Why is my baby crying in his sleep

What's normal and how to soothe them

When a baby begins crying in their sleep, caregivers may worry that something is wrong. However, in most cases, for babies, crying while asleep is a phase rather than a sign of a serious problem.

For many caregivers, sleep-related issues are among the biggest challenges during the baby and toddler years. Sleep problems are common, affecting at least 30 percent of children.

In this article, we look at the reasons why a baby might cry in their sleep, how to soothe them, and the normal sleep cycles that people can expect at different ages.

Newborns and young babies may grunt, cry, or scream in their sleep.

Very young children’s bodies have not yet mastered the challenges of a regular sleep cycle, so it is common for them to wake frequently or make strange sounds in their sleep.

For very young babies, crying is their main form of communication. It makes sense, then, that babies cry often and might also cry in their sleep.

As long as a baby does not have additional concerning symptoms, such as other signs of illness or pain, this is developmentally normal, and not a sign that something is wrong.

As babies develop more ways to express themselves, crying while asleep may be a sign that they are having a nightmare or night terror. Toddlers and older babies who cry while asleep, especially while moving in bed or making other sounds, may be having night terrors.

Nightmares occur during light sleep, or random eye movement sleep. Night terrors, on the other hand, occur when a child becomes very agitated during the deeper phases of sleep. Children are more likely to cry from night terrors early in the night.

Night terrors are relatively rare and usually occur in children aged between 4 and 12 years old, though people have reported possible night terrors in babies as young as 18 months old. Night terrors may be more likely to occur if a child is sick or sleep-deprived.

When a baby briefly cries out in their sleep, they often settle on their own. Picking them up may wake them up, disrupting their sleep.

If the crying continues, try talking softly to the baby or rubbing their back or stomach. This can help shift them into a different stage of sleep and help them stop crying.

Breastfed babies who nurse in their sleep may find comfort from nursing. Caregivers should decide whether or not the baby is likely to awaken from nursing and assess whether they are willing to risk waking the baby.

It can also be helpful to simply observe the baby’s sleep pattern. Some babies let out a soft cry as they fall deeply into sleep, or immediately before waking. Identifying the baby’s typical sleep pattern can help caregivers assess the cause of crying.

Some babies might cry in their sleep when they are sick or teething, but pain that causes crying will usually wake the baby. Caregivers can talk to a pediatrician about how to ease the baby’s pain.

Although we do not yet know when nightmares start, a caregiver who thinks that they hear their baby having a nightmare can soothe them by talking calmly to them or rubbing their back. Babies who are still breastfed may also find comfort from nursing.

If a baby wakes up after having had a nightmare, comfort them and follow a soothing sleep ritual to get them back to sleep. Older babies and toddlers may need reassurance that the nightmare was not real.

Share on PinterestA person should speak to a doctor about a child experiencing a sudden change in sleep patterns.

Caregivers should talk to a doctor about nighttime crying and other sleep issues when:

• a child cries out in pain
• a child’s sleep habits suddenly change
• a child’s sleep problems last for several nights and interfere with the ability of the child or caregiver to function
• feeding difficulties, such as a bad latch, not getting enough breast milk, or concerns with a formula sensitivity, interfere with sleep

There is no single normal sleep pattern in babies and young children. Sleep patterns change rapidly over the first 3 years of life, with lots of variation between individual children. The amount of sleep crying will also change over time.

Babies have shorter sleep cycles than adults and spend more time in light sleep, meaning that there are more chances for them to cry, grunt, or make other noises in their sleep.

Cultural and family norms can also affect sleep expectations. With the advice of a healthcare professional, caregivers can choose sleep strategies that work for them, their culture, and the needs and personality of their baby.

This section discusses average sleep patterns for babies of different ages. However, there is a lot of variation, and if a baby has a different sleep pattern from those given below, there is often no cause for concern.

