Why Your Baby May Be Fighting Sleep

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![]() Babies are beautiful, sweet, fun, and hard — especially a tired baby who doesn’t want to sleep. Let’s face it, a typical sleep schedule for a baby can be tough on a parent in itself with frequent wakeups due to feeding and changing. So, when you add fighting into the mix, giving you an overtired baby, things just escalated big time. And, while fighting sleep can include tears and shouting, when it includes sweet giggles and plain alertness it can still take a toll. But, why do babies fight something they need? No matter what the signs are, fighting sleep is usually from an underlying problem, you just have to work out what it is. After all, the first step to a better bedtime routine is understanding what obstacles might be in the way. In most cases, babies fight sleep for a totally normal reason that might not seem relevant at first. Even being too tired can cause your baby to fight sleep. And, if you’ve found yourself being woken up repeatedly by a baby without a wet diaper or an empty tummy, you can rest assured that you most likely don’t need to be worried. However, if it’s not that easy, let’s look at the seven most common reasons babies fight sleep. Separation Anxiety Overtiredness Overstimulation Teething Hitting a Milestone Traveling Discomfort or Illness As you can see, many of the above are pretty understandable reasons and all can be remedied. Besides discomfort or illness which will need to be addressed with your pediatrician for the best course of action, consistency is going to be the key to fixing the issue. Creating a sleep routine and sticking to it can help your baby sleep at better times and for longer. This will not only improve your baby’s mood and overall wellbeing, but it can give you a chance for some well-earned rest and self-care. Some ways you can help maintain consistency and reduce the amount that your baby fights sleep can include: Following your baby’s cues and helping them get to sleep when they’re ready. Maintaining a soothing bedtime routine to help calm your baby before slumber. Keep consistent with your bedtime routine so baby knows what’s happening and to reinforce that certain actions mean it’s time to sleep. Keep the nursery conducive to sleep no matter the time of day. ![]() Another bonus tip is finding the right sleepwear. One solution is Nested Bean’s Zen Sleepwear that helps soothe like your touch. Founded by a mom who was in desperate need of sleep herself, Nested Bean was developed after a simple act of putting her hand on her baby’s chest with a stuffed animal and it resulting in her baby sleeping under the gentle pressure. This, in turn, got the mom thinking, and after tons of research and consulting with doctors and pediatric pulmonologists, the world’s first gently weighted swaddle and Nested Bean were born. Head over to Nested Bean today to learn more about what causes babies to fight sleep and then check out what they offer. You just might find exactly what you and your baby need for a more restful night. Browse the Entire Collection |
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- Lisa has been blogging since 2013, and loves sharing resources and ideas for living a simple life. To get free printables, bonus words, and more - sign up for the newsletter.
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A full tummy, warm bath & a relaxing activity (dim the lights, quiet the sounds) before beds almost guarantees that they will start to nod off. My oldest son was a bundle of energy & I would still rub his forehead to relax him before bed but the prep was important. Enjoy them while they are young!
I wouldn’t trade my grown kiddos for anything. That said, I don’t miss these struggles!