I NEED Some Sleep!
Bringing a new child into the world brings BIG changes. It is very exciting taking your bundle of joy home and getting to love on them. People seem so much more engaging and friendly, even if they just want to coo at your baby.
With the many changes you experience as a family, whether the new one is your first or not, it is vital you get as much sleep as possible. No one operates or functions 100% with a lack of rest and sleep. Having a new baby is a sign that full amounts of sleep are not on the horizon.
Grow has researched why your baby may not be sleeping well. Some of these tips may help you prevent or reduce the sleep interruptions you and your baby might experience.
Birth to 3 weeks
The greatest influence on sleep and sleeping patterns is feeding. If your baby is struggling to get enough sustenance or nutrients, your baby will wake more frequently being hungry and needing to be fed.
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1-5 Months old
Reflux, wind and or gas can influence the your baby's sleep at this age. Although you may have eaten spicy foods during pregnancy, breast fed babies may struggle with the effects of the food that you eat.
During this stage in your baby's growth they start to develop a more active mind, gaining more stimulation from their surroundings. This stimulation leads to your baby being overtired, frustrated, and not sleeping.
6-12 months old
Some parenting guidance is to have very disciplined sleeping regiments. Some parents think that this is not fair and that their baby will sleep when they are tired. Inappropriate wake times lead their baby being either overtired or undertired. Parents can struggle and find it hard to adjust routines as baby gets older.
12 months +
Diet plays a big role at this age, especially iron and protein. These nutrients are going to keep the baby full and satisfied for longer, allowing them to rest and sleep for longer periods. (Never give your child/baby iron supplements without a doctor's guidance).
A parent needs to be teaching positive sleep associations and patterns from birth to prevent problems arising later on during the child's development.
Your baby will go through 11 routine changes in the first year! That's right! ELEVEN! You might think that you have figured it all out only to have the next routine side swipe you. An important point to consider is that every baby and every parent is unique and different. No single solution will work for everyone. If your child's sleeping habits are influencing your personal sleep needs too much, speak to a professional, someone who can assist you with your individual situation, to find a solution to your challenges.
