Why Do Babies Fight Sleep? Relaxation & Reasons for Sleep Struggle
Babies are notorious for fighting sleep, and it can be a frustrating and tiring experience for parents. From newborns to toddlers, sleep fighting can occur at any age and for a variety of reasons. Why do babies fight sleep? Understand the cause and how to promote healthy sleep habits.
As a parent, you want your baby to get the sleep they need to be healthy, happy, and develop properly. Understanding why babies fight sleep and how to address it can help you and your baby get the rest you both need. Whether it is a newborn struggling to settle or a toddler resisting bedtime, understanding the reasons behind sleep fighting can help you find a solution that works for your family.
How do I get my baby to stop fighting sleep?
- Establish a consistent bedtime routine
- Learn your baby’s sleep cues
- Make sure your baby gets enough (but not to many) naps during the day
- Create a sleep-conducive environment (dark, quiet, and cool)
- Make sure your baby is not overstimulated before bedtime
- Establish a soothing bedtime ritual (like cuddling, taking a bath or reading books)
- Try white noise or a lullaby to soothe your baby
- Try to stay relaxed through their struggles, your calm helps them relax
- Activity and sunlight during the day and quiet evenings helps establish a sleep routine
A consistent bedtime routine can be a helpful tool in getting your baby to stop fighting sleep. This routine can include activities like a warm bath, reading a story, or singing a lullaby. The predictability of the routine can help signal to your baby that it is time to wind down and get ready for sleep.
Understanding the importance of napping
Napping is just as important for babies as it is for adults. Regular napping helps regulate your baby’s sleep and promotes healthy sleep patterns. Making sure your baby is getting enough naps during the day can help prevent sleep fighting at night.
Why do babies fight sleep? 7 common reasons
Circadian Rhythms: Infants begin developing their circadian rhythms—the 24-hour cycle that regulates our bodies—around 6 weeks of age.
These rhythms mature enough to establish a consistent sleep schedule at around 3 to 6 months old. However, some may not establish a solid sleep schedule until later. So, just because you know it’s night and time to sleep doesn’t mean your baby is on the same page.
Overstimulation: You’ve likely heard numerous times about the importance of avoiding screens for an hour before bedtime to achieve quicker sleep onset and better quality sleep.
The same principle applies to your little one, but it extends beyond screens. Noisy toys, loud music, or overly stimulating play can leave them feeling overwhelmed and unable to relax for sleep.
Separation Anxiety: Has your little one been sticking to you like glue, always wanting to be held and never straying more than a few steps away all day? It’s likely a sign of separation anxiety, which can also manifest at bedtime.
Typically occurring between 8 to 18 months, your baby might resist sleep because they don’t want you to leave their side.
Hunger: Babies (on average) triple their birth weight by their first birthday. Such rapid growth requires plenty of nourishment.
So yes, there can be moments in their life when you have the feeling they are eating nonstop. A full belly sleeps better.
Exhaustion: While we are prone to nodding off at any given moment, if we are exhausted it doesn’t quite work the same way for our little ones.
Babies have a specific window when they’re most inclined to fall asleep. Missing this window can lead to them becoming overtired, resulting in irritability, fussiness, and difficulty settling down.
Insufficient Fatigue: Conversely, your baby might not be prepared for sleep because they aren’t tired. This could be a one-time occurrence, perhaps due to an unusually long nap today, or it could signify that they’re growing and evolving, and their sleep requirements are changing.
Illness: Sometimes, discomfort from an illness can disrupt your baby’s sleep. Keep an eye out for other symptoms of illnesses such as ear infections or colds.
How to identify when a baby is overtired
Signs of overtiredness in babies include fussiness, irritability, and difficulty settling. If your baby is fighting sleep and you’ve ruled out other causes, they may be overtired.
To prevent them from fighting sleep, it is important to pay attention to your baby’s sleep patterns, react when they are ready to change their nap rhythm and make sure they are getting enough rest during the day.
