It is the terror of many people and the reason why thousands of couples decide not to have children or postpone a pregnancy: lack of sleep. Is it possible to survive not sleeping? Everything would indicate that yes, after all civilization continues to grow despite the fact that it is known that newborns do not sleep or, if they do, it is for short periods. But, it seems and despite the forecasts, many other couples are encouraged to embark on the adventure of a pregnancy. And yes, it is likely that after giving birth you will ask yourself again and again «why my newborn does not sleep? '.
And what if there are no absolute answers? Perhaps we should not talk about a specific reason why newborns get little or no sleep. There are thousands of theories, from scientific experts, doctors, childcare professionals, natural parenting practitioners, psychologists, etc. But I think that the one that has closed me the most -with two children in tow who, fortunately, have slept well almost from the beginning- is one that I heard many years ago: the baby is getting used to life. Well yes… and that takes some time.
physical factors
And a little I think it's like this: leaving the warm, soft, loving uterus and passing into the frenzy of the ordinary world entails its adaptation. The children come out of a dark environment, cared for and close to their only source of security and attachment to face a new and experimental universe, full of sounds and various stimuli. Who could sleep peacefully in the face of this new reality...
Then there are the more organic factors, it is true that there are babies who are born with an immature digestive system and have gas and other stomach disorders that affect them. Another reason why the newborn does not sleep it is because he must get used to the schedules outside the womb, adapt to sleeping at night and being awake during the day. This change in the sleep cycle is not achieved from one day to the next, but in many cases requires an adaptive process.
Continuing with the medical reasons, food also occupies a central place. It is likely that a well nourished baby can get a better sleep. Although there are still no guarantees and the newborn may not sleep, with a balanced and regular diet the chances of the child being restless are limited. The newborn they do not always know how to suck well so they may drink little milk during lactation. In that case they may sleep little. If a newborn baby does not sleep, make sure that he is well fed, that the feeding is serene and that he does not choke to put him to sleep after eating.
The sleep of the newborn
Beyond organic factors, one of the reasons why newborn babies don't sleep responds to psychoemotional factors. And this is closely linked to the general condition of the mother. Although it is not possible to reach absolute conclusions, a serene and focused mother will transmit these emotions to the child, something that will favor mutual harmony.
The newborns record everything that happens around them, they do not distinguish their body from that of their mothers and perceive it as an extension of themselves. If a mother is impatient, nervous, depressed or very affected, it is likely that she will not be able to guarantee the tranquility and serenity that the child needs. Of course, when you sleep little or not at all, it is very difficult to be serene. In this sense, it is good to have a support network that can relieve us when we feel that we are at the top or very overwhelmed.
In addition to the father, there are friends, grandmothers, sisters or other people who will surely be able to take care of the baby for at least a while so that the mother can take a shower and rest for a while to regain energy and emotional balance. If you newborn baby not sleeping, try to record your mood in order to detect how you feel and adjust everything adjustable in order to achieve a more favorable atmosphere.