Newborns (0–1 month)

Sleep is unpredictable in the first month, often punctuated by brief waking periods followed by naps and longer stretches of sleep. Some babies seem to have confused night and day. Sleep crying is common.

Babies typically wake every 2–3 hours, and sometimes even more often, to eat.

Exposing a baby to natural daylight and establishing a routine may help regulate their sleep patterns. For most babies of this age, however, a regular sleep schedule or long periods of sleep at night are unlikely.

Older newborns (1–3 months)

Newborns aged 1–3 months are still adjusting to life outside the womb. Some begin to develop a regular sleep schedule, though sleeping through the night is unlikely.

At this age, babies often cry out in their sleep or wake up crying if they are hungry. Sleep sessions typically last 3.5 hours or under.

Infants (3–7 months)

Share on PinterestBabies aged 3–7 months may develop a regular sleep schedule.

Between 3 and 7 months, some babies begin sleeping longer stretches or sleeping through the night. There is still considerable variation between babies.

Some babies also experience a sleep regression around 4 months that changes their sleep pattern.

Later in this period, many babies develop a sleep schedule of two daily naps and a longer period of sleep at night. Establishing a daily routine and a nighttime sleep routine can help.

Infants (7–12 months)

Most babies will sleep through the night by the time they are 9 months old. At around a year old, some babies drop down to just one nap per day. Others may need two naps per day well into their second year of life.

Toddlers (12 months and older)

Toddlers need 12–14 hours of sleep per day, divided between their nap and nighttime sleep. Most drop down to a single daily nap by 18 months of age.

Toddlers may experience occasional shifts in their sleep habits when something disrupts their routine, they are sick, or they go through a major developmental shift. This may include more crying than usual.

A child who routinely sleeps through the night, for example, may wake at 3 a.m. ready to play for a few nights.

Sleep can be challenging, especially in the early months and years. Every baby is unique and has their own set of needs and tendencies.

Caregivers can find ways to work with a baby’s temperament to maximize sleep, soothe crying, and ensure that the baby feels safe and comfortable at night.

In most cases, crying out in sleep is not dangerous or a sign of a serious problem. Sooner or later, almost all babies do it, and eventually, all babies sleep.

3 Reasons why your baby is crying in their sleep: Causes and tips

Updated Oct 07, 2022

Have you ever checked on your baby to see why they’re crying and found them still — somehow — asleep? If so, you’re not alone in feeling confused about why babies sometimes cry in their sleep. Just another mystery about the littlest humans, parents are often unsure how to respond when their baby is sleeping with their eyes closed yet crying out. 

Seeing their babies crying in their sleep can be alarming for many parents and leads to questions about babies having nightmares or being hungry, as well as how to help their crying baby return to a peaceful, deep sleep. Understanding the most common reasons babies cry while still asleep will help you know what to do the next time your little one begins screaming or crying in their sleep.

IN THIS ARTICLE:

• Why do babies cry in their sleep?

• The 3 most common reasons why babies cry in their sleep

• Can babies have nightmares?

• Is a baby crying in their sleep something to worry about?

• How to help a crying baby fall asleep

Why do babies cry in their sleep?

Although it’s not common for babies to cry in their sleep, it does happen. Some parents turn on the monitor when they hear crying, only to be surprised to see their baby’s eyes are closed. Other parents may go to check on their baby, only to have the crying suddenly stop and find their baby fast asleep. This behavior may have you scratching your head or wondering if something is wrong. Understanding the reasons babies cry in their sleep can help you know what to look for and how to help your baby.

The 3 most common reasons why babies cry in their sleep

1. Crying whil

   e transitioning from one sleep cycle to the next

   Like adults, babies sleep in cycles. But unlike adults, babies transition between sleep cycles very rapidly, spending more time in REM sleep (also referred to as active sleep) than deep sleep. During this stage, you may notice your baby’s eyes moving a lot under their eyelids (this is where the term "rapid eye movement," or REM, comes from). Babies can even be seen moving their arms and legs, closing and opening their hands, twitching or jerking, or yes, even crying during REM sleep.

