Reasons of night awakenings in babies

The baby's sleep is different from that of an adult. The main feature is the predominance of the phase of superficial sleep over the deep one. It is during the fast phase the brain analyzes the information received during the day. During this period, the sleep is very sensitive. In the first months of life, the duration of a fast sleep is approximately 80-60% of the total sleep time. At 6 months - 50%, while in adults, superficial sleep accounts for 20%.


Do not rush to put the baby in the crib
Have you cradled baby in your arms? Wait 15 minutes until a slow phase occurs. Then he falls asleep deeply and it will be difficult to wake him.

Pay attention that one cycle of sleep (fast and slow phases) of a baby up to 6 months lasts 50 minutes. In other words, you can cradle him for half an hour, sit with him for 20 minutes, wait for the phase of a slow dream, and after a while he will start tossing again and can wake up from any sound or movement.


At the junction of the two phases
If in a phase of fast sleep the baby begins to worry, wave his hands, groan, do not rush to take him in his arms. This does not always mean that he is fully awake. Perhaps the child will be able to calm down on his own. So he learns to fall asleep himself. If the mother takes this function upon herself, the infant becomes accustomed and cannot fall asleep without your help after waking up in the middle of the night.


Child does not sleep because of fatigue
Approximately in the age of 3 weeks to 3 months other children arrange "evening concerts". In some cases, colic is to blame. But sometimes the reason is that the child is very tired and wants so much to sleep that he can not fall asleep. That's why she cries. Turn off the light, remove unnecessary sounds, take him in your arms and give him time to calm down. Warm bath and, of course, mother's breast or baby food will help to relax.


Read the continuation on how to help a child get stronger sleep in the next posts.