Baby Won’t Sleep: What Can I Do?

If you are a parent looking for a solution for any problem via Google search, you’re obviously trying to address the problem and find the solution yourself, before consulting anyone else. We are not saying that this or any other article may not be of benefit, but we want you to know that you know your baby better than anyone else, which increases the chances of solving the problem effectively.

Still, we are aware of the fact that parenting can be quite challenging, which is why we are here to suggest a few tips on how to solve problems with your baby’s sleeping routine.

Your baby will not sleep, and you are worried about their health? The first thing that you need to do is determine the cause. What you should know is that it varies from case to case, which means that one baby may be affected by too much stimuli, while another one may be distracted by a quiet atmosphere.

Bearing this in mind, taking a look at guides such as the Baby Sleep Miracle site will be a great place to start, giving you an idea of what and how things may influence the sleep routine of your baby.

Hence, addressing the issue can be done only when you know what lies beyond it. Before suggesting a few tips on how to cope with it, we decided to highlight a few of the most common causes and solutions for the problem of a baby who won’t sleep. Let’s take a look.

Your Baby is Too Tired

One of the most common reasons that babies have trouble falling asleep, is because they are too tired. Wait, what? Don’t you have an easier time getting to sleep if you are feeling exhausted?

Well, that is how it is for adults, but babies function in a different way. If they have missed their nap, or simply didn’t get enough sleep for the past 24 hours, chances are they will be aggravated, throwing themselves around, making it hard to calm them down.

With this in mind, the best way to address this issue is by strictly following the nap schedule and so ensuring that your baby gets enough sleep every day.

Too Much Stimuli

Along with that, it is quite common that babies, especially newborns, may have trouble calming down due to the fact that they are overstimulated. It is similar to what we adults face. Therefore, if you want to secure a healthy sleep routine for your baby, you should allow them to wind down before the bedtime routine.

Whether you were playing together, throwing them into the air or listening to music and having a good time, your baby will now need a soothing environment to fall asleep.

Try to lower the lights, and rock them to sleep using the help of ambient sounds.

Their Routine is Off

As the Baby Sleep Miracle guide suggests, another reason why your baby may face problems with sleeping is that they don’t have a good enough routine.

As mentioned, everyone functions differently, which means you should invest extra time in ensuring that the sleeping and nap regime for your baby is according to their needs and age. Only this way will you make sure that they get enough rest and stay healthy throughout the growing process.

Separating from Co-Sleeping

Most babies experience stress when they are separated from the co-sleeping routine. So it shouldn’t come as a surprise that your baby wakes up during the night and is distressed to the point where they can’t fall asleep right away. This is quite normal, and you should do your best to make the transition process easier.

Whether it is rocking or nursing them to sleep, there are a number of ways you can help your baby transition from active to passive sleeping. 

Digestive Issues and Discomfort

This depends on whether your baby has turned 5 months or not. If your baby has, you need to ensure that they get enough solid foods. Why? Because acid reflux is a common problem for babies that have been on liquids for too long, while their more-developed digestive system requires solid food.

As you may have experienced it as well, a lack of food in your stomach that may wake you up during the night and cause discomfort. 

The Environment Temperature

Last but not least, it is quite common that babies that are too hot or too cold have problems falling asleep. Bearing this in mind, taking that extra layer off of them or covering them with an additional blanket, may work like a charm. 

Tips To Solve Baby Won’t Sleep Problem

Now that we have discussed common causes and highlighted solutions, it is time that we move on and suggest a few tips that may work for any case. 

First of all, if you want to ensure an optimal sleep atmosphere, you should invest in blackout curtains that will prevent too much light entering their room.

Also, giving your baby a light face massage before bedtime may relax, calming them down and put them into passive sleep. One of the best ways to block any distractions or stimuli is to use a white noise machine. This way, you will be able to get on with your routine without waking up your newborn.

Last but not least, you should know that as babies are not born with a circadian rhythm, it shouldn’t surprise you if they wake up in the middle of the night. Be ready for it and set up shifts with your partner.

Conclusion

If your baby will not sleep, it is nothing you should get too alarmed about, as it is quite common, especially in the first few months. By finding the cause and addressing the issue effectively, using some of the tips from the Baby Sleep Miracle site and the information we provided above, you should have your baby's sleep routine back on track with nothing to worry about.