One of the most common challenges new parents face is when their baby resists sleep. Whether it’s due to sleep regressions, developmental milestones, or simply their individual temperament, many babies go through phases of resisting sleep. As a new parent, it can be exhausting and frustrating, but rest assured that you are not alone. So what to do when your baby won’t sleep? We’ll explore this common issue and provide some practical tips and suggestions to help your baby want to sleep, allowing you to get some much-needed rest as well.
Why Won’t My Baby Sleep?
It is important to recognize that babies resisting sleep is a common occurrence, especially during sleep regressions or periods of significant developmental milestones. Sleep regressions are temporary interruptions in a baby’s sleep patterns that coincide with periods of rapid brain and physical development.
During sleep regressions, your baby’s brain is busy making new connections and learning new skills. This can lead to restlessness, nighttime awakenings, and difficulties falling asleep. Similarly, when your baby is acquiring new skills such as rolling, crawling, or walking, they may become more interested in practicing these skills than settling down for sleep. It’s fun to be awake!
Tips for Encouraging Sleep
However, it’s also important for your baby (and you) to get enough quality sleep. As much as their new skills and developmental milestones may be keeping them awake, they need the sleep to keep developing and growing.
While every baby is unique, here are tips and suggestions to help create an environment that encourages your little one to settle down for sleep.
Establish a Consistent Bedtime Routine: A soothing and predictable routine can help signal to your baby that it’s time for sleep. Incorporate calming activities such as a warm bath, gentle massage, or reading a bedtime story.
Create a Sleep-friendly Environment: Ensure the sleep environment is conducive to restful sleep. Dim the lights, use white noise machines or soft lullabies to drown out background noise, and maintain a comfortable temperature. Especially if your baby is used to complete silence and is now learning language, they may be more interested in hearing conversations and engaging in play than sleeping.
Encourage Daytime Activities and Exposure to Natural Light: Engage your baby in stimulating daytime activities and expose them to natural light. This can help regulate their internal body clock (circadian rhythm), making it easier for them to distinguish between day and night.
Keep Daytime Naps Consistent: Ensure your baby is receiving adequate daytime nap opportunities. Contrary to what one might assume, a well-rested baby is more likely to sleep better at night. If you have an active social baby, you may think that they are ready to cut out naps, but an overtired baby won’t sleep any better. Babies need a lot of sleep, so please speak to your baby’s pediatrician or a health care professional before cutting out any naps, to make sure they’re ready.
Introduce Calming Bedtime Activities: Incorporate calming activities into your baby’s bedtime routine to help them wind down. These may include a calming bath before bedtime, baby massage, gentle rocking, singing softly, or using a familiar lovey or blanket.
Offer Comfort and Reassurance: When your baby resists sleep, offer comfort and reassurance. Provide soothing touch, gentle rocking, or try using a pacifier if your baby is accustomed to one. Remember, your presence and loving reassurance can help your baby feel secure and relaxed.
Be Mindful of Overstimulation: Avoid overly stimulating activities, bright lights, or noisy environments close to bedtime. Although it may seem counterintuitive, just like an overtired baby won’t sleep, an overstimulated baby can find it more challenging to settle for sleep. This is the same reason why using your phone in bed can disrupt sleep patterns.
Consider Sleep Associations: It’s natural for babies to develop sleep associations, such as needing to be rocked or fed to sleep. While these associations can provide temporary comfort, they can also interfere with self-soothing skills. Gradually introduce gentle changes, such as putting your baby down slightly awake, to encourage independent sleep.
Remember, Be Kind to Yourself: Dealing with a baby who resists sleep can be emotionally and physically draining for parents. It’s important to be kind to yourself during this phase. Seek support from friends, family, or support groups for encouragement and understanding. Consider finding short moments of self-care to recharge and rejuvenate. Schedule some time with your parent coach!
When your baby resists sleep, it can be challenging, but remember, it is a phase that many new parents go through. By understanding the commonness of this issue in relation to sleep regressions and developmental milestones, and implementing the suggested tips and suggestions, you can create an environment that encourages your baby to settle down for sleep. Remember, this too shall pass, and better sleep times are on the horizon for both you and your little one.
