A three-month-old baby often wakes up at night. The kid is scared and lonely. What to do to improve sleep

Ask any parent of a newborn and they will probably tell you that long, deep, peaceful sleep is not on the list of things their family has to offer.

And that's usually okay. Newborns should not sleep for many hours at a time at night. Their little organisms are simply not designed to function that way. But sometimes insomnia in newborns can seem abnormal, pathological.

Children and adults all wake up at night when the transition occurs through sleep phases. Many of us simply roll over, adjust our pillow and go back to sleep, but babies can have sleep associations. This means that if the baby falls asleep in his mother's arms, and then wakes up alone in the cradle, he will most likely be upset and wish to return to his arms to fall asleep again. Or if babies fall asleep during breastfeeding they will need those same sensations to get back to sleep.

Indeed, there are so many facts about newborn sleep habits that parents need to know, as they are different from adults.

You need to understand the causes and find solutions that will help you overcome your newborn baby's sleep problem.

newborn sleeps little

Perhaps this is a normal sleep pattern for an infant.

Remember that newborns need to wake up frequently to eat.

Indeed, newborn sleep patterns are nothing like adults. The sleep of a newborn is subject to a cycle: the baby wakes up, eats, perhaps stays a little awake, and then returns to sleep anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 to 3 hours.

The following sleep and nutrition schedule for a newborn (when breastfeeding a baby) illustrates this cyclic sleep pattern well:

Why is the baby not sleeping?

As a result, expect the newborn to wake up frequently. But if the baby does not sleep well and looks tired, becomes more and more moody, you need to pinpoint the cause of the newborn's insomnia and provide appropriate assistance.

The baby does not sleep because he is hungry

This is the most common reason why a newborn does not sleep well. An infant who is formula fed or breastfed requires feeding every 4 or even 2 to 3 hours. Baby may get hungry before it's time. next feeding and he will wake up for the same reason at night. Since newborn babies have a small stomach, they need small and frequent appointments food. Breast milk will be digested faster, so if you are breastfeeding, the baby will be hungry more often.

You can schedule your feeding times to be just before bed. If the newborn does not sleep after feeding, his stomach is likely to be full, and it is difficult for the baby to fall asleep. Continue to feed your baby more often in the evening, perhaps every 1 to 2 hours. Another option is to wake your baby up for feeding before going to bed.

The baby does not sleep well, as it is overexcited

A newborn needs a lot of sleep. He can only stay awake for a few hours. Babies under 6 months of age usually need short sleep after 2-3 hours of being awake. And it's in best case. Some parents may assume that the more tired the child is, the easier it will fall asleep. In reality, everything is exactly the opposite.

Even a simple toss in the air can make a baby flustered. Older children may become hyperactive due to any exposure to noise, toys or environment. When a child is overloaded or overstressed, he feels irritated, and as a result, the baby does not sleep day and night.

Create a calm environment that will help your child relax. Gently massage it, sing a lullaby. A relaxing bath, dim light, and skin contact are all useful methods to soothe the baby. Parents should also pay attention to their mood, as children feel it very subtly.

The child does not sleep well during the day or at night, as he is used to motion sickness

This is a common reason why month old baby not sleeping. If the baby is used to rocking until he falls asleep, then when he wakes up an hour later, you will have to rock him again. This process can continue over and over again!

If a one-month-old baby does not sleep well for this reason, to help him develop the ability to fall asleep in a crib, provide a safe object, such as soft toy or a blanket. The child will touch the object, which for him will mean safety and comfort. This method is quite effective when a month old baby does not sleep during the day.

Newborn baby sleeps poorly due to Moro's reflex

The Moro reflex often makes it impossible to fall asleep smoothly. You have probably already observed this. The child begins to fall asleep, and then suddenly flaps his arms, thereby frightening himself.

Try swaddling your baby so he doesn't disturb himself. jerky movements and was able to sleep deeply.

The baby does not sleep all day and all night due to pain or feeling unwell

Another reason why the baby does not sleep well during the day or at night. Babies are very sensitive. teething, abdominal pain, acid reflux, colds and coughs, as well as many diseases cause discomfort for the child.

Remember that babies cannot tell us that they have a headache or a sore throat. And when the baby is restless, there is a reason for this. Try to find out the specific cause and provide appropriate assistance.

