My child isn't sleeping! What should I do?

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My child isn't sleeping! What should I do?

10:00 PM and still going strong... you with one eye closed and the kid going crazy!

Will he ever sleep? you think...

Well, yes! He will sleep! and even more easily, if you know the following:

First, we should clarify that it is completely normal for an infant to wake up during the night. A breastfed child may wake up constantly because it is necessary for their development! Sleep for infants is divided into two cycles: REM sleep (restless sleep) which builds the child's mind and NonREM sleep (deep) which builds their body. Nature has foreseen and invested in the first years of human life, in a long duration of restless sleep, in order to meet their enormous needs for psychomotor maturation. Later, when childhood leads to greater mobility and physical exertion during the day, deep sleep gradually increases, so that the body rests more and physical development accelerates.

So what's the problem? He better wake up!

Um, but come on, fatigue comes and breaks you down... Here are some tips so you don't completely lose your mind trying to fix this one of his...!!!

1

Try co-sleeping or co-bedding

Co-sleeping is the sleeping of the baby in the parents' bed. Sleeping with the mother helps to continue exclusive breastfeeding and helps babies maintain adequate thermoregulation, achieving a smooth body temperature throughout the night. Furthermore, mothers who choose it have a healthier sleep themselves as they wake up less. Finally, sleeping in the mother's bed is not more dangerous than other options, as long as parents adhere to certain safety requirements.

2

Create the ideal environment

A quiet and dark environment as well as a bedtime routine (e.g. a shower beforehand) help children sleep better. An ideal temperature is 18 to 21 degrees Celsius for room temperature and 36-37 for water temperature. To create a relaxed environment, your own relaxation is also essential… If you think “go to sleep, sleep, I want to watch TV – iron – make you a sibling, etc.”, then he will definitely not sleep in the world…. However, if you relax and enjoy the moment with your little one, it is certain that in five minutes the baby will be in Morpheus’ arms!

3

Incorporate exercise into his life from a very young age

It is known that regular physical activity is one of the most important components of a healthy lifestyle, for adults and children. Swimming is the only exercise suitable for infants as it does not strain their bodies which are still in the early stages of development. On the contrary, the benefits are multiple: We mention indicatively.

  • Strengthening the entire immune system
  • Improving physical fitness and performance
  • Better motor control and functional ability
  • Improving self-esteem and self-confidence
  • Improving mental and emotional health

In addition to the above, gentle and calm exercises in the water give the child continuous and more restful sleepResearch shows that active children with good levels of fitness go to bed earlier, sleep longer, and have better quality sleep than children who are not as active. Indeed, our parents confess that their babies sleep much better and longer after a comprehensive baby swimming lesson.

Special thanks to the pediatrician Stelios Papaventis and his blog from which a lot of information was drawn.

Under no circumstances should the above be considered expert advice. They are personal opinions acquired through reading and experience.