   With sleep cycles lasting just 40 minutes on average, many babies will experience a brief awakening at the end of each one. During this brief awakening, babies may cry for a few minutes and put themselves back to sleep or may not even fully awaken.

2. Crying due to overtiredness

   When babies don’t get enough sleep or are awake longer than they can comfortably manage, they can quickly become overtired. Overtiredness triggers fatigue-fighting hormones, which can make it even more challenging for babies to fall and stay asleep. It seems counter-intuitive, and it can be a struggle. Overtiredness and big tears just before falling to sleep are the most common reasons your baby may be crying in their sleep.

3. Crying due to teething pain

   When teeth buds begin emerging, babies may be very uncomfortable — and they’ll let you know it. Teething babies are noticeably fussier and will often whine due to the discomfort both day and night. If you suspect your baby may be working on a new tooth, you might notice more frequent mild crying or whimpering while sleeping. Ask your child’s pediatrician what they recommend for discomfort associated with teething.

Unless you’re concerned for their safety, it’s a good idea to wait and watch before intervening when your baby is crying in their sleep. When you respond too quickly, you may inadvertently wake your child all the way up or prevent them from falling back to sleep on their own.

Brief episodes of crying during sleep are developmentally appropriate and don’t necessarily require help. So, the next time you discover your baby is crying with eyes closed, take a little step back and wait to see what happens next. Your baby may surprise you, and stop crying all on their own!

Can babies have nightmares?

Most of us have watched our babies sleeping and wondered, “What are they dreaming about?” In reality, those sweet smiles you might catch your baby giving in their sleep are involuntary and not in response to a dream (but we can still imagine, right?). Dreaming begins later in life, typically around age 2. The good news? Babies don’t experience bad dreams, nightmares, or night terrors, and crying in their sleep is likely linked to the reasons listed above.

Is a baby crying in their sleep something to worry about?

Occasional crying during sleep isn’t usually a cause for alarm. Even still, most parents want to do everything they can to ensure their baby sleeps peacefully. After all, if your baby is frequently screaming or crying in their sleep, they may be able to sleep through it — but you may not.

Newborns

Thanks to their still-developing nervous system and frequent need to eat, newborns wake more frequently than older babies, and this includes more sleep disturbances like crying without being fully awake. Newborns are also less likely to have the skills to settle themselves to sleep (and back to sleep) without help.

If your baby wakes up crying or is randomly crying while sleeping, and you know they’re not hungry or needing a diaper change, there may be other solutions before becoming too concerned.

Ensuring it isn’t too hot or cold during sleep times can help your baby sleep more comfortably. Experts recommend setting the temperature between 68℉ and 72℉, and caution against dressing babies in heavy layers.

Usually, whatever you’re wearing plus one layer is sufficient (e.g., a long-sleeved sleeper and sleep sack). If your newborn is crying in their sleep, do a quick check of their sleep environment and see if this helps settle them.

Infants

After the newborn period, babies go through a lot of developmental changes, including changes to how they sleep; we’re guessing you’ve heard of the 4 month sleep regression or the equally dreadful 8 month sleep regression. Many parents decide to begin working on more independent sleep once their baby is past the newborn stage and closer to 6 months.

Babies who are just learning to sleep on their own may struggle more with transitioning between sleep cycles and self-soothing, meaning it’s worth giving your baby a few minutes to see if they’ll settle on their own if you hear them crying in their sleep.

We know it’s hard to wait when you hear your baby fussing in their sleep, but whining and whimpering during sleep is quite common, and many babies will fall back to sleep in minutes if given an opportunity — letting you do the same.