The newborn does not sleep at night, as he did a lot during the day

It is normal if the baby sleeps a lot during the day and therefore does not want to at night. In such cases, they say that the child confused day and night. This can happen when the baby sees little daylight. Babies need to develop a sleep cycle.

Exposure to light during the day will help the child learn right time, and calm games during daytime wakefulness will allow you to "work up" night sleep.

Find a sunny spot in your home. Hike for a morning walk with a child - too good idea. Don't forget to dim the lights in the nursery before bed. The child will logically associate light with activity time and darkness with sleep time.

The newborn does not sleep well because he feels discomfort

It can be difficult to find out why the child does not sleep during the day or at night. If you are unable to identify the reason why the baby is crying and not sleeping, pay attention to comfort. Check your newborn's diaper. It may be wet or dirty. Maybe the child is too wrapped up or, conversely, undressed.

Being a parent of a newborn is both the most difficult and wonderful thing to do. But we all know firsthand how exhausting it can be to help an infant fall asleep soundly. Yes, newborns should wake up for feeding around the clock, but parents should gently encourage more deep dream child at night.

In most cases, in the early months of life, a newborn is awake at night for short intervals time. This may seem like an eternity, especially if the parents are tired and in a state of chronic sleep deprivation. Fortunately, this period lasts only a few weeks. It's also likely that most of the reasons your baby is awake at night are temporary, not emergencies.

There is a growing call in the medical community for pediatricians to pay attention to parents when they say their children are awake. If you think your child is suffering from an undiagnosed illness or allergy, tell the doctor. This may be the key to making sure you and your little one get some much-needed rest.

Why does a child sleep poorly at night and what should be done to normalize his sleep? Detailed explanations causes of poor sleep for each age and practical advice to help parents.

Future parents are not always ready for the fact that newborns have completely different sleep phases than adults. The big exception is children who fall asleep in the evening and sleep without waking up all night until the morning.

The vast majority of young mothers are faced with the fact that their babies wake up very often, which insanely exhausts parents. But there is no need to worry that such a dream negatively affects the child. Frequent waking up for many children is the norm. Be patient - this time you just need to wait.

Why does a newborn sleep poorly at night

• The sleep of any person consists of two cycles - fast and slow. An adult is in deep water almost all night, slow sleep. REM sleep is characterized by shudders, constant turning from side to side - at this time it is easy to wake a person
• The sleep of babies takes place precisely in a fast cycle and extremely rarely in a slow one. Therefore, all mothers should understand that frequent waking up the child is not a bad dream, this is the normal development of the nervous system of the little man.
  If there are still concerns that something is wrong with your child, then the surest method is to contact a neurologist.
• Only experienced doctor can identify the problem (if any) and prescribe medication. But it’s worth noting right away that the presence of real problems is rare. Each age of the baby has its own characteristics that affect sleep.

Causes of poor sleep in children under 6 months

• At the appointment with a neurologist, you will definitely be asked how many hours a day the baby sleeps? There is a generally accepted norm of 18 hours, but 14 hours is also acceptable. Doctors in Russia agree that 16 hours is the norm. It is worth noting that the conversation is not only about night sleep, but also about all daytime sleep.
• If your child sleeps less, this is already a cause for concern, because his body does not rest, which can negatively affect general development and well-being
• Some babies up to 6 months wake up little, and then more often. There is a situation and vice versa, when it is up to six months that babies constantly wake up

What is it connected with?

Baby is hot/cold optimal temperature in the child's room is considered 19-22 degrees
The kid is hungry - the kids are on breastfeeding eat more often than on artificial
The child is not swaddled and he wakes himself up with unconscious movements of the arms and legs.
Colic in the tummy general rule pass by 3 months
Nasal breathing disorder infectious diseases, nasal discharge, dry air, anatomical features
Narrowness of the nasal passages - disappears with age, but sometimes it is necessary surgical intervention
Vitamin D3 deficiency - especially felt in winter period add a vitamin D supplement to your diet
Feeling of anxiety - the baby has not yet learned to perceive the world the way adults do, so closing the eye may be associated with anxiety just be there

