Parents Ask: Why Won't My Baby Sleep? [No. 3 Might Shock You]

why won't my baby sleep parents question answer

By Fatima Virrey , Parent Herald Aug 10, 09:56 am

Parents of a newborn baby are always excited to witness the milestones that will come their way as they start a new chapter. Along with the small joys and discoveries are the sleepless nights.

A newborn baby does not necessarily have a strict sleeping pattern. Sometimes, during the first few weeks of a newborn baby, they are asleep in the morning and wide awake in the evening.

Parents tend to ask, "Why won't my baby sleep?"

If only babies can speak and tell us why they are still awake, things won't be that difficult.

There are several reasons why a newborn baby won't sleep. To serve as your guide, here are some answers to the question: "Why won't my baby sleep?":

1. Something might be uncomfortable for the newborn baby.

Babies are fragile. They are sensitive even to the slightest change to their environment.

Sometimes it is the temperature that makes the babies uncomfortable.

(Photo: Photo by Georgia Maciel from Pexels)
Parents Ask: Why Won't My Baby Sleep? [No. 3 Might Shock You]

If it is not too cold or too hot, it may have something to do with the clothing or the diaper they are wearing.

If these are not the answers to the question "Why won't my baby sleep?" then find other signs of discomfort with the newborn baby.

2. The baby probably wants to bond with the parents.

Sometimes, it is the newborn's parents' presence that could bring him or her back to sleep. Something is soothing and reassuring in the parent's presence that can calm the baby. That is why cuddling them brings them back to sleep when they wake up in the middle of the night.

(Photo: pexels.com)
Parents Ask: Why Won't My Baby Sleep? [No. 3 Might Shock You]

3. The baby is tired

It may sound ironic that the answer to "Why won't my baby sleep?" is exhaustion.

(Photo: pexels.com)
Parents Ask: Why Won't My Baby Sleep? [No. 3 Might Shock You]

For adults, when they are exhausted, sleeping is a quick way to regain energy. For a newborn baby, being tired makes them irritable; thus, it keeps them awake. The best way to help them sleep is to make them feel secured.

4. The newborn baby could be hungry.

As mentioned earlier, babies are still unable to communicate their thoughts in words. The only way that babies send signal to their parents is through crying. At night, they could be awake and would start crying when they are hungry. Sometimes, babies are hungry even if they had just been fed two hours ago. That is why, if babies suddenly wake up, parents should check if the newborn baby needs to be fed.