Does your baby take so long to fall asleep at night? If so, you're not alone. Sleeping has become a challenge to many parents, especially when trying to get their children to sleep. Some of the causes of sleeplessness in babies can be attributed to day/night distinction, others being hunger, overstimulation, or discomfort.
What Are The Baby's Sleep Patterns?
Newborns have short naps at frequent intervals, whereas at some months of age, infants have longer extended periods of sleep at night. Knowing these stages is useful, it will assist in setting realistic expectations and a consistent sleeping pattern. Below, we have grouped sleeping patterns according to these ages and what should be expected in the first year.
Baby Sleep Patterns by Age
Newborns (0-3 months)
- Spend 12-16 hours in bed in a day – this does not apply to work but to interacting with a partner and relaxation.
- Have short sleep cycles (20-50 minutes).
- Awake often for feedings because the rearing of chicks takes short intervals as their stomachs can only hold so much food.
- Have no chronobiology; that is, they do not differentiate between day and night.
- Rested the majority of the night in active sleep, which makes it easy to wake.
Infants (3-6 months)
- Sleep 12 to 15 hours each day but more during the night.
- Sleep cycles extend to 60-90 minutes.
- Regularity is crucial; do not forget to struggle to make your nights better.
- Infants may start sleeping for five to six hours at night until they are a bit older.
Older Babies (6-12 months)
- The undergraduate requires 11 – 14 hours of sleep, including naps, and the postgraduate requires at least 10 – 12 hours of sleep, including naps.
- Most can sleep for long hours at night, and it can be at least 6 hours to as much as 10 hours.
- Naps become more formal and can be organized into two naps during the day.
- When they are teething, introducing new foods, achievement of certain milestones, or experiencing separation anxiety can cause sleep regression.
How Long Should It Take For Your Baby to Sleep?
Every child is unique in one way or another; therefore, in as much as some babies take a long time to sleep, others take a short time. There are a number of reasons why your baby is taking more than 40 minutes to fall asleep: firstly, your baby is overtired. Secondly, there is too much stimulation; and thirdly, there is an irregular sleep schedule.
Newborns (0-3 months)
- The newborns may take 20-50 minutes to sleep, but they wake up frequently because cycles are only slightly over an hour long.
- Sometimes, they don't have any synchronized sleep on a 24-hour basis as they sleep at any time during the day and night.
Infants (3-6 months)
- Babies at this stage tend to be sleepy, thus, they get to sleep within 20-40 minutes.
- They establish long sleep periods (60-90 minutes) which eliminate the instances of frequent night waking.
- Some may take 5- 6 hours at the beginning of the night, and wake up for feeding or to be comforted.
Older Babies (6-12 months)
- Generally, babies take around 15-40 minutes to fall asleep at night and it varies according to the child's age, health and development.
- At the age of 6 months, it is normal to have the longest sleep in a night between 6 PM and 10 PM.
- It is also quite usual to have a baby who sleeps during the night, but a baby at this age may wake 3 or 4 times at night and need help to go back to sleep.
Why Is My Baby Having a Hard Time Falling Asleep At Night?
Did you know that there are several reasons for baby sleep disturbances during the night? Below are five main causes and what you can do to prevent them:
Day/Night Confusion
Some babies have their sleep cycles at night, with them awake during the night while they nap during the day.
- Used minimally during the daytime wake periods to keep them slightly more alert.
- It is recommended that they should be taken out to an area where they can be exposed to natural light in the morning.
- There is also the need to avoid taking long naps during the day or engaging in behaviors that cause drowsiness.
- This should be done at night so as to maintain the darkness of the room and make sure there is little to no noise.
Hungry
Newborn babies are likely to have little tummies, which means that they have a small capacity to store food, and this leads to hunger to interrupt sleep. If they have been fed recently, they may take breast milk or formula to calm them down.
Discomfort or Illness
Sometimes, the disturbance can be due to passing gas, constipation, or even a minor illness. If you suspect discomfort:
- Give your baby a massage to soothe any gas that they have in their stomach.
