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.