Toddlers

There’s a less talked about sleep regression that can occur around a child’s first birthday (and you thought you were in the clear…). The 12 month sleep regression can spell trouble with naps and nighttime. Toddlers are also known for testing limits and resisting naps — a difficult combination. Any sleep loss caused by early morning rising, missed or short naps, and later bedtimes can lead to overtiredness.

If your 1 year old is crying uncontrollably at night, you’re not alone! Overtired toddlers will cry more before falling asleep and may cry briefly between sleep cycles. Often, if toddlers are given a lovey or stuffed animal to sleep with, they’ll quickly seek comfort in the lovey and settle on their own without fully waking up, putting an end to crying in their sleep.

How to help a crying baby to sleep

Here are a few tips to help your baby stop crying and settle down enough to fall asleep.

Tip #1: Condense your usual bedtime routine.

If you sense your baby is overtired, it’s best to condense your usual bedtime routine and help your baby begin to settle to sleep quickly. A baby that’s melting down during the bedtime routine often just needs to sleep. Sometimes they’re crying simply because they’re exhausted! If your baby seems very tired, it is OK to skip some steps of your usual bedtime routine or speed up the routine.

Bedtime routines for newborns should be brief (approximately 10 minutes) and include just a few activities such as changing the baby’s diaper, applying lotion or a soothing massage, swaddling or changing into pajamas, and rocking for a few minutes until drowsy.

Bedtime routines for older babies are usually slightly longer (approximately 15 - 30 minutes) and may include additional activities such as reading 1 - 2 books or singing lullaby songs.

Tip #2: Lay on the soothing

When a baby is very upset, it is helpful to spend some extra time soothing them. You can try turning on white noise and begin shushing or singing to your baby. Many babies also settle down faster and will stop crying when rocked or bounced gently. If your baby takes a pacifier, you can also use it to help your baby stop crying.

If you are breastfeeding, you may find bringing your baby to the breast to comfort nurse for a bit puts an end to crying, even if they are not hungry. Nursing is very soothing for babies, and the closeness to mom will bring down their heart rate and prepare them for sleep.

Tip #3: Be patient

Calming a crying baby may take some time, and they may take longer than usual to fall asleep: Be patient. If there is more than one caregiver, consider taking turns with the baby. Once the crying has stopped, now’s the time to attempt putting your baby to sleep.

Why a child cries in his sleep without waking up - reasons, advice and recommendations of specialists 3 years

Author of the article

Tatyana Chkhikvishvili

Tatyana Chkhikvishvili

Head of online programs, psychologist, sleep and breastfeeding consultant

Mom of two children

Do you still have trouble understanding why your baby is crying in your baby? Get confused when the child wakes you up at night crying, while he himself continues to sleep. Parents of older children are no less worried in such cases. What causes a baby to cry in a dream? What to do, how to help the baby?

Calendar of child crises

Causes of crying in sleep in children under one year old

A newborn sleeps differently than an adult, not only quantitatively, but also structurally. Approximately half of the time that newborns sleep, they spend in the REM phase. It is also often referred to as "rapid eye movement sleep" or "REM phase" - this is the time when the baby sees dreams. Such a large amount of REM phase is necessary for the intensive process of development and growth of the brain of a small child.

During this phase children:

• actively move their pupils;
• move arms and legs;
• grimacing, reproducing sucking movements with their mouths;
• make various sounds, whine.

In this phase, a newborn baby may cry - but very soon this just as suddenly stops, and the baby continues to sleep peacefully.

REM sleep is not sound and the child can wake up easily if something disturbs him. If the mother, at the beginning of such physiological crying, immediately takes the baby in her arms and actively tries to comfort him, this can lead to awakening. It is worth waiting a few seconds - this may be enough for the baby to continue his dream.

Moro reflex

All healthy babies have this natural reflex. The baby has a reflex throwing up of the handles, including when he sleeps. This often results in the child waking himself up. But it can also be the cause of crying without waking up.

Swaddling your baby before bed helps a lot - both for three-month-old babies and even for older children.