Causes of poor sleep in children 7-9 months

• At this age, children begin to actively explore the world around them and learn to crawl in order to independently reach the object of interest. The skill of sitting without support is also being developed. All this can even at night give an unconscious impulse to the brain when a child tries to sit up in a dream. Your task is to lay down and calm the overexcited child.
• Due to the increased daily activity, the baby may not receive enough food, as it is constantly distracted. And at night - he tries to catch up, constantly waking up. Analyze if the child eats enough during the day
• At this time, acquaintance with new products continues, so mothers should strictly monitor the body's reaction to complementary foods.
• bad dream may indicate a disorder digestive system or about the occurrence allergic reaction that doesn't let you sleep
• Another reason for poor sleep at 7-9 months is painful eruption teeth. Don't wait until the pain will pass help the baby. Get a special teething gel that will relieve pain and give parents a good night's sleep

Causes of poor sleep in children 10-12 months

• During this period, the child develops more load on the body, because he learns to get up and walk. It is also important to monitor the diet and avoid malnutrition. Activity increases, emotions overwhelm from their own achievements - it is important to strictly observe the daily routine
• Also, at 10-12 months, there may be a lack of calcium in the body, and this is what causes poor sleep. Do not immediately run to the laboratory - take safe drug at the pharmacy and serve specified instructions. Within a week, sleep returns to normal. By the way, calcium is also needed for the absorption of vitamin D3.
• Another option to improve nighttime sleep is to cut back on daytime sleep. Closer to the year the child can sleep only 2 times during the day. It is now that the child begins to have dreams, and just like adults, he can see something terrible, which wakes him up.

Poor sleep in a child under one year old Komarovsky

According to Dr. Komarovsky, a healthy sleep of a child is a healthy sleep of all family members. And only parents can help the child sleep for a long time and with high quality, devoting enough time to walking, organizing meals, cleaning rooms, and air humidity.

Komarovsky recommends that you follow only 10 rules that will definitely help normalize a child’s sleep:

1. Understand that loving parents and a healthy environment in the family are most important for the baby, so it is important to prioritize correctly
2. Strictly observe the sleep schedule and do not deviate from the selected time
3. Decide where and with whom the baby will sleep: himself in the crib in the parents' bedroom, himself in the crib in the children's room or in the same bed with the parents
4. Cut back daytime sleep baby if he likes to sleep too much
5. Try to underfeed in the penultimate feeding and then the child will eat well and satisfyingly before going to bed
6. Actively spend time during the day, and in the evening play quietly, read books
7. Keep the air temperature in the child's bedroom 18-20 degrees, and humidity - 50-70%
8. Do massage or gymnastics before evening bath, then bathe your baby in cool water in a large bath, then warmly dress, feed and put to bed
9. Take your mattress seriously - it should be flat and firm. Bed linen - from natural fabrics. Up to two years - no pillows
10. Use a quality diaper

Why does a baby sleep poorly at night and wake up often?

There are many reasons why infant sleeps restlessly and does not allow the whole family to sleep. Basically, all the reasons come down to physiological features development small organism and many of them are already described in the article.

In order to exclude serious pathologies, you should consult with a neurologist and pediatrician. However, do not try to find a reason where there is none. If all doctors reported the normal development of the baby, then calm down and be patient.

Why does the baby wake up more often at night?

It happens that the baby slept more or less normally and suddenly began to wake up much more often. With what it can be connected? Let's look at a few reasons:
The presence of disease, infection
Teething
Stomach ache
Increased excitability during the day
Too many impressions during the day
Sleep pattern disturbed
Introduced New Product in the diet

It should also not be excluded that Bad mood Mom affected the baby's sleep.

Why does a child often wake up at night and cry?

Night crying is the norm and should not be given to him. great importance. Crying - the only way call mom for help. Perhaps the baby is hungry or just needs communication.
By the way, children who sleep with their mother cry much less when waking up than those who sleep in a separate bed. This is due to the fact that the child knows that it is enough just to start moving, as the mother will pay attention to him. Over time, these children generally cry less.

Why does the child sleep restlessly and toss and turn a lot?

• If the newborn does not sleep well and tosses and turns a lot - just try to swaddle him, perhaps his hands are in the way and he wakes himself up
• For older children, this nocturnal behavior is often associated with abdominal pain or teething.
• However, it is better to seek help from a neurologist and, if necessary, start giving sedatives.

The child does not sleep well and shudders in a dream

Startles for babies up to a year old are normal behavior in a dream. This can happen for several reasons:

Overstimulation during the day
Sleep transition from one phase to another
Uncontrolled movements of the arms and legs
Most often, shudders appear in the first months of life, and gradually disappear as the child grows up.

