It is not unusual for babies especially those below the age of 5 to have problems sleeping through the night. Your baby not sleeping through the night can affect your own sleeping pattern and stress you out.

 
You need to inform your pediatrician if your baby is having trouble sleeping at night and not doing the following

• growing or gaining weight steadily
• having at least 4 wet diapers a day
• having at least 3 normal bowel movements a day. Breastfed babies may have more bowel movement
• feeding 8 to 12 times a day for breastfed babies and  5 to 8 times a day for bottle-fed babies or older infants

How can i help my baby sleep through the night ?

 
These tips can help your baby sleep through the night.

Keep the baby active during the day : Talk , sing and play with your baby during the day.  Stimulating the baby during the day can promote a good night sleep.

Let your baby settle down by himself : Your baby may start fussing and crying when you put him down to sleep. Go to your baby, pat him on the back and speak to him softly that its time to sleep, then leave the room. If the baby is still crying after a while, pick the baby up and check if everything is alright. If he is alright , repeat the process.

Set a bedtime routine : Keep bedtime routine  such as bathing and night time feeding short and simple. You can also read a story or sing to your baby. You can  massage your baby. Complete the bedtime routine in your baby’s room and make sure the room is comfortable.

Keep night time care low key : If the baby needs care such as feeding and changing at night, use dim and calm movements. This will tell your baby its time to sleep.

Give your baby a binky : If your baby is having difficulty sleeping, try offering the baby a binky. Research shows that a binky during sleep reduces the risk of SIDS.

Do not engage in co – sleeping : Sharing  bed with your baby will make it difficult for him to fall asleep. It also increases your baby’s risk of SIDS. If you will like your baby to be close during bed time, consider placing the baby’s bed in your room.

Put the baby to bed when he is drowsy : Put your baby in bed when he is drowsy, not wide awake . Put him on his back and let him  fall asleep on his own.  Clear the bassinet or crib of blankets and other soft items.  If you rock your baby to bed, he will start depending on it.

NOTE

You should note that babies may squirm, twitch or wiggle in their sleep. This can be noisy . If you do not  suspect that the baby is hungry or uncomfortable,  it is okay to wait a few minutes to see if the baby will go back to sleep.

During the day, it is essential to make the baby feel secure by holding and cuddling with the baby and being sensitive to his needs. If your baby is still having sleeping problems after trying several approach, consult your pediatrician.
 
Content Sources