Parents of young children have to get up and down from bed to comfort their children waking up at all hours throughout the night. But if your child is also struggling to nap to catch up on lost sleep during the daytime, this could be a cause for concern. Babies should ideally sleep eight to sixteen-eighteen hours a day, and anything under that amount constitutes a lack of sleep. In this article, we dig a bit deeper into why your young child could be struggling to sleep. Carry on reading to learn more.
Medical Conditions
There is a range of different medical conditions that a lack of sleep in an infant could have as one of their symptoms. Don’t worry yourself sick guessing what your child’s medical issue could be. If you’re growing increasingly concerned, pick up the phone and seek medical assistance as soon as possible. Unfortunately, NHS waiting times can be particularly lengthy these days in the UK, and you will naturally want your kid to be seen as quickly as possible.
Teething Problems
When your kid’s first teeth start coming through, it can cause them incredible pain and discomfort. Teething issues could be why your child is having trouble settling down and not sleeping as much as they should be.
You should visit a pediatric dental office to consult an expert dentist and have them assess your babies’ teeth to help you confirm their sleeping issues are indeed related to teething problems.
Feeling Uncomfortable
There could be a whole string of reasons behind why your child feels uncomfortable as they try to sleep. It could be down to the amount of activity they’ve done during the daytime leading to over or under stimulation, overeating, eating heavy foods, feelings of hunger, drinking too much milk, or a desire for more milk.
Too Much Noise
Perhaps your home is noisy during the evening? It may not be your fault; you could live on a main road, and motorbikes and cars are constantly revving past your child’s bedroom window around the clock. Too much overbearing noise will disrupt your child as they attempt to nod off to sleep peacefully. Do what you can to minimise these noises.
Eating At The Wrong Times
Indigestion may also affect your child’s sleeping habits. Eating too much immediately before going to bed may cause their stomach to become uncomfortable and make going to sleep harder. Giving your child food at the wrong times could also increase the likelihood of them having an accident and making the bed a bit messy while they sleep.
Overexposure To Light
Most babies will find going to sleep more difficult if they’re in a room with a bright light on. Young children tend to sleep much better in darker rooms where they are not overexposed to light. So, simply drawing the curtains or shutting the door properly could do wonders for your little one’s sleeping habits.
Figuring out why your child may be having difficulties sleeping can feel like a bit of a minefield at times, and these are a few suggestions of why they could be experiencing trouble with getting to sleep.
Last Updated on June 22, 2023 by Lucy Clarke