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Some babies sleep thru the night and others don't, there are a lot of factors that determine why this happens. Probably about fifty percent of all babies and toddlers wake up sometime during the night. Some babies and young children are very active and studies have show that a baby who demands a lot and crawls, walks and talks early
sleeps less than a passive one. Then there are those who believe a thin baby sleeps less than the plump one.
Sometimes the babies world is just new and he wants to spend all his time exploring even the time in his crib, he is a busy baby all the time. Even when waking up during the night he likes to prowl around his crib and explore, always wanting to learn something or do something new.
Also there have been studies done that show that improper nutrition will cause a child to wake up often so be very careful in providing the recommended daily requirements for your child and also think about restricting his sugar intake
and avoid caffeine and chocolate to name just a few foods to avoid.
Caring for a night waking baby can be exhausting, tell yourself this phase will pass and keep it in perspective and make your baby feel more safe and secure because you are there for him. He will feel your love and warmth and be secure.
If you will set a bedtime and do it at the same time nightly you can also establish a pattern of sleep for a toddler or even a baby and you'll find him getting tired about that time anyway and also sooner or later he'll be sleeping through the night without waking. Be assured in time his night waking will end.
Another thought is to have his favorite stuffed animal or doll in the bed with him to allow him to snuggle and during the night when he awakens he will reach for the warmth and security of his favorite suffed animal or doll.
Children will also worry about being separated
from their parents if they wake up during the night.
So lets discuss how to change the sleeping habits the best that we can. Here are a few suggestions:
Go in the room when he wakes up and assure him you are there, talk softly and tell him he can't get up and needs to go back to sleep, this may take a few times but eventually this may help and don't pick him up at all, just talk gently.
If possible let an older sibling share the room so he won't feel alone if he wakes up during the night as sometimes this keeps him from feeling lonely or eliminates anxiety.
Try putting a night light in the room so that if he wakes up he can see around the crib and around the room and not be afraid of the dark and he will feel safe and go right back to sleep.
Sometimes putting a ticking clock in the room will help or perhaps a fan running in another area of the room to have a soft noise or a cassette tape playing softly also.
Above all tell your toddler when he is old enough to understand that he will not be getting up during the night and soon he will understand that he needs to sleep at night. Hope these ideas will help.
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