When your newborn isn’t sleeping, you’re not sleeping. It’s a natural concern to have, but if your newborn won’t sleep when they go down, or they fall asleep but keep waking up in the middle of the night, it doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong with your baby. Sleep is a skill that they’re still getting the hang of! And remember, you’re not alone — almost all parents experience this at some point after their child’s birth.
So why won’t your newborn fall asleep and stay asleep? And is there anything you can actually do about it? When it’s 3 a.m., and you’re exhausted from baby’s cries, a healthy sleep schedule may seem like a distant dream — but it doesn’t have to be.
Here are four reasons your newborn isn’t sleeping, as well as some tips to help lay the foundation to sleep train your baby, if you wish:
1. Day/night reversal
Imagine you’ve spent nine months floating in a warm, dark, quiet space and suddenly emerged into a brand new world. Would you know what time it is? Many newborns have poor sleep habits simply because they don’t yet know whether it’s night or day, and they don’t know that they’re supposed to sleep when it’s dark.
When your baby sleeps during the day and stays up all night, it’s known as day/night reversal. Day/night reversal can be one of the most common reasons why your newborn isn’t sleeping when you want them to. Luckily, it’s usually temporary and relatively easy to solve.
To get your baby on a better sleeping pattern, gradually reduce their number of naps during the day. Instead of letting your newborn sleep right after feeding, play or cuddle to keep them active. Expose your baby to as much natural light as possible during the day and keep lights low or turned off at night. These tips will help your newborn overcome day/night reversal.
2. Hunger
Hunger is another reason your newborn isn’t sleeping. Your baby digests breast milk and formula pretty quickly (their stomachs are small — especially in the early days!), so even if it seems like your baby satisfied his or her appetite at dinnertime, they may awaken from hunger a few hours later. Some experts believe that hunger is the number one reason why babies wake up during the night.
Although you shouldn’t disrupt your baby’s feeding schedule, if you find that your infant continually wakes up hungry, consider adding an extra nursing session before bedtime. A lactation consultant can help you strategize on this.
3. Discomfort or illness
As babies grow, they experience a number of physical discomforts that will keep them from falling asleep or wake them up in the middle of the night. Depending on your child’s age, this could be gas, constipation, wiggly arms and legs, or teething pain. Burping your baby, swaddling them before bed, and using natural teething remedies can help.
Remember, it’s normal for babies to have difficulty sleeping. However, there are certain cases where your infant’s insomnia may be caused by illness or a medical issue. These causes can range from common colds and allergies to more serious conditions. If your child was premature or has other conditions, poor sleeping may be a sign of complications from their birth.
Use your best judgment, talk to your partner, and always see your pediatrician right away if you believe your baby’s health may be at risk.
4. Too much playtime and too few naps
This is a surprising one — conventional wisdom used to be that if a baby didn’t sleep during the day, then at least they’d sleep great at night. But now, sleep experts say this isn’t true: Good naps and good sleep during the day set the foundation for a great night’s sleep. Otherwise, your baby can become overstimulated.
An overstimulated baby is a baby who won’t go down. When your newborn is “wired,” they’ll have trouble falling asleep and staying asleep. To avoid this, establish a firm bedtime routine. Beginning at least an hour before bedtime, start to turn down the lights, eliminate noise, put away toys, and reduce your infant’s activities. By winding down slowly at the end of the day, you’ll reinforce the habit of sleeping at night.
You can also learn to observe your baby for signs that he or she is getting worn out. Watch their body language as they react to different people and experiences. If your infant seems to shy away from something or cries easily in certain situations, it means it’s too much stimulation.
Sometimes, signs of overstimulation or overtiredness mean it might also a good idea to try to bring the nap or bedtime routine earlier in the day.
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