily force a baby to have his mouth during sleep to keep breathing easily. The blockages are mostly harmless like a stuffy nose from mucus congestion or a mild allergy. But, there can be complicated health conditions causing congestions in the upper respiratory systems of babies.

Breathing through the mouth is not as same as breathing through the nose. It is less efficient and makes it difficult for the lungs to absorb the amount of oxygen needed to function our bodies. When we breathe through our nose, it filters out the potential irritants and germs to a certain level but, mouth breathing takes away this barrier. On the other hand, mouth breathing can become a habit that is hard to get rid of. Therefore, it is recommended to fix the problem of nose breathing as soon as you notice it.

2. What causes my baby to breathe from his nose?

Mucus

The babies cannot clean their noses by themselves or tell you that their nose needs to be cleaned. Mucus can be a result of a cold that your baby is having or had recently. An allergic reaction to a substance in the environment will also trigger mucus production. If you notice your baby is mouth breathing, check whether his nose is congested with mucus.

Deviated Septum

The abnormalities in the structure of the nose can also lead to breathing through the nose. The bone that separates the nostrils of your baby or the cartilage can be deformed in a way affecting the breathing process. This is common among babies who have a narrow upper jaw.

Sleep apnea

If your baby is breathing from his mouth, it can be a sign that your baby is experiencing sleep apnea. It will appear along with other symptoms like restlessness while sleeping, snoring, pauses in breathing, and coughing. Mouth breathing happens when your baby’s airway is blocked due to a reason like a tonsil inflammation

It should be noted that some babies will breathe through their mouths for no reason as a habit. But it is always better to rule out other health complications.

3.    How can I help my baby who is mouth breathing?

If you notice that your baby is constantly sleeping with his mouth open, you should meet your pediatrician. The pediatrician will help you to rule out the potential health problems that might cause a symptom like a mouth breathing. If the pediatrician confirms that your baby is healthy, below are some home remedies to help your baby to get rid of the need to mouth breathe.

Bulb Syringe

If your baby has a cold and you think his nose is congested, you can use a bulb syringe to clean his nose. The babies cannot blow their noses by themselves, and a bulb syringe is the best way to get that mucus out without hurting the baby. NoseFrida Snotsucker is such a safe device to clean the nasal passage of the little ones.

Saline Wash

Spraying some saline water to the nose of your baby will loosen the congested mucus. It will make it easier for you to suck out the mucus with a bulb syringe. The saline water you spray into your baby’s nose must be very clean. It is always good to use a saline spray like Simply Saline Nasal Mist as it assures the hygiene and cleanliness of the liquid that goes inside your baby’s nose.

Humidifier

The dry air can also cause stuffy noses in babies. A humidifier helps to improve the humidity of the surrounding your baby that will comfort him by loosening his nose. When your purchase a humidifier, go for one that avoids burning risks as it will be placed around your baby.

 In case you do not have a humidifier, let the hot water run in the bathroom for a few minutes while the windows and the door are closed. Sit there with your baby till the baby starts to feel better.

You can read this article to know more about why babies get congested and home remedies to help them.

4.   When to be concerned about the mouth breathing of a baby?

If you are sure that your baby is not congested and he is still breathing from his mouth, it is time to call your pediatrician. It can be an infection in the tonsils and adenoids. They can also be formed largely due to genetics. Either reason will cause breathing difficulties for your baby.

Some conditions may require surgeries to fix the breathing problem such as removing the tonsils or adenoids or correcting the deviated septum. But mild cases of sleep apnea and tonsil infections will be treated with medications.