There can be several reasons behind a baby being unable to sleep deeply. The sleeping patterns of a baby are very different from that of adults. In comparison to the sleeping schedule of adults, it is very different how babies wake up and fall asleep. They may wake up several times during the night or might struggle to fall asleep. Moreover, every baby has different sleeping patterns. It depends on several environmental and external factors. As the age of babies keeps increasing, their sleeping patterns undergo major changes. As babies grow up, they start adapting to a specific sleep schedule. In this article we are going to discuss the sleeping patterns or schedules of babies and the reasons for which your baby is not sleeping deeply.
Age of babies and their sleeping patterns
The sleeping patterns of babies differ according to their age groups.
Newborn babies (0-3 months) might not sleep more than 1 or 2 hours at a time. This continues until they are 3 months old. During the first few months, newborn babies need to be fed frequently which is why they wake up quite often. Newborn babies need about 11 weeks to get adjusted to the daylight and night-time schedule or the sleep and wake-up schedule because it takes time for them to adapt to the changes outside the womb.
Babies between the age of 3-6 months might get adapted to a sleep schedule but they might not keep sleeping deeply all throughout the night. While some reports say that swaddling a baby can help them to fall asleep while other reports say quite the opposite. According to them, it is not safe to swaddle a baby especially when they're trying to roll, and makes it harder for them to fall asleep. Babies between the age of 3-6 months need approximately 14-15 hours of sleep, every day out of which they need 4-5 hours of sleep during the day.
When it comes to babies who are older than 6 months, they might start sleeping for 10 hours or even longer at night. All together, they need approximately 14 hours of sleep every day. However, if their usual routine is disrupted because of certain external factors or some reason, it might affect the sleeping schedule of the babies.
Sleeping patterns of babies depending on their age |
|
Age |
Hours of sleep required |
0-3 months |
16 hours per day with 8 hours of sleep during the day |
3-6 months |
14-15 hours per day with 4-5 hours of sleep during the day |
More than 6 months |
14 hours per day with 10 hours or more in the night |
Reasons behind why your baby is not sleeping deeply
There might be several issues that can affect the sleeping schedule of your baby. These are discussed as follows:
Follow these tips to get a baby to sleep safely
There can be several reasons behind a baby being unable to sleep deeply. However, following a few tips can help you to get your baby to sleep safely and deeply. These are as follows:
When should you see a doctor?
Generally, newborn babies have irregular sleeping schedules. It takes time for the circadian rhythm to adjust to the external environment. If your baby is experiencing trouble falling asleep, it does not necessarily mean that it is a serious problem. However, if you notice that the disturbed sleeping schedule is actually causing serious problems for the baby and the tips mentioned above are not working effectively, you can definitely consult a pediatrician. If the baby is not getting the sleep that is required for their age or measures such as maintaining a sleep schedule or a sleeping ritual are not working, you might want to consult a pediatrician to improve the health of your baby. If the sleeping problems bring about several other disorders along with it such as depression and mental health issues or if the baby is in pain and is not well, it is better to consult a doctor as soon as possible.
Conclusion
There can be several reasons behind a baby being unable to sleep deeply. The sleeping patterns of a baby are very different from that of adults. In comparison to the sleeping schedule of adults, it is very different how babies wake up and fall asleep. They may wake up several times during the night or might struggle to fall asleep. Moreover, every baby has different sleeping patterns. If your baby is experiencing trouble falling asleep, it does not necessarily mean that it is a serious problem. Establishing a sleep routine, taking up a sleeping ritual such as singing a lullaby or playing a song, Putting the baby to sleep on their back can also be helpful in certain cases, and dressing them in comfortable clothes can be helpful. However, if the baby is not getting the sleep that is required for their age or the necessary tips are not working, you should consult a paediatrician. If the baby is in pain and is not well, it is better to consult a doctor as soon as possible. We hope you found this article helpful.