Swaddling is especially important in the first months, because the baby involuntarily moves his arms and legs, which can cause him to hit and scratch himself. Even if you belong to the mommies applied only modern methods, to refuse night swaddling is not recommended. Sometimes even children up to a year or a year and a half need to be swaddled, but not completely, but only their hands
Stay with your baby for a while after falling asleep. If the baby shudders and wakes up - stroke, sing a song, calm down
Don't create stressful situations for a child - an excessive number of guests, too long active games, long trips. In a word - do not overload nervous system don't overwork
Strictly observe the daily routine and create a special routine before going to bed, repeating every evening. Whatever happens - do not deviate from the rule

What should be done if the child began to sleep badly at night?

Try to analyze and understand what caused the sleep disturbance. If it was possible to identify the cause, then it must be eliminated. Consider a few situations that might help you:

Perhaps you used to sleep with the baby, and now you decided to put him to sleep in a separate bed. Then the child is simply afraid to sleep alone, return to the previous regimen and wait a little more
Starting from 4 months, the baby can be tormented by teething - get a special gel for teeth, but use strictly according to the instructions
Babies up to 3 months suffer from colic, try to help: get a remedy at a pharmacy, make dill water, put a warm diaper on your tummy, and if you are breastfeeding, analyze your diet and exclude onions, legumes, cabbage and other foods that can cause colic in the baby
If you slept well in the summer, and began to wake up often in the fall-winter, then try adding a drug with vitamin D. Perhaps it is precisely this that the body lacks.
Do you have a strict bedtime routine? For example: walking, dinner, swimming, dimming the lights and sleeping. Perhaps the usual procedure is broken? Children react strongly to such changes.
How does the child feel? Do you have nasal discharge, cough, fever? Children sleep restlessly when they are sick. Consult your pediatrician at the first sign and he will prescribe treatment
Analyze the child's diet, is he eating enough during the day or is he trying to make up for the lost at night? Starting from 6 months, babies actively explore the world around, begin to crawl and get distracted while eating, so come up with your own procedure so that he eats his norm
Perhaps the child is overtired during the day. Try adding soothing herbs to your evening baths, and reduce increased activity afternoon. Dose emotional impressions and guest visits
Is everything good in your family? Are there frequent conflicts and quarrels? Which emotional condition mothers? Behave with the child as calmly as possible and even more so do not swear in front of him. Children feel the mother's state

1.5 year old child does not sleep well at night

• A 1.5-year-old child is characterized by high activity in daytime, however, try to reasonably limit it in the evening.
• Just before going to bed, you need to take a good and long walk. If during the day the child is not allowed to run, then by the evening he will be full of energy, and at night he will not sleep well.
• We must not forget that the child also sees dreams, so if he woke up - soothe, stroke and put him back to sleep
• At 1.5, the baby constantly pulls everything into his mouth, so infection with helminths is possible. If at home in preventive purposes you need to wash toys and the floor, then on the street infection occurs most often in the sandbox
• The active activity of worms in the child's body occurs precisely at night, which prevents him from sleeping.
• At this age, many children sleep only once a day, so it is advisable to adhere to this regimen.

Causes of poor sleep in a child 2-4 years old

• By the age of two, children are already sleeping peacefully all night, and one dream is preserved during the day. However, it happens that even during this period the child begins to sleep poorly.
• Diagnosing the cause is already much easier, since the child himself can already explain what worries him: his stomach hurts, his head hurts, or he had a dream. For this age, poor sleep can only be in case of obvious discomfort and any pain should be taken seriously, as they can report serious illnesses. It won't go away by itself
• Often, sleep disorders at this age are associated with nervous overexcitation or overwork. If sleep disturbances continue for several days, you should consult a doctor.

Causes of poor sleep in a child 5-7 years old

• In this age children's sleep similar to an adult - deeper, less superficial, REM sleep. At 5 years old, talking about an overabundance of emotions or the wrong mode is already wrong.
• Of course, children have dreams and nightmares are possible, why you can wake up, but if this happens every night, then you should be worried. Only a competent neurologist can help
• Perhaps the dream has become more disturbing due to the fact that the child was moved to his room and now he is forced to sleep alone. Here it is important to conduct a calm ritual of reading fairy tales and singing songs every evening. Mom can lie with the child until he falls asleep. A little patience and the baby will get used to independence

