Sleep Regression in Infants (should you panic)?
No one told me my sleep habit would become this bad after having a baby, deciding when I want to catch a nap and the next thing I hear is (when when), the sound of my lovely child demanding some breast milk, and since I do chestfeeding, I have no other choice than to get up and obey the commands of my chairman who dictates when I can sleep and when I need to wake up and attend to him.
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So, while I was complaining about this to other experienced Mums, I was told that these things change over time and when I tried reading about these changes in the near future and what I am supposed to know about it, I found out it is a term called sleep regression.
At the beginning of a baby's life, there is so much sleep going on but it gets to a point when this super sound sleepy baby of yours suddenly begins to wake up abruptly which probably signifies the presence of sleep regression, which is normal and should pass based on time and routines that are consistent.
Sleep regression is that time when your baby who sleeps so well before, begins to have difficulty sleeping or just wakes up fussing in the middle of the night, the time of sleep regression varies based on the child, although people say it is common amongst children when they get to 4 months of age.
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Other forms of regression could coincide with development milestones all through the first year of the child. According to Dr Szugye, this does not last forever, so you could take a chill pill if you are experiencing this as a nursing Mum and it usually lasts for about two weeks to four weeks before your baby gets back on track.
Sleep regression in babies happens for a lot of reasons, different factors could make the baby feel restless leading to sleep regression. Here are some of the possible factors; Teething, growth spurt which makes babies extra hungry, getting to a new developmental milestone, routine disruption, and illness like ear infection or cold.
Sleep regression comes with signs depending on the sleep problem of your child, here are some signs to show that your baby is possibly going through a phase of sleep regression. When your baby has difficulty falling asleep at bedtime, increased crankiness or fussiness, sudden resistance to naps, and more frequent night walks.
The thing about sleep regression is that it can happen at any time because it can sometimes be associated with unpredictable factors like illness, uncomfortable diapers, and teething amongst others. However, there are helpful tips that can help manage sleep regression in your child.
Sleep training for your child is important amongst other things you need your child to learn. With this training properly in place, the child will be able to learn the act of self-soothe and fall asleep on their own.
During the day, ensure that your baby gets enough to eat all through the day, so they do not get hungry overnight. Eating around 15 minutes before bedtime can also make your baby feel sleepy. When you lay your baby to sleep, make sure they are drowsy and not fully asleep, so check out for cues like; eye rubbing, grabbing of the ears, and yawns which indicate they are tired and ready to sleep.
Try to wind things down before bedtime with your child by softly singing them a song or reading a book instead of surfing them with screen time or toys. Limit light and noise with every message indicating that it is bedtime.
Conclusion.
Sleep regression is a sudden change in the sleep pattern of your baby, these sleep patterns are connected to developmental changes normally, but other factors like teething can affect sleep habits. Parents can engage in some simple habits that could help them and themselves have better sleep time and habits.
References.
https://www.whattoexpect.com/first-year/sleep/sleep-regression/
https://health.clevelandclinic.org/the-4-month-sleep-regression-what-parents-need-to-know
https://huckleberrycare.com/blog/navigate-sleep-regressions-and-pattern-shifts-like-a-pro
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/sleep-regression-stages#summary
https://www.nestedbean.com/blogs/zen-blog/signs-of-sleep-regression
https://www.sleepfoundation.org/baby-sleep/12-month-sleep-regression
Hi, I am Tobi, a writer, speaker, relationship blogger, and lover of good music. I love making friends and learning from people. If you want to hear me speak on relationships and general life issues, you can find my YouTube channel where you can watch any episode for free, please do not forget to subscribe, friends. I sincerely appreciate every love I get from here, Kindly do well to keep them coming.
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