“Friend, my baby just won’t sleep at night… My eyes were wide open all night again!”
If you are reading this article at 3 AM, trust me, you are not alone. I can understand how tired your body must feel right now and how red your eyes are from lack of sleep. When a little guest arrives home, we forget all our tiredness just by looking at their one smile. But honestly, when the same baby starts crying again and again in the middle of the night, even the strongest patience starts to give up.
Let’s sit down and talk in simple, everyday language about why these little babies trouble us so much at night and what toll this constant waking takes on our own health as mothers.
Hey, Why Do These Babies Cry at Night Anyway?
Just think, they cannot speak to tell us what is bothering them! So crying is their only way, and behind it are usually these small reasons:
- Rats are jumping in the tummy (Hunger): Small babies have tiny tummies, so they get hungry very often. Sometimes their growth spurt period is going on, where they need more milk at night.
- Gas or Tummy Pain (Colic & Gas): If we don’t burp them properly after feeding, that trapped gas causes tummy pain, and the poor baby keeps tossing and turning all night.
- Wet Diaper: Just think, would we be able to sleep if we stayed in wet clothes? The baby also gets uncomfortable due to the chill of a wet diaper or rashes.
- Getting Too Tired (Overtiredness): If the baby hasn’t slept properly during the day due to household noise or visitors, they get overtired, cranky at night, and find it very hard to fall asleep.
- Room Temperature: Is the room too hot or too cold? Babies are very sensitive and get affected by the weather instantly.
And What Happens to Our Health as Mothers Amidst All This? Just Think About It!
Everyone comes and checks on the baby, but does anyone ask how the mother is doing? Honestly, this continuous waking has a very bad effect on us:
- Messing Up Sleep (Sleep Deprivation): Waking up every two hours means giving your mind and body zero seconds of rest. Waking up in the morning feels like someone hit your head with a hammer, and there is no energy left in your body.
- Body Recovery Stops: After delivery, our bodies desperately need deep sleep to heal from the inside. When sleep is incomplete, back pain, joint pain, and weakness never leave our side.
- Brain Fog and Guilt: Due to exhaustion, we often get irritated for no reason. Then we feel angry at ourselves thinking, “Why can’t I make my baby quiet?” This guilt exhausts us even more from the inside.
- Hormonal Rollercoaster: Hey, if sleep is incomplete, hormones are bound to get messy! This also affects our milk supply and causes weight fluctuations.
So How to Deal with This Nighttime Trouble? Let’s Try Some Simple Solutions!
Okay, let’s accept that the baby is troubling us, but we must not give up. To take care of ourselves, we can take these small steps:
- Always Burp After Feeding: After feeding, put in a little effort to hold your baby against your shoulder and pat their back. Trust me, once the gas passes, the baby will sleep peacefully.
- Create a Cozy Nighttime Vibe: Dim the room lights before bedtime, keep things quiet, and gently massage them with lukewarm oil. The baby will understand that it’s sleep time now.
- Follow the Rule: ‘Sleep When the Baby Sleeps’: I know when the baby sleeps, we think of washing dishes or folding clothes. Forget those chores! Whenever the baby sleeps, just lie down on the bed and grab at least a quick nap.
- Keep Colic Syrup Handy (Doctor’s Advice): Sometimes a baby cries so much from gas or colic pain that they won’t calm down no matter what. So it’s smart to consult your doctor beforehand and keep a good colic pain or gas syrup at home. You can give it to the baby in the dosage recommended by the doctor when needed for instant relief.
- Don’t Feel Shy Asking Family for Help: Hey, you aren’t the sole contractor for everything! At night or in the morning, tell your partner or another family member, “Please handle the baby for a while, let me sleep.” Do not hesitate to ask.
- Don’t Skip Your Food and Water: Don’t stay hungry because of the baby. Always keep a water bottle and some healthy snacks near you to keep your strength up.
Finally, I Just Want to Say…
Look friend, this phase of the baby crying is just a temporary guest. After a few days, the baby will grow up, and these nights will become a thing of the past. But don’t ruin your health over this.
Remember—You will stay happy and healthy only then can you take good care of your baby! Take care of yourself, you are very strong.
A Small Tip: If the baby keeps crying with severe pain all night and doesn’t quiet down even after giving the syrup, don’t waste any time visiting your doctor (Pediatrician).