Ashwin Lewis
As a new parent, one of the toughest challenges is the lack of sleep. While you may be eager for your newborn to doze off, they may be protesting bedtime. This is a common issue, and there are several reasons why your newborn may be fighting sleep. For instance, newborns can get overtired quickly, leading to sleep resistance. Additionally, overstimulation from a bright and busy household, screens, or beeping toys can make it challenging for your baby to settle down. Other factors include illness, teething pain, developmental milestones, and day-night confusion, where your newborn's days and nights are flipped. To promote healthy sleep habits, you can try creating a peaceful atmosphere, maintaining a consistent bedtime routine, and looking for signs of tiredness to establish a sleep schedule.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Overtired | Babies can become overtired when naps are short or wake windows are too long. |
| Not tired enough | If wake windows are not long enough or the baby didn't get much active awake time, they may not be tired enough to fall asleep. |
| Overstimulated | A bright, busy household, screens, beeping toys or a crying spell can be too much to handle, resulting in overstimulation and the urge to fight sleep. |
| Hunger | Sleepy eating and distracted eating can result in a hungry baby who fights sleep. |
| Illness | Sleep can be harder for a newborn when they’re sick. |
| Sleep regression | This setback in your baby’s regular nighttime routine can crop up throughout the first year, including at 4 months, 6 months, between 8 and 10 months, and once more at 12 months. |
| Separation anxiety | Around 8 months, this clingy phase may kick in, resulting in tears when you leave your baby alone in the crib. |
| Teething | Teething pain can cause a baby to wail and fight sleep. |
| Hitting a milestone | Babbling, rolling, sitting up, crawling, and walking are all big developmental milestones that some infants like to practice at night. |
| Discomfort | If your baby is uncomfortable in their sleeping position or environment, it can make it more challenging to fall asleep. |
| Day-night confusion | When a newborn is very sleepy all day, they may not be tired enough to fall asleep at bedtime or stay asleep during the night. |
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Day-night confusion
The primary cause of day-night confusion is the underdeveloped circadian rhythm or internal 24-hour clock of newborns. In adults, this rhythm, also known as the circadian rhythm, is influenced by hormones like melatonin, light and darkness, and daily schedules. However, newborns are still developing this internal clock, which is why they might sleep longer during the day and stay awake for extended periods at night.
To help your newborn regulate their sleep patterns and overcome day-night confusion, you can employ several strategies:
- Light exposure: Expose your baby to indirect sunlight or natural light during the day by placing their swing or playmat near a window. Even on overcast days, sunlight helps regulate babies' internal clocks. Just remember to avoid direct sunlight for infants under six months old due to their sensitive skin.
- Create behavioural cues: Establish routines that signal to your newborn that nighttime is for sleeping, not playtime. For example, you can create a soothing bedtime routine that includes a warm bath, feeding, and a quiet activity like reading a book.
- Active awake time: Ensure your newborn gets some active awake time during the day. This helps them associate daytime with play and interaction, and it can also tire them out for better nighttime sleep.
- Feeding schedules: If your newborn sleeps for long stretches during the day, they may wake up frequently at night feeling hungry. Try to incorporate feeding times during their wake windows, and consider waking them after a two-hour nap to ensure they get adequate nutrition during the day.
- Create a stimulating environment during the day: Newborns might confuse a quiet environment during the day with the womb, leading to day-night confusion. Avoid keeping their surroundings too quiet during the day, and don't be afraid to go about your daily activities.
- Use tracking apps: Tracking apps like Baby Tracker by Nara can help you set wake windows, get reminders, and share information with other caregivers. This can be useful for establishing a consistent routine for your newborn.
Remember, day-night confusion is a common challenge for newborns and their parents. It is not something you or your baby did wrong. This confusion usually resolves by 8 to 12 weeks of age as your baby's circadian rhythm starts to regulate.
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Overstimulation
A newborn baby's sleep can be disrupted by overstimulation. The world outside the womb is a busy, exciting place, and it doesn't take much to overstimulate a newborn. Bright lights, loud noises, screens, beeping toys, or even a crying spell can be too much for them to process, leading to overstimulation and a struggle to fall asleep.
To prevent overstimulation, it is recommended to avoid stimulating activities at least an hour before bedtime. Creating a peaceful atmosphere with dimmed lights, closed curtains, and no loud noises or screens can help your baby associate the nursery with sleep. Keeping the nursery conducive to sleep and maintaining a soothing sleep training plan is essential.
Swaddling your baby can be an effective technique to soothe an overstimulated newborn. It helps keep their arms snugly tucked in, preventing them from startling themselves awake with the Moro or startle reflex, which is common during the first few months. Additionally, moving to a dark room and turning on a sound machine can create a calming environment.
It's important to be proactive and look out for signs of tiredness in your newborn. Putting your baby to sleep when you first notice these signs can prevent overtiredness, which often results in fighting sleep. An overtired baby may experience a surge of cortisol and adrenaline, making it more challenging to fall asleep.
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Sleep regression
- Developmental changes: As babies grow, their sleep needs change. They may experience more night wakings, nap refusals, and difficulty falling asleep. This is because their bodies and rhythms are changing, which impacts their sleep schedule.