Glycine for bad sleep in a child

• Despite the fact that glycine is a common amino acid, you do not need to arbitrarily prescribe it to your child. Only a neurologist can tell if you need it or not in your case. Speaking about dosages, doctors recommend that children under three years old take 0.5 tablets, and after three - 1 tablet 2-3 times a day.
• Glycine has a cumulative effect, so you need to take it in a course. However, it begins to act only when it dissolves under the tongue, so it is not always effective for babies.
• They don’t write in the instructions, but many mothers observe the opposite effect in their children after using glycine - excessive activity and excitement. Every baby is individual
• Children of all ages need careful attention by the parents. If poor sleep for a baby is the norm, then at 4 years old it can signal the presence of a serious illness. Be reasonable and listen to yourself. See a doctor if you feel the need

Video: How to improve baby's sleep and sleep? — Doctor Komarovsky

Healthy sleep is key normal development child. But bringing home long-awaited baby, after a certain period of time, mothers begin to notice with alarm that the child wakes up more than once a night, is naughty and cries for no apparent reason. Tiring vigils occur repeatedly, their frequency increases. Doctors divide sleep disorders into physiological and psychological. Parents need to understand why the child wakes up every hour at night.

The baby is not sleeping. Why?

In children whose age has not reached one year, they change hourly. If there are no prerequisites: illness, hunger, thirst, nervous disorders- the child, even waking up, will immediately plunge back into sweet dreams.

It is noted that sleep disorders can be initiated by the parents themselves, who have not established the Child wakes up every hour at night, if before going to bed there is music in the house, there are loud conversations, he plays in outdoor games. It is recommended to introduce into everyday life such rituals as evening bathing, lullabies, twilight.

Main reasons

All the reasons that allow you to get an answer to the question "why the child wakes up every hour at night" can be attributed to physiological or psychological factors.

Physiology

• In the room where the baby sleeps, the temperature is extremely uncomfortable. The ideal range is 18-23 degrees, so even in winter time it is not recommended to arrange a "greenhouse" in the bedroom.
• Perhaps the baby has soiled the diaper or wet diapers. For all children without exception severe discomfort that makes you wake up.
• The child is hungry or wants to quench his thirst. Even in a dream, small households are unable to give up their needs. By this behavior they try to convey to their parents true reason awakening.
• High fever, nasal congestion, teething, abdominal pain, colic, etc.
• The child wakes up every hour at night, or even more often if he sleeps in uncomfortable clothes that restrict his movements. It is possible that he is uncomfortable with synthetic material bed linen(if suddenly it is used), tightly tied diapers. All these factors can cause itching and even pain.
• In the baby's bedroom there is excessive noise, too light, etc.

Such factors are easily eliminated, the main thing is to reliably determine the cause.

Psychology

• The psyche of the baby is unstable, receptive and excitable. A child every hour, when the excitement of the day has had its effect on him Negative influence. Any little thing, even a sad ending to a fairy tale, can initiate an untimely awakening, especially if there was a quarrel with mom.
• The negative mood of family members is immediately transmitted to the child. This factor often makes children nervous and, as a result, disrupts the full night rest. A healthy environment in the family is the key to the peace of mind of the crumbs and his serene sleep.
• Late viewing of cartoons, TV, tablets and smartphones. The child wakes up at night every hour because of the violent emotions received after that.
• Lack of daytime positive emotions, tactile sensations, communication.
• fears different nature, including those based on the loss of mom.
• Bad dreams.

Mom should show maximum care and patience in order to identify and eliminate the psychological prerequisites for sleep disorders in a child.

Serious reasons

• Nocturnal enuresis. If this is the norm for infants, then at an older age, children should get up and go to the potty. If the child wakes up at night every hour due to frequent calls to the toilet, you need to see a doctor.
• Apnea. This is a disease that is characterized by short pauses in breathing during sleep. Immediate medical intervention is recommended.
• "Swinging movements". The baby can rush around the crib, scatter nearby things, rise and fall again, diligently beat his head against the pillow. Similar symptoms, especially on a regular basis, may be signs of increased intracranial pressure, epilepsy, mental disorders. Specialist consultation is required. If a child wakes up every hour at night 8 in a row, this is not the norm, but a sign of a dangerous disease.

If babies don't sleep

If the child is still very young, the cause of the sleep disorder can lie in anything. Most often, the baby experiences colic, his teeth begin to cut, in some cases, worms, which are active at night, disturb the rest.

If similar states are repeated quite often, it is recommended to visit a pediatrician. Doctors will appoint full examination, at which the actual state of health of the baby will be determined.