Developmental leaps

In the first year of life, a child is constantly changing and often experiences crises caused by developmental leaps. During periods of crisis, the load on the nervous system of the baby increases sharply.

These changes are common causes of sleep crying. It is important to monitor the emotional load, to prevent overexcitation and excessive fatigue. Keep a close eye on signs of fatigue and waking hours.

Change in sleep pattern

At around 3 months, baby's sleep patterns change. Its structure becomes the same as in adults. During the transition to a new structure, there is often a sharp deterioration in the child's sleep. This period is called the "regression of four months." The baby screams in a dream or wakes up crying, it can be difficult to calm him down.

During this period, it is important not to introduce new strong associations for falling asleep - it is better to use the actions by which you help the baby calm down and fall asleep just for calming down, and not until he falls asleep completely.

Important!

The calmer the baby is before bedtime, the less he will need help. Make sure that the child does not "overwalk".

Superficial sleep

After a change in the structure of sleep, the stage of superficial sleep appears in it. It begins immediately after falling asleep and lasts from 5 to 20 minutes. Only then comes deep sleep.

Partial awakening may occur during the transition between light and deep sleep. If the child is not yet able to make this transition on his own, or he is overexcited, or he has accumulated fatigue, at this point he may cry.

Put your baby to bed on time to prevent fatigue and tears, if necessary, help him prolong sleep during the transition between stages of sleep. If it was not possible to calm him down and lay him down again, he will not rest enough. Therefore, make the next waking time shorter than usual. This is important for both a five-month-old and a one-year-old child.

Awakenings between sleep cycles

Babies have a sleep cycle of about 40 minutes. By the age of 2, it gradually lengthens to about 1.5 hours.

There are usually awakenings between sleep cycles to control the environment and well-being. At this point, the child may begin to cry if something bothers him: discomfort, overexcitation, psychological factors. And if everything is in order and the child is ready to continue sleeping, but does not know how to fall asleep without help, he will begin to cry due to the lack of familiar conditions for falling asleep.

Physical discomfort

The child may cry in his sleep if he is hungry or thirsty. In this case, he soon wakes up and calms down after eating or drinking. Usually a child under one year old needs feeding at night.

The crying baby may just want to pee. Why does a child react so sharply to such an everyday occurrence? He still does not fully understand what is happening, but he feels discomfort that prevents him from sleeping peacefully at night.

The baby may also cry from a wet diaper or an overfilled diaper.

A common reason why an infant cries in its sleep is the uncomfortable conditions in the room. In infancy, temperature (18–22°C) and air humidity (40–60%) are especially relevant.

Clothes are also important. Barbed tags or rough seams can cause a baby to cry, especially a highly sensitive one.

If a child cries often, strongly, for a long time at night, this may be a sign of an illness. The baby most likely wakes up and calls for help, although it may cry during sleep. Most often, an infant suffers from a runny nose, otitis media, and allergies. But gastroesophageal reflux is also possible, as well as neurological problems. If the nature of crying bothers you, be sure to contact your pediatrician.

Well, if diseases are excluded, then why does the child cry so much, as if something hurts him? There are pains that are not associated with pathology. For example, colic in the first months of life, pain from teething in older babies, abdominal pain at the beginning of the introduction of complementary foods, when the gastrointestinal tract is only being rebuilt on solid food. It happens that this is reflected only in sleep, and during the day it remains invisible, because the baby is distracted by learning about the world and playing. But at night, all distractions recede, and the baby suddenly starts crying.

Poll

What does your baby need to fall asleep?

(you can choose one or more options)

• Square
• Breast
• bottle
• Nipple
• Payment
• Favorite

Babies need frequent and close contact with their mother. And if they don't get enough closeness with mom during the day, they try to make up for it at night. In this case, it is worth thinking about co-sleeping. For many mothers, it turns out to be very convenient, because the baby, feeling his mother nearby, wakes up less often. Remember safety!

