6 Physical Discomforts That Stop Your Baby From Sleeping

It is not only the bed, bedroom and anxiety about sleep that keeps a baby awake at night; some physical discomforts could also stop a baby from sleeping.

The 6 physical discomforts that stop a baby from sleeping are:

1)    It could be a discomfort of teething that starts as early as 3 months and continues up to the age of 2 years when the child gets his/her molars. A drool rash on the cheeks or chin, a wet bed sheet under the baby’s head, swollen and tender gums and a slight temperature could be signs that the baby has had pain and cannot sleep. This discomfort could be relieved by getting a doctor’s prescription for acetaminophen; it could be given at bedtime and 4 hours later if the baby awakens.

2)    A wet or soiled diaper could be one of the physical discomforts that stop a baby from sleeping; some babies are more sensitive than others. You need not awaken a baby that sleeps with a wet diaper, unless you are nursing a persistent diaper rash. Change the baby’s diaper just before a feed; most babies fall asleep during or after feeding, though breast fed babies have a   bowel movement during or after a feed and require changing. Thick diapers or 2 or 3 diapers are best used at night to decrease the sensation of wetness.

3)    A stuffed nose could be the cause for your baby not sleeping; babies in their early months breathe through their nose, before they learn to breathe through the mouth also when the nose is blocked. The best way to keep the nose of the baby clear would be to make the baby’s bedroom free of dust and bedroom inhalant allergies. It is best to remove down comforters, fuzzy blankets, and dust-collecting fuzzy toys; if your baby is allergy prone using a HEPA-type air filter will help to not only protect the baby against allergies, but to also hum the baby to sleep.

4)    An irritating sleepwear could be the reason for great physical discomfort that could keep a baby awake; some babies are allergic to synthetic sleepwear, so changing over to 100% cotton sleepwear would allow the baby to get quality sleep. It is significant to understand that babies not only feel restless in certain sleepwear, but also develop skin allergies to new clothing, detergent and fabric softeners. 

5)    Environmental irritants like cigarette smoke, animal dander, hair spray, baby powder, plants, synthetic and woolen clothing, stuffed toys, feather pillows, blankets and fuzzy toys that collect lint and dust may cause a congestion in the baby’s breathing passages and keep him/her awake. This calls for steps to eliminate these airborne irritants.

Are you all set to deal with your baby’s physical discomforts that keep him/her awake all night?