If the examination shows that the child wakes up every hour at night, as teeth are being cut, the pediatrician may prescribe special drugs. As a rule, these are gels that alleviate the condition of the crumbs. The baby's gums are treated with the drug, and he does not experience pain.

Or maybe he's hungry?

If the causes associated with digestion are identified, the child's diet is subject to adjustment. If he is breastfeeding, the mother should be more reverent about her diet and exclude all inappropriate foods, disturbing at the baby. If parents support artificial feeding, the mixture is probably not suitable for the child, it is changed to another. The baby is being observed, it is necessary to look at his reaction to the new food.

If the cause is hunger, it is recommended to increase the amount of food that comes to the child with the last feeding. In addition, you should make sure that the child is full during the day. Some children are maximally active and expend great amount calories not replenished with food. It is at night that such babies get the missing nutrients. Many parents are worried that the child wakes up every hour at night. What to do first? Pediatricians recommend reconsidering his diet. It is possible that some aspects are subject to adjustment.

If the baby wakes up every hour at night, you should check if he is wet, especially if he sleeps in diapers and not in a diaper. Some children show strong anxiety about this. However, you should be careful, and if the baby is sleeping peacefully in a full diaper, you do not need to wake him up.

More about sleep conditions

If a child wakes up every hour at night and cries, parents should create comfortable conditions for relaxation: let it be indoors normal level humidity and temperature, ventilate the room before going to bed. Very often, young children are sensitive to stuffiness or cold, excessively dry or humid air.

Parents should be vigilant and vigilant. Some babies become nervous in their sleep because of too tight clothes, then they should be sent to bed in light pajamas or naked. Freedom-loving crumbs will certainly try to undress, to free themselves at night. Do not insist on the usual way of dressing. And vice versa - too impressionable children, falling asleep in free things, may accidentally wake up from movement. own hand and cry in fear.

What is a norm?

1. Infancy. The baby is in a dream for about ten hours. It is normal for a child to wake up every hour at night. 3 months or less is the age at which he is sensitive to everything that happens around him. Parents should be patient and try to eliminate possible reasons the concerns described above.
2. One year old babies. According to statistics, one child out of five wakes up every hour at night a year. During this period, much depends on the nature of the crumbs, for example, restless and active children sleep very lightly. They can jump up from any rustle and To smooth the situation, doctors recommend individually preparing them for sleep. It can be reading your favorite fairy tale or a lullaby.

Moreover, it is in one year old, up to two years, it is desirable to teach the baby to fall asleep on his own. Then, if he wakes up at night, he won't need parental help to sink back into his daydreams. closer to two years of age children may experience fear. To eliminate them, you can install a cheerful night light, put your favorite soft toy in the crib. If a child wakes up every hour at night in a year without visible reasons recommended to see a doctor.

The relationship between sleep and breastfeeding

Specially conducted studies have established that children sleeping with their mother feed on her milk for the longest time. Dependence consists in the frequency of applying crumbs to the chest. And sleeping separately standing crib babies are forced to wake up, cry and grunt to draw attention to their hunger. As a result, both the “culprit” and the mother take longer to fall asleep again.

This pattern is especially evident when the child wakes up every hour at night (8 months or a year - it does not matter). However, despite undeniable benefit breast milk, such an organization of sleep has and Negative consequences. The baby gets used to getting a breast on demand and is simply not able to fall asleep and sleep peacefully all night without it.

That is why children, starting from the age of six months, should learn to rest separately. If a child wakes up every hour at night, 7 months is quite a sufficient period to normalize the situation. The baby is able to completely wean from the mother's breast as the main factor of protection and reassurance. Toddlers stop kissing for the sake of feeling the closeness of their mother. They learn to be calm without it.

In conclusion

The health and tranquility of your beloved little ones is the concern of diligent parents, especially if the child wakes up every hour at night. 7 months or a year - it doesn't matter, patience must always be strong. If you treat your child with a fair amount of attention, care and love, you can eliminate any negative manifestations including frequent nocturnal risings.

Many mothers are faced with the problem when the child often wakes up at night. The interval between rises can be every hour or even more often: 30-40 minutes. At the same time, awakenings can be accompanied by hysteria. What is the reason for such night vigils?

Reasons for awakening

In babies under one year old, a change in the phase of sleep occurs almost every hour. A child may wake up during REM sleep, when brain activity is most active. If something bothers him, then the baby will wake up every hour in anxiety. To help the baby, it is necessary to establish the reason why the child often wakes up at night.

