Ah!
Sleepless nights with a newborn…
This blog takes me back to my memories as a new mom of a newborn almost seven and a half years ago. As a new mom who was just recovering from her c-section stitches, postpartum depression and postpartum bleeding I simply had a new clue about how to put my baby to sleep.
I used to feed him, bath him, massage him, cuddle him and whatnot
Nothing would work
After some time he would just wake up and start crying.
Those sleepless and restless nights made my postpartum phase worse.
I literally wanted to scream and cry.
This blog is for all mothers struggling with sleepless nights with a newborn.
What Causes Sleepless Nights with a Newborn
Infant Sleep Disturbance or Baby Insomnia:
Infant sleep disturbance or baby insomnia is an abnormal pattern in a baby’s sleep. Thor can be the reason for insomnia in babies. These include hunger, not feeling well or restlessness. The table below shows several reasons behind baby insomnia. Knowing about these reasons can help you cope better with sleepless nights with a newborn.
| Baby needs food | Colic is amongst the most common reasons behind baby insomnia. One of the main symptoms colic babies show is that their faces become red. Babies become fussy and restless because colic is very painful. Of Course, anything is painful for a tiny delicate human being. |
| Baby is not well | I remember one night my elder one while he was in his newborn phase couldn’t sleep. I as a new mom couldn’t figure out what was wrong. He wasn’t even latching properly. As he sucked he started nauseating. Waking up the whole night looking like a zombie, I took him to the hospital the next day and found out that he had nasal congestion. Unable to breathe properly as he said he couldn’t breathe and that’s why he was nauseating. So if your baby isn’t sleeping and taking proper feed, maybe he or she isn’t feeling well. It’s better to consult a doctor. |
| Ear Infection | My secondborn was a restless sleeper as well. Once he was almost a year old when he cried his heart out the whole night. Frequently he was touching his ears. Again avoiding self-medication the next morning we took him to the doctor. We got to know that he was having an ear infection. A few drops of an antibiotic relieve him from the pain. He is five years old now. |
| Colic | Always check your baby;’s diaper when he or she wakes up during odd times. It might be full, wet or poopy. New moms often ignore this very important reason. Maybe I wasn’t a much informed new mom that is why I am here writing this to help others. |
| Wet Diapers | Always check your baby;’s diaper when he or she wakes up during odd times. It might be full, wet or poopy. New moms often ignore this very important reason. Maybe I wasn’t a much informed new mom which is why I am here writing this to help others. |
How to Survive Sleepless Nights with a Newborn
One thing that is common between a husband and a newborn baby is that if they can’t sleep they won’t let you sleep as well
Yes that’s true
So if you are a new mom learning to make peace with your baby and mom routine you have to learn to survive sleepless nights with a newborn.
- Sleep whenever you get time:
This is the most common advice my mother-in-law used to give me.
Sleep whenever the baby sleeps!
I unfortunately couldn’t follow it. It is because I can only sleep at night and not during the daytime or any other time. However, if you don’t have the same habit as me try sleeping whenever you get time.
Basically when mothers get time they start doing their household chores. Therefore sleeping when the baby sleeps is nearly impossible. Especially when you have a whole house to manage and other kids to look after as well.
- Get Support:
If you live with a grandparent or grandparents nearby try getting their support. Ask them to look after the baby for some time so that you can sleep. Of course, you can ask your partner for help as well. Distributing the home chores and baby responsibilities equally is NOT A BAD IDEA AT ALL!
- Follow Baby’s Routine:
Ok, so a lot of you might be questioning my mental health right now but believe me I am not wrong.
You cannot set a newborn’s sleeping routine
They eat when they want to
They sleep when they want to
You CAN NOT school them at this stage
So the only option you have is to follow their routine for some time. As they grow, their routine will get settled automatically.
When does the Sleepless Nights end with a Newborn
When it comes to newborns there’s no time limit
There is no scientifically or medically proven answer to this question. Let me tell you about my sons:
My firstborn started sleeping the whole night when he was nine months old
Then my second born started sleeping the whole night after he was two and a half years old
The third one is just one year old and he has never been a restless sleeper. He sleeps peacefully the whole night (Sigh of relief)
How to Avoid Sleepless Nights with a Newborn
As long as you are a parent, especially another, there’s NO WAY you can avoid sleepless nights with a newborn. However, you can manage the time maturely.
Try reading a book with your baby in your lap. Make this time fun with some healthy munching.
Try to remain sane and realize that it is normal. You are not alone. This is a normal phase in every mother’s life.
My Two Scents:
Being a mother is not easy..
It has never been
However, being an informed mother is in your hands.
This blog features most of the possible reasons behind sleepless nights with a newborn. I know you are a strong mom and you can handle it better than me..
Best of luck and