Sleep is fundamental to humans, from babies to the elderly. However, sleep can be affected by different and unlimited factors. Babies are not an exception as they also suffer from lack of sleep. Sleep patterns of babies are typically influenced by age and sleep schedules. Sleep patterns of babies are different from those of adults. For instance, medical reasons baby won’t sleep on regular programs or awake from sleep severally in one night. Nonetheless, as infants grow, their sleep patterns transit and become regular or routine. Every infant is unique, and so is its development. Additionally, preemies or premature children may demonstrate consistent behavior depending on the onset of their births. Here are some of the medical reasons baby won’t sleep.
Discomfort and Exhaustion
Discomfort plays a significant role in babies staying awake when supposed to be sleeping. Babies in pain hardly afford sleep. For example, babies with a malady may fail to sleep within a significant amount of time across the night. Such will wake up severally crying the whole night. Alongside sickness, even slight discomforts can influence babies’ sleep patterns. Such discomforts can result from wet diapers, too cold or hot rooms, and annoying clothe tags. Moreover, exhaustion significantly affect sleep in babies. Exhaustion may render babies sleepless. Exhausted babies require aid such as nursing or rocking to afford sleep. However, exhaustion is preventable and parents or caregivers can consider consistent and frequent napping during disruptions or tours. Further, sleep medications are not recommended for infants and young babies except with pediatricians prescriptions.
Separation
Separation often makes one anxious and gloomy, and babies are not an exemption. Although with varied personalities, babies develop a significant attachment with their caregivers or parents. This attachment is different in every baby or infant. Noting the discrepancy, some babies are affected by anxiety resulting from the separation that makes sleep difficult. It is commendable for infants to sleep with their parents or caregivers in a similar room and bed for a minimum of six months to prevent separation anxiety.
Hunger
Hungry people often lack or fail to sleep routinely. This assertion applies to infants and babies, who will always awake or fail to sleep while having an empty stomach. Notably, in their first six months of growth, babies will always awake to feed during sleep times or nights. Although babies feed less, they need constant breastfeeding or weaning to afford adequate sleep. Interestingly, caregivers and parents will always note their hungry babies by looking for hunger cues, including lips smacking, hand sucking, among others.
Conclusion
Babies are delicate and require appropriate attention for their healthy growth. Sleep should not be a menace to babies but a routine. Therefore, ensure that you feed your child periodically and give them ample time and a conducive environment to maintain comfort.