Physiological

• High room temperature. The optimum temperature range is 18-23 degrees. Do not wrap your child in a warm blanket or pajamas if the house is warm. In babies, the metabolism is faster than in an adult, and he feels the heat much more painfully.
• Wet diaper. This inconvenience worries all children. If the baby is awake, check if he is dry. Perhaps you just did not notice this fact.
• Hunger. breastfeeding baby maybe just hungry. Babies need night feedings. Children after a year sometimes also cannot unlearn this habit.
• Painful sensations. They can be caused by colic, teething, heat in case of illness, runny nose with a cold, etc.
• Uncomfortable clothing, restricted movement. Wear loose clothing for your baby. It should be soft and comfortable, made of natural material.
• Excessive noise or light. The child may be disturbed by ambient noise (TV in the next room) or light (such as a night light).
• Insects. In hot weather, your baby may well become a “victim” of flies and mosquitoes that bite and keep you awake.
• Mom is not around. For many children, it is enough just to feel the mother's body next to them in order to fall asleep peacefully again.

Physiological causes are easily eliminated, it is enough just to be more attentive to the child.

Psychological

• Disrupted daily routine. The mentality of children is very unstable. Stress, violations of the usual environment can lead to strong unrest. Coming strangers, disorganized feeding regimen, games, daytime sleep, late watching cartoons can cause the child to wake up and even cry at night. Even if you play calmly with the baby at night, it is very important how the game ended. Do not take your child away from class without his will. Before going to bed, he will again remember about the unfinished moments, about what he did not have time to do. As a result, you will have to put it down for a long time, and wake up at night from disturbing cries.
• Negative family relationships. Quarrels, swearing, clarification of relations between parents negatively affect mental health baby. Anxiety will be expressed in nocturnal awakenings.
• Lack of attention and positive impressions. A mother should be more attentive to the needs of her child. This does not mean "lisping" and indulging all whims. Hug your baby more, talk to him, show that you appreciate communication with him.
• Nightmares. The answer to the question of why a child cries when he wakes up every hour at night can be nightly fears and dreams. It is difficult to find the reason why they pursue the baby. It can be fatigue after a stormy day, heredity, exciting games, negative emotions, etc. Take the baby in your arms and calm down. If you teach your baby to sleep in a separate room or on a separate bed, this factor can also give rise to nightmares. In this case, you will have to postpone the changes for a while.

Disease symptoms

Along with harmless reasons for waking a child every hour at night, there may be more serious reasons.

The opinion of Dr. Komarovsky

Features of awakening the baby

Reasons to wake up baby there may be many. Up to 8 months, the baby can wake up every hour for various reasons. This is a wet diaper, and cutting teeth, and malnutrition ... Eliminate all causes and achieve restful sleep It will be very difficult, but you can minimize awakenings by being attentive to the needs of the child.

There is also a close relationship between breastfeeding and nightly awakenings of the child every hour. Children who are used to resting with their mother continue to breastfeed at night. Studies by doctors have shown that such babies suckle the breast for the longest time. Mother's milk acts not so much as food as a calming factor. The child needs to feel close to the mother. So weaning the baby from sleeping next to you should be already at 7-8 months. Of course, this will take a long time. But here, too, one must be careful: sleeping alone can give rise to a fear of being alone in a room, fear of the dark, and so on. Approach the process of re-education wisely, taking into account individual features child.

Up to three months, babies naturally wake up every hour of the night, as this is their physiological need. This can go on for up to 7-8 months. Of course, it is desirable in this case to appear to a neurologist and a pediatrician in order to exclude the possibility of manifestation of diseases in early age. After a year, this behavior of the child should alert parents and force them to seek help from doctors.

How to proceed?

Anxious sleep of the baby is a problem that will have to be dealt with. First find out the cause of the awakenings.

• Try to eliminate everything physiological factors. If this does not help, think about revising the daily routine, about what relationships are in the family, and how the baby perceives them.
• Eliminate as much as possible psychological reasons. Consider what events during the day might have affected psychological condition child.
• Visit a pediatrician. If you suspect a disease, you will be asked to hand over everything necessary tests. According to their results, the doctor will advise how to get rid of night vigils.

Do not turn away from the problem and do not wait until everything ends on its own. Sleepless nights exhaust you and the baby. The sooner you eliminate the cause of anxiety, the sooner a healthy undisturbed sleep will come.