Why do babies hate going to sleep?
Babies can develop sleep associations, which are things that they associate with sleep, such as nursing, rocking, or a pacifier. When these sleep associations are not present, babies may struggle to fall asleep and fight sleep.
Environmental factors, such as noise, light, and temperature, can also contribute. If a baby’s sleep environment is not conducive to sleep, they may struggle to fall asleep.
Establishing a consistent bedtime routine can help promote healthy sleep habits in babies. However, changes in routines or patterns, such as travel, illness, teething, or disruptions in the household, can also contribute to sleep fighting.
What do babies do when they fight sleep?
Common behaviors during sleep fighting in babies include crying, fussiness, thrashing, and resisting being put down. They may also have trouble settling down or staying asleep.
Babies of different ages may exhibit different behaviors. For example, younger babies may simply cry and fuss, while older babies may resist being put down and try to play. Understanding the developmental stage of your baby can help you understand their behavior.
Do babies outgrow fighting sleep?
Babies experience several age-related sleep changes as they grow and develop. Some babies may naturally outgrow fighting sleep as they get older, while others may continue to struggle with sleep.
Developmental milestones, such as learning to crawl or walk, can also impact a baby’s sleep patterns and contribute to sleep fighting. Understanding the impact of these milestones can help you determine if your baby’s sleep fighting is related to their development.
Establishing healthy sleep patterns early on can have long-term benefits for your baby. Poor sleep habits can impact overall health and development and may persist into adulthood.
How early can babies fight sleep?
Newborns have unique sleep patterns and can struggle with sleep for several reasons, including hunger, overstimulation, and discomfort.
Sleep patterns in babies develop and change as they grow and mature. Taking steps to promote healthy sleep habits from the beginning can help prevent sleep fighting and promote overall well-being.
So there are many reasons why a baby isn’t falling asleep and they can keep your baby up from the start. But that a baby is actively fighting sleep is often between the age of 8 to 18 months, with some starting a little earlier and some going on for a whole lot longer.
Why does my baby wake up as soon as I put her down?
Babies often struggle with sleep transitions, especially when being put down for naps or bedtime.
For a baby you are the most important person in this world, you are everything comfortable, and you are home to them. So it is easy to understand that when you move away from them it means their safety is moving away.
It takes time for your baby to feel secure and comfortable without you right next to it.
Try to make the change as gradually and smoothly as possible. Like changing their position for a while before you lay them down (if they weren’t laying on their back), stopping the rocking motion and just holding them for a while, and so on.
Too many changes at once make it more likely that your baby wakes up as soon as you put it down in its crib.
Is fighting sleep part of sleep regression?
Sleep regression is a normal part of baby development and occurs when a baby experiences changes in their sleep patterns.
Sleep regression and sleep fighting can be related, as changes in sleep patterns can contribute to sleep fighting. So sleep regression can be the cause of your baby’s sleep struggles.
Paying attention to the baby’s sleep patterns and behavior can help identify when they may be fighting sleep or if they are in the process of sleep regression.
Summary of key points
Remember the importance of establishing a bedtime routine and the role of overtiredness, sleep associations, sleep regression, and sleep transitions in sleep fighting.
Understanding the signs and the reasons for your baby’s struggles makes it easier to stay calm even if the situation is challenging.
Keep in mind they are not doing it out of spite and are not capable to deal with it on their own. Parents must show them how and help them develop healthy sleeping habits.
Sleep is essential to a baby’s growth and development, and understanding why they fight sleep can help address the issue and ensure a baby is getting the rest they need.
It’s important to remember that every baby is unique, and no one has the perfect solution for every baby. But by being patient, understanding, and trying different techniques you will find what works for you and your baby. By promoting healthy sleep habits and creating a comfortable sleep environment, parents can help their babies get the rest they need to grow and develop to their full potential.