Even those children whose mothers enjoyed a peaceful sleep in a separate bed may start crying for nightly attention during a period of separation crisis.

Associations for falling asleep

Intensive parental assistance in falling asleep usually affects sleep after 3–4 months of age. Most often, it looks like the “four-month regression” has begun, but for some reason does not end. According to the calendar, the crisis period should have ended long ago, but week after week passes, and the child continues to demand attention every hour or two at night. The fact is that during the regression, he had fixed associations for falling asleep.

About sleep after a year: possible causes of night crying "walker"

Children after one year old may cry for the same reasons as babies (not counting colic and regression of four months). But there are also new reasons.

Night terrors and nightmares

Crying in sleep can be caused by night terrors and nightmares. These are phenomena of different nature, you can read more about them in our article.

What to do?

Remember that the situation when a baby cries in a dream and does not wake up may well be the norm. To rule out other, “abnormal” causes and keep crying to a minimum, you need to:

• consult a pediatrician;
• discuss with your doctor the use of drugs to relieve pain during teething;
• try to smooth out the manifestation of colic;
• create favorable conditions in the bedroom;
• try swaddling;
• saturate the child with contact and attention during the day;
• provide him with a dry diaper, comfortable clothes, sufficient feeding;
• try to sleep next to the baby;
• do not overwork or overexcite him;
• take care of their own psychological well-being and emotional climate in the family;
• teach your baby to fall asleep on their own.

BabySleep webinars or guided one-to-one consultations can help you learn how to fall asleep on your own.

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most common causes and solutions

Elizaveta Shatunova

By Daily Baby

#dream #baby

New parents will have to forget about a quiet, peaceful sleep - at least until the baby is one year old. But it is one thing when a child wakes up at night due to hunger or a wet diaper, and quite another if he starts crying right in his sleep. This is confusing - it is not very clear how to help the baby. Does he feel bad? Or is he asking for food? Maybe dial an ambulance just in case? Let's figure out why a child cries in a dream without waking up.

Causes of night crying in children under one year old

Pediatricians agree that in most cases, night crying in infants up to 1. 5 years old, when they do not even wake up, is considered the norm. Of course, provided that the baby is completely healthy, and nothing bothered him during the day. This phenomenon is also called physiological night crying.

The fact is that babies spend a significant part of the night in REM sleep - this is necessary for the active development of their nervous system.

Newborns even dream, even if they are not as "adult" as we are. Moans, sobs, trembling limbs, screams - all this can be the baby's reaction to the stories that he sees.

Starting from 3-4 months, the structure of a child's sleep begins to change - the stages of superficial and deep sleep appear. His nervous system is ready for gradual "improvement". But it's too early for parents to relax. All these "leaps of development" are also often accompanied by sleep disorders. A child up to 1-1.5 years old will learn to sleep "like an adult." Now the baby “switches” several times from deep to REM sleep - and all these transitions can be accompanied by his anxiety. Unexpected crying of a baby up to three times a night is common and in most cases does not require a consultation with a doctor.

Do not forget that there are more "mundane" causes of night crying in babies. It is possible that the child is experiencing discomfort due to a wet diaper, teething, abdominal cramps, a sudden rise in temperature, atopic dermatitis, ear pain, heat or cold in the room. Probably, the discomfort is not so strong that the baby is fully awake, so he begins to act up right in his sleep.

What to do if a child cries in his sleep

A newborn spends most of the night in REM sleep, which is very weak. If the child is disturbed now, he may wake up. It often happens that crying and whims pass as quickly as they begin.

Doctors advise this - to give the baby time to calm down. Sometimes even 10-15 seconds is enough for the newborn to stop crying and fall asleep again. And if you immediately rush to the crib, take the child in your arms and start rocking, you risk waking him up. Now a sleepless night is guaranteed. And if you can’t leave a whimpering child alone even for a couple of seconds, go up to him, put your hand on the baby’s stomach or head to calm him down and show that you are there. You will see - very soon he will sleep again.