Sleep is necessary for child health. Sometimes the baby often wakes up at night during sleep. Consider the possible causes of sleep disturbance in a child.

A child's sleep can be one of the most big problems parents. If the baby wakes up several times every night and cries, this can signal a variety of reasons. Here are the most common ones.

emotional overload

It can occur if two or three hours before bedtime the child continues to communicate, active games, is in a noisy place or listens to music. Such a pastime will inevitably affect the quality of a night's sleep. Children for a restful sleep, especially infants, after 20.00 need peace and a quiet, calm environment.

neurological problems

Often a child cannot fall asleep due to neurological diseases. Frequent trembling in sleep, grinding of teeth, sobbing and incessant crying at night are grounds for consulting a doctor.

Intestinal colic

The main reason that does not allow babies to sleep peacefully at night is colic. Two-month-old babies can wake up precisely because of abdominal pain. It is worth being patient, and by the age of five months this problem will disappear.

Teething

Early teething can lead to nocturnal awakenings. Teething often interferes with babies' sleep. In some babies, the gums begin to itch and itch from the age of three months. For this time can save co-sleeping and breastfeeding.

Dry and warm air in the nursery

If the child is hot at night, he sweats and may wake up frequently due to discomfort. Also, dry air can dry out mucus in a baby's nose and cause crusting. The child will wake up due to difficulty breathing. The problem will be solved by access to fresh air in summer and moisture in winter.

The child wakes up at night - is it normal or not?

Somnologists believe that the awakening of a child at night before the age of six is ​​within the normal range. The fact is that children from birth to school sleep mostly superficial, shallow sleep.

If night awakenings appeared suddenly, and the child is awake at night, then you should figure out with your doctor if there is a sleep pathology in this case. Toddlers can wake up at night due to a slipping shadow from the headlights of a car, tossing and turning in a dream of their parents. A suddenly awakened child may be frightened if he is alone in the room, so in case of frequent night awakenings, it is better for one of the adults to be nearby.

Many adults suffer from sleep disorders that began in childhood. Poor sleep can even become an acquired habit. So that the problem with sleep does not drag on for long years, you need to try to identify the cause of its occurrence.

In addition to the above, there may be other problems associated with sleep:

• - tense relations in the family (especially between spouses);
• - financial difficulties;
• - due attention is not paid to the child's sleep pattern;
• - medical problems.

Healthy sleep of the child is in the hands of his parents. Support set mode both family members and a nanny, as well as educators in a nursery or kindergarten, should.

Age table of causes of nighttime awakenings of a child

Many babies often wake up at night, and their awakening is accompanied by loud crying, while others are able to sleep peacefully through the night. Not understanding the reasons for crying, many parents do not find a place for themselves from anxiety. Among the most common questions to a pediatrician are: “What should I do if the child often wakes up at night?”, “How to create comfortable sleep conditions for the child?”. The answers to them largely depend on the age of the child.

How to eliminate the causes of frequent awakenings of the child?

To wean a child to wake up often at night, you can, first of all, proper preparation baby to sleep. Depending on age, the methods chosen may differ.

• Establish a bedtime routine. It can be formed already from the age of four months of the baby. To help your baby fall asleep soundly and peacefully, introduce a daily bedtime tradition. Try reading a fairy tale to your baby before going to bed, sing a simple lullaby. A warm bath with a decoction of lavender helps children sleep soundly all night.
• Create a baby optimal conditions for sleep. Do not play with the baby just before bedtime, turn on a soft light or lamp, curtain the windows. In order not to disturb the child's sleep, it is better to put the phone on silent mode during sleep.
• Adjust the mode according to biological rhythms child. This important criterion For healthy sleep. Try to put your baby to bed at the same time.
• Put your baby to bed 20-30 minutes before bedtime. You can sit this time next to the baby and tell him a fairy tale. The child will calm down and fall asleep quickly.
• Don't remove daytime naps. long sleep in the daytime improves children's attention and learning abilities. The need to regularly rest during the day persists until the age of 3, but even after three years, sleeping 40-60 minutes will not interfere with a preschooler.
• If the baby goes to nursery or kindergarten, then try to negotiate with the teacher to maintain the child's sleep schedule at least for the first time.
• Approaching family celebration? If a violation of the regime is coming, the child must be allowed to sleep before the upcoming event. A rested baby will be able to stay awake with good mood and at the end of the day his sleep will be stronger.