Is your baby keeping you up all night with her crying? Dealing with a crying baby at night can be exhausting and worrying. But if you can figure out why your baby’s up at night crying, half the battle is won. Here are 9 possible reasons babies cry at night:
1. They Are Hungry Or Thirsty
Here’s a common reason for your baby’s cries – hunger or thirst. Your baby has a really small tummy and needs to feed frequently. A newborn baby may need to be fed around 8 to 12 times in a day, that is, once every 2 to 3 hours, day and night.1 But by the time she 1 or 2 months old, she might nurse only 7 to 9 times a day.2 And at 3 months, she might sleep 6 to 8 hours continuously without needing a feed.3 So if your precious little one is older than 3 months, and you know you fed her well before she fell asleep, there might be other reasons like the ones below.
Set up everything for your baby’s night feeds before you go to bed. Also, don’t indulge in activities like play when you feed your baby in the night. Keep the lights dim and your voice low so that both of you can settle back to sleep with minimum disturbance.
2. They Miss You
Sometimes your baby may cry at night because she needs to be held or comforted. If your baby cries out in the night but seems to calm down when you go to her, she may just be in need of a little reassurance that you’re close by. This separation anxiety phase is a normal stage that babies go through, especially when they are around 8 to 12 months old.4
Try to comfort your baby without taking her out of the crib so that she can quickly settle back to sleep. And remember, don’t play with her to comfort her.
3. They Are Too Cold Or Too Warm
Your baby may find it difficult to get to sleep if she’s uncomfortably warm or cold. Check if the temperature is comfortable. If the room’s too cold for you, it’s likely to be cold for your baby too. And, if you’ve very solicitously added an extra blanket, it might have become too warm! Babies of all ages respond to temperature that is uncomfortable for them.
Tips: Some babies feel more secure if they’re wrapped up. Gently wrap them in light cotton or muslin, making sure that you leave enough room for their chests to expand when they breathe and for their legs to bend at the waist.
4. They Have Soiled Their Nappy
A dirty or wet nappy can cause your baby irritation and disturb her sleep. When your baby wakes up crying, check to see if her diaper is soiled. Sometimes a nappy change might do the trick.
Make sure that nappies and wipes are on hand so that you don’t have to go hunting for them in the middle of the night.
5. Their Sleep Has Been Disturbed
Normal muscle twitches and jerks can wake your baby and make her cry. Also, check to see that factors like noise or light are not disturbing her sleep or startling her.5
Sleeping behaviors are learned. So get your baby settled into a bedtime routine as soon as you can and make sure you stick to it. You can try a warm bath, massage, or soft music to relax your baby before bedtime. Also, wrap your baby lightly. It lowers the chances that she’ll wake up due to random jerks of her arms.
6. They Are Teething
Your baby’s front teeth may start to appear when she’s around 6 months old. Some babies become irritable and fussy when they start teething. You may find that your baby finds it difficult to sleep and cries during the night at this time. She may also drool or lose her appetite.
Try rubbing her gums gently with a clean finger to relieve her discomfort.6
7. They Have Colic
If your baby’s crying for long periods – more than 3 hours in a day – then she might be colicky. When your baby gets colic, her hands might bunch up into fists, her tummy might seem swollen, and she might curl up her legs. She may quiet down after passing gas or pooping. Colic usually starts at approximately the same time each day, generally in the evenings. Some babies may cry into the night.
Colic is not caused by a medical condition and doesn’t result in any complications. It generally starts around the age of 3 weeks and gets better after the age of 6 weeks. Babies usually outgrow colic completely by around 4 months.7 You can give her gripe water, massage her tummy gently, or even play some soothing music to distract her.
8. They Are Unwell Or In Pