Strategy #5 Know When Your Baby No Longer Needs To Be Fed At Night
Your baby may continue to wake up in the night out of habit even when hes outgrown the need for a middle-of-the-night feeding.If your baby is going without that nighttime feeding some of the time or doesnt seem particularly interested in nursing once he gets up in the night, it might be time to eliminate that nighttime feeding and use non-food methods to soothe him back to sleep.Eventually, of course, youll want to encourage him to assume responsibility for soothing himself to sleep, but the first hurdle is to work on breaking that powerful food-sleep association.With some children, it happens quickly. With other children, its a much slower process.Once you break that association, he may stop waking as often in the night and may be ready to start working on acquiring some self-soothing skills.
Why Do My Baby Cry in His Sleep
When And How To Put Your Baby To Sleep
A lot of people may tell you that you should put your baby down to sleep when they are drowsy, but not fully asleep. This is a good goal, but it is not always possible. Many babies fall asleep while you are holding them, breastfeeding or bottle-feeding them.
You also might hear from advocates of the eat, play, sleep bedtime routine, in which babies feed, play for a short amount of time, and then go to sleep. But, this method can lead to unnecessary frustration for parents and dehydration and failure to thrive in babies.
How To Put Your Baby To Bed Without Them Crying
With small changes and a little more patience, you can train your baby not to cry when you put them down. It is essential to teach them how to self-soothe so that both you and the baby can have a good nights sleep.
- Sleep train them. There are various methods to sleep train your baby and help them fall asleep without crying when you put them down. Sleep training also helps your little one develop self-soothing skills. You could opt for either of these two sleep training methods: the cry it out, method or the no tears, method. Choose the one that is comfortable for you and your baby.
- Put them in the crib in a half-sleep state. If your baby tends to fall asleep while nursing, and it leads to separation anxiety in them, put them in the crib when they are in a half-sleep state, meaning when they are on the verge of drifting into a deep sleep.
- Use soothing techniques. It is normal for your baby to cry when you move them from a comfortable position . The best way to stop this habit of theirs is by not rushing to them and taking them into your arms as soon as they start to cry. Try to soothe them by placing them inside the crib and gently patting them.
Also Check: What Essentials Do I Need For A Newborn
Sleep Myth : Crying It Out Is Bad For Baby
Crying is a common and response to saying good-bye to a loved parent at bedtime. However, learning to fall asleep on ones own is an important skill that you can help your baby learn when she is old enoughat about 4 months.
Most experts and research agree that letting a baby or toddler cry as they go to sleep will not have any long-term damaging effects. A child who is well-loved, nurtured, and responded to during the day will not be hurt by fussing a bit before bed in the evening. And the good news is that the crying at bedtime will probably only go on for a few days before your baby adapts and begins to learn how to put herself to sleep.
But that doesnt mean its an easy choice for parents. Many parenting decisions, and especially this one, involve understanding temperamentnot only your babys, but your own as well. If letting your baby cry herself to sleep is too emotionally painful for you, there are other options. For example, you can go back to check on her every 10 minutes . Or, you can decide on a certain length of crying that you are willing to put up with and if the crying goes beyond that, you will go in to comfort the baby. Another option, if your partner is able to endure more of the crying, is that he or she takes on the bedtime routine. In any case, it is important for the two of you to be in agreement about your bedtime plan. Finding an approach that works for both your baby and your family is important.
What Amount Of Crying Is Normal
During the first three months of life, two to three hours of daily crying is considered normal. And because newborn sleep is often restless, cries can occur at night too.
The reason? Newborn sleep patterns alternate between non-rapid eye movement and rapid eye movement , which is the light, active phase marked by dreams, moving in the crib and some tears. So if you hear your baby whimper in her room, she could be in that REM period.
Nighttime crying can also be pinned to a sleep regression, which is a normal setback in your babys regular nighttime routine. You might encounter a sleep regression around 4 months of age, at 6 months, around 8 to 10 months and then again at 12 months .
And if youre trying to sleep train your baby using a method like the Ferber method, tears at night are part of the deal. Sleep training can begin when your baby is between 4 and 6 months old, and it typically takes about two weeks to complete> .
Don’t Miss: Can I Adopt A Newborn Baby
Tips For Keeping Your Cool And Calming Your Baby Down
Remember that your baby has feelings. Babies are emotional beings and experience feelings of happiness, sadness, joy, and anger from the very first moment of life. If, for whatever reason, you are having trouble being responsive to your baby, your child will pick up on those signals. How would you feel if your spouse or parent was unresponsive to your signals or attempts to communicate? Thinking of your baby as an individual with a unique personality may make it easier to interpret and respond to his or her cries.
Choose some techniques for taking a time out. Strategies like counting to ten, going outside, taking deep breaths, putting your baby down and walking around the house for a minute, can all help you maintain a calm frame of mind.
Find a mantra. A mantra is a sound, word, or phrase, often said over and over again, to provide comfort and inspiration. With a crying baby, you may find yourself talking out loud anyway, and a mantra can help provide perspective, comfort, and energy to keep going. Some examples might be: Just breathe,This is hard, but doable, and All will be well.
Baby blues or postpartum depression?
Exhaustion, rapidly shifting hormones, and a challenging child might make you feel frustrated, sad, or even depressed. If you find yourself feeling depressed, worthless, or resentful or indifferent towards your baby, dont try to wait it out. See: Postpartum Depression and the Baby Blues
Why Does My Baby Wake Up When I Put Her Down
In desperation, youre asking, Why does my baby wake up when I put her down? There are two main reasons. First, its important to understand that a babys sleep cycle is different from an adults. It takes up to 20 minutes for babies to reach deep sleep. This means your baby will wake easily if disturbed before this time.
Read Also: How Often Do You Bathe A Newborn
How Do I Get My Baby To Stop Crying In Bed
Picking them up may wake them up, disrupting their sleep. If the crying continues, try talking softly to the baby or rubbing their back or stomach. This can help shift them into a different stage of sleep and help them stop crying. Breastfed babies who nurse in their sleep may find comfort from nursing.
Is It Normal For A Baby To Cry Without Waking Up
Sometimes, however, your baby may seem to cry, grunt or scream her sleep without actually waking up leaving you to wonder what could be happening in the crib. Fortunately, sudden nighttime crying while asleep tends to be short-lived and isnt usually cause for alarm. Heres more about it, plus what to do when your baby cries in her sleep.
Recommended Reading: When Do You Switch From Newborn To Size 1 Diapers
Why Your Baby Is Crying In Their Sleep And 5 Solutions
When you’re a new parent, your number one wish is for your baby to sleep through the night – but what do you do when they’re crying in their sleep? Not only can this be alarming for family members, but starting to cry in the middle of sleep can wake up your little one in the middle of their rest.
Don’t worry, though, as most of the time your baby will be crying for a reason that isn’t serious, and that you’ll be able to solve in a few easy steps.
-
7 Reasons Babies Cry In Their Sleep
-
How to soothe a baby crying in their sleep
-
Baby cries in sleep: three key takeaways
What Should I Do When My Baby Cries At Night
Your baby doesnt need to be fed or comforted each time he or she cries at night. The important thing is to watch your baby and pick up on the cues he or she gives you. Usually babies cry with their eyes closed, which can be an indication that they are in transition from one sleep phase to the next. In this phase babies calm down quickly on their own and do not need to be taken out of their crib or bed.
If you pick your baby up in this case, he or she might fully awaken and take longer to fall back asleep. If your baby cries with his eyes open, the mere presence of an adult is sometimes sufficient to calm him or her down. If his nappy is dry and he isnt hungry, hot or cold, he might just be a little lonely. In this case, you should make eye contact with him. The voice of his parents can have a calming effect on the baby. You can also place your hand on the baby’s chest or use a cuddle cloth. Most babies find their way back to sleep by themselves.
Don’t Miss: How Many Diapers Newborn Use A Day
Know When To Seek Help
If you constantly feel overwhelmed and the feeling doesnt go away, you probably need some outside help. Additionally, if you are feeling like you cant pick up on your babys cues or your baby isnt alert enough to engage in the early milestone behaviors, it is important to seek help as soon as possible. Problems that are identified early can almost always be solved.
Tips For Settling Your Baby
- Once youve checked the basics theyre clean, dry, comfortable and fed consider if they just need to be close to you. Often, babies dont need anything ‘done’ for them, they just want to be held by the people they feel emotionally connected with.
- Hold your baby close to you and gently pat, rock or sway. Use a soothing, reassuring voice to let them know youre there. Sometimes the only way youll be able to settle your baby is to hold them until they fall asleep. See your child health nurse if your baby always needs to be cuddled to sleep.
- Take a walk outside and have a change of scenery this can help because its distracting.
- Try holding them in different positions in your arms. Offer skin-to-skin contact if theyre still very young.
- Offer a dummy if your baby has one.
- Give your baby a warm bath and a massage afterwards. Be sensitive to your babys cues some babies love baths and others dislike being undressed.
- Offer your baby a comforting breastfeed. If your baby is bottle feeding, they may need some extra milk.
- If your baby is younger than 3 months, swaddle them with a light cotton or muslin wrap.
- Put some music on, try humming, singing a song or reading to your baby. The sound of your voice may be enough to soothe them.
- Hand them to another trusted adult. Have a break from the intensity of your babys crying.
Also Check: How Much Will A Newborn Eat
When To Call The Doctor
If you just cant figure out whats causing your babys nighttime tears, you can always contact the pediatrician for advice. Baby docs are used to these calls, especially from new parents, and yours may want to examine your little one once youve described her crying pattern.
As for whats considered excessive crying, out-of-the-ordinary tears that last for two or three hours warrant a call to the doctor.
Colic, which shows up between 2 and 3 weeks of age and commonly happens between dinnertime and midnight, is another reason to get expert help.Trusted SourceAmerican Academy of PediatricsColic Relief Tips for ParentsSee All Sources Acid reflux, an infection or a milk allergy may also cause excessive crying.
Hang in there with the nighttime tears! In many cases, the reasons your baby is crying in her sleep are temporary, and your little one will soon be back to her usual solid slumber in no time.
From the What to Expect editorial team and Heidi Murkoff, author of What to Expect When You’re Expecting. What to Expect follows strict reporting guidelines and uses only credible sources, such as peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions and highly respected health organizations. Learn how we keep our content accurate and up-to-date by reading our medical review and editorial policy.
Crying Due To Teething Pain
When teeth buds begin emerging, babies may be very uncomfortable and theyll let you know it. Teething babies are noticeably fussier and will often whine due to the discomfort both day and night.If you suspect your baby may be working on a new tooth, you might notice more frequent mild crying or whimpering while sleeping. Ask your childs pediatrician what they recommend for discomfort associated with teething.
Unless youre concerned for their safety, its a good idea to wait and watch before intervening when your baby is crying in their sleep. When you respond too quickly, you may inadvertently wake your child all the way up or prevent them from falling back to sleep on their own.
Brief episodes of crying during sleep are developmentally appropriate and dont necessarily require help. So, the next time you discover your baby is crying with eyes closed, take a little step back and wait to see what happens next. Your baby may surprise you, and stop crying all on their own!
Recommended Reading: Which Milk Is Good For Newborn Baby
What To Do About Night Terrors
Your first impulse may be to wake your seemingly distressed child, but pediatricians caution against this idea. Really, the thing to do is not to try to disrupt and wake up your child, but to comfort them and try to settle them back down to sleep in a very calm and soothing way without trying to wake them up, says Dr. Johns.
In many cases, the childrens night terrors seem more concerning for the parent than the child. While we call these disturbances terrors, we dont even know if kids are experiencing fear, says Dr. Karp. But, what we do know is that nothing parents do seems to help. After several minutes, kids usually just fall back to sleep or awaken, dazed, with no memory of the episode. But you still remember it. The struggles of having a kid with night terrors can include sleep deprivation and feelings of apprehension for the parent, so take care of yourself during this trying phase as well.
For what its worth, these screaming sessions are nothing unusual for most kids. Night terrors are something that they grow out of. It doesn’t mean that there’s anything concerning going on with their development or that theres any worrisome medical condition, says Dr. Johns. Maybe nobody mentioned the fact that occasionally your kid will scream like a banshee in the middle of the night when nothing is wrong but thats the parent life for you.
Am I The Reason My Baby Wont Stop Crying
Are you distracted, overwhelmed, and at breaking point? If youre stressed out and exhausted, youre going to have trouble relating to your baby in a soothing, nurturing way. So, its important to get the support you need.
Fortunately, there are great opportunities for overcoming the limitations a parent or child may bring to the attachment relationship. Parents who learn how to calm themselves, ask for support, and communicate with their infants can find the means for creating a successful attachment relationshipessentially teaching by their exampleeven with an upset or unresponsive infant.
Also Check: Can Newborns Sleep In Dock A Tot
Strategy #6 Remain As Calm And Relaxed As Possible About The Sleep Issue
If you are frustrated and angry when you deal with your child in the night, your child will inevitably pick up your vibes, even if youre trying hard to hide your feelings.Accepting the fact that some babies take a little longer to learn the sleep ropes and feeling confident that you can solve your childs sleep problems will make it easier to cope with the middle-of-the-night sleep interruptions.Scientific studies have shown that parents who have realistic expectations about parenthood and who feel confident in their own abilities to handle parenting difficulties find it easier to handle sleep challenges.