- Internal clock development: Babies start to develop an internal clock at around 4 months, which tells them when to wake up and when to go to sleep. As they adjust to this internal clock, they may wake up and cry during periods of lighter sleep.
- Milestones: Hitting developmental milestones, such as babbling, rolling, sitting up, crawling, and walking, can impact a baby's sleep. They may want to practice these new skills at night, leading to sleep regression.
- Teething: The pain and discomfort of teething can cause babies to wail and fight sleep.
- Illness: Sleep can be more challenging for a newborn when they are sick.
- Overstimulation: A bright, busy household, screens, beeping toys, or a crying spell can be too stimulating for a baby, leading to the urge to fight sleep.
- Overtiredness: Newborns can get overtired quickly, resulting in fighting sleep. Following their sleepy cues and wake windows can help prevent overtiredness.
If your baby is experiencing sleep regression, here are some tips to help manage it:
- Get to know your baby's sleep cues, such as rubbing their eyes, fussiness, yawning, or looking away, and try to get them to bed before they become overtired.
- Stick to a consistent bedtime routine, such as feeding, bathing, reading a book, and singing lullabies.
- Ensure your baby is getting enough sleep during the day, as overtired babies may have more problems sleeping at night.
- If your baby suddenly cries in the middle of the night, give them a few minutes to see if they can self-soothe back to sleep.
- Reach out for support if you need it. Caring for a baby with sleep regression can be exhausting, so don't hesitate to talk to a healthcare provider or seek help from family or friends.
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Separation anxiety
It can be frustrating when your newborn fights sleep, but it's important to remember that there are many reasons why this might be happening. Understanding these reasons and how best to support your baby is key to getting them—and you—the rest you need.
One of the most common reasons for newborns fighting sleep is separation anxiety. This usually kicks in around 8 months but can happen earlier or later. During this clingy phase, your baby might cry when you leave them alone in the crib.
- Create a soothing sleep environment: Make sure the nursery is conducive to sleep. Keep the lights dimmed, curtains closed, and screens off to avoid overstimulation.
- Establish a consistent bedtime routine: A consistent bedtime routine, sleep environment, and general sleep schedule will help your baby know what to expect at sleep times and make them less likely to fight sleep. Try to include soothing elements like bedtime stories, lullabies, and gentle music in your routine.
- Look for signs of tiredness: Newborns can get overtired quickly, which often results in fighting sleep. Look out for signs of tiredness, such as yawning, stretching, or shutting their eyes, and put your baby to sleep when you first notice these cues.
- Avoid stimulating activities before bedtime: Try to avoid stimulating activities at least an hour before your baby's bedtime. Livelier playtime should stay outside of the nursery to reinforce the idea that the nursery is for sleeping.
- Address any discomfort: Discomfort can make it tougher for your baby to settle down for sleep. Make sure your baby is comfortable in their sleeping position and environment. Check if they are too hot or cold, their swaddle is not too tight or loose, and they don't have a wet diaper.
- Provide extra support: If your newborn is overtired, it's okay to provide extra support to help them get the sleep they need. A warm bath can be calming and relaxing for your baby, making it easier for them to get some sleep. Swaddling can also be comforting and help prevent your baby from startling themselves awake.
Remember, if you're concerned about your baby's sleep or if the fighting sleep continues, don't hesitate to speak to your pediatrician for personalized guidance.
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Teething
If your newborn is fighting sleep due to teething, there are some things you can do to help. Firstly, it's important to ensure you're following safe sleep guidelines, such as always putting your baby to sleep on their back. You can also try swaddling your baby, which can promote calmness and sleep. Just be sure to do it safely by keeping the hips loose and the blanket loose enough to allow for hip movement and leg separation.
Additionally, you can try to reduce overstimulation by avoiding stimulating activities at least an hour before bedtime. This includes bright lights, screens, beeping toys, or loud noises. A warm bath and a calm environment can help soothe your baby and prepare them for sleep.
It's also crucial to maintain healthy sleep habits and a consistent sleep routine. Sleep regressions are common during teething, but they typically last for a week or two. Inconsistency or abandoning healthy sleep routines can prolong this period.
Remember, the only sure sign of teething is seeing a tooth. If your baby is experiencing intense crying or sleep struggles that last for weeks, it may be due to other factors, such as illness or physical discomfort.
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Frequently asked questions
Newborns have immature circadian rhythms, so they haven't yet developed a clear understanding of the difference between night and day. They may also be hungry, as newborns have small stomachs and require frequent feedings throughout the day and night.
Establish a soothing bedtime ritual and be consistent. Take a bath, read books, or cuddle in a favourite chair. You can also try giving your newborn a pacifier at night to relieve their instinctive need to suckle.
Try a weighted sleep sack or swaddle, which can help your baby sleep longer by mimicking the soothing effect of your touch. You can also try giving them a gentle massage after feeding to help them relax and fall asleep.
Newborns may fight sleep due to separation anxiety, overstimulation, teething, illness, or discomfort. They may also be overtired or undertired, so it's important to learn your baby's sleep cues and adjust their nap and bedtime schedule accordingly.