Doctor of Medicine Leah Alexander advises to swaddle a newborn for the first 3-4 months so that he does not wake himself up when he reflexively jerks his arms and legs in the REM sleep phase. In this case, the child, whimpering a little, will calm down faster.

And here's another reason why doctors don't recommend immediately rushing to the baby to pick it up, as soon as he moves a little in the crib and starts crying, there is a risk that the newborn will develop sleep associations. These are the actions that parents use to put their baby to bed - usually motion sickness.

Before you have time to look back, by 3-4 months a newborn will really wake up at night and stop falling asleep again without a lullaby, a pacifier or motion sickness. You have to constantly run to his bed.

With the developed associations for sleep, the baby can wake up up to five times a night - he will always be uncomfortable without the presence of his mother.

And if the baby is still awakened by his own crying, of course, you will have to help him fall asleep. Doesn't he want to calm down? So you need to make sure that the child does not want to eat and nothing hurts him. Keep everything you need close at hand - clean diapers, a remedy for colic in the stomach and a cooling gel for the gums, antipyretic medicine.

How to normalize sleep in babies up to a year

Newborns do not yet have nightmares, severe stress and emotional overload. No wonder that in most cases, sleep disorders are now considered a physiological norm. And yet it is quite within the power of parents to create conditions for the child so that he does not wake up at night. What is important to do?

1. Establish a clear daily routine. It is desirable that feeding, bathing, periods of sleep and wakefulness take place at the same time. And as experts say, you need to start forming the daily routine literally from the first days of the baby’s life, otherwise it will be more difficult to “implement” a strict routine later.
2. Create an optimal microclimate in the room where the baby sleeps. It is believed that the room should be 18-22 ° C and 40-60% humidity. Many parents speak very highly of humidifiers, which help create the perfect indoor climate - not only maintain the right level of humidity, but also purify the air.
3. Provide your child with optimal sleep conditions. It does not hurt to pay attention to the bedding in the crib - it is desirable that it be made from natural fabrics. The clothes of the child are also important - comfortable and soft, providing ideal thermoregulation. In such a child will not be hot or cold.
4. Make sure that the child does not overwork in the evening hours. Even a baby has busy days. But it is desirable that before going to bed the child still has a “quiet time” - no extra guests and active games.

Consult your pediatrician. Let the specialist recommend suitable anti-colic remedies and pain relief ointments for the gums. Many doctors recommend swaddling and co-sleeping when a baby sleeps lightly.

Both the first and the second cause a lot of controversy. It is believed that swaddling can inhibit the development of motor functions in a child, cause dysplasia, disrupt blood circulation in the limbs, or even cause even more anxiety at night.

Co-sleeping is good for many, but in the future it will be difficult for the baby to be “relocated” to a separate room, since he will get used to sleeping with his mother. Weigh all the pros and cons

As "experienced" parents say, this is not an easy time when a child periodically cries in his sleep, you just need to get over it. Everything will pass with age.

How to understand that a sensitive sleep of a baby is a deviation from the norm

Sleep disorders in newborns are poorly understood. Moreover, this applies not only to domestic medicine, but also foreign. Usually sleep is normalized by 1.5 years. But if the problem of crying at night without waking up continues to bother the baby even after 1.5-2 years, it does not hurt to consult a pediatrician. We are talking about constant sleep disturbances, and not about periodic cases of whimpering at night, when the child simply overtired during the day.

When should I go to the doctor? It is worth paying attention to how the child behaves during periods of wakefulness and sleep. If the whimpering of a child at night is accompanied by conversations, sharp twitches of the limbs and even attempts to get out of bed, if during the day he is constantly capricious and lethargic, or vice versa - overexcited, refuses his usual food, shudders from loud sounds, it is better to consult a pediatrician and a neurologist.

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