- Closely observe the symptoms and seek medical advice from a pediatrician if any arise.
Separation Anxiety
Some babies wake up at night because they feel that they lack parental presence. Co-sleeping in the sense of sharing the room, but not necessarily the bed, can offer convenience without posing risks to the baby.
How to Make Your Baby Fall Asleep Fast At Night?
Ensuring that your baby can easily fall asleep during the night requires following some crucial steps that need to be followed when putting the baby to bed. Below are some effective tips coupled with essential tools to foster better sleep.
- Create a Calming Sleep Environment
The sleeping environment and the time generally affect your baby’s sleep. One thing to invest in is a Momcozy Baby Sound Machine to play gentle white noise, lullabies, or nature sounds for babies. This will reduce the background noises that may disturb the baby, thus allowing the baby to fall asleep easily. In this way, if you want to change the settings of this room, you do not even have to leave your comfort zone because an app-control remote allows that as well.
- Dress Your Baby Comfortably
Fulfilling all the needs of an infant, especially when it comes to cuddling before sleep, will guarantee that the sleep is uninterrupted. Organic cotton fabric that is gentle to the baby's skin and comfortable for night wear, lightweight but warm at the same time like Momcozy Baby Pajama. A good-fitting sleeper also discourages the child from waking up more than needed due to discomfort.
- Follow a Consistent Bedtime Routine
In the same way, with other babies, developing a structure for going to bed is an important process to let the baby know that sleeping time is imminent. Try:
- A warm bath
- A gentle massage
- Dimming the lights
- Sharing a short story for the day or singing a nursery rhyme skirmishes
- Encourage Daytime Activity
Spend some time in daylight and help the baby engage in some form of physical exercise during the day. It also assists in controlling their body's clock, hence making it easier for them to sleep during the night.
- Watch for Sleep Cues
The baby needs to be put to bed when they start presenting symptoms of tiredness, as this is an indication that they need to sleep. By delaying the nap time, they may become overtired and this makes it difficult for them to lie down.
FAQs About Baby Takes Forever to Fall Asleep At Night
1. What Are the Signs of Infant Sleep Problems?
Some of the ways in which your baby might be having sleep difficulties include if they find it hard to go to sleep, or if they wake up in the middle of the night and cannot go back to sleep. Common signs include:
- Having difficulty falling asleep, and or taking over 40 minutes to fall asleep on a regular basis.
- Night awakenings and inability to get back to sleep
- Short naps that last less than 30 minutes
- Picky eating or becoming sullen and crying when it is time to go to bed
- Babies may have some routines later in the daytime, such as rubbing their eyes, yawning, or getting clingy.
2. What Is the Sleep Latency of a Baby?
Sleep latency is defined as the time taken by a baby to fall asleep once they are awake. On average:
- Newborns (0-3 months): 20-50 minutes
- Infants (3-6 months): 20-40 minutes
- Older babies (6-12 months): 15-40 minutes
If your baby spends more than 40 minutes for his sleep, then potential causes include overstimulation, extreme sleepiness, hunger, or irregular feeding time.
3. Why Is My Baby So Hard to Settle at Night?
If your baby is difficult to settle at night, there could be several reasons for their restlessness. Here are some possible causes:
- Closeness – Newborns often need physical closeness to feel secure, and since their internal clock is still developing, they may struggle to differentiate between day and night.
- Hungry or Thirst – Due to their small size, babies have small stomachs and, as a result, require feedings more often.
- Getting up at night – Some babies wake up at night in order to receive comfort from a parent.
- Disturbance – It may be due to intestinal gas, teething, or an uncomfortable sleep environment.
Conclusion
Encouraging your baby to go to sleep faster at night entails time, effort, and the creation of a conducive environment. In case your baby is still a bad sleeper, some simple changes in the baby's schedule and the environment around them will make them sleep better. It is true that with time and the correct method of handling it, both you and your baby will begin to enjoy sound and restful nights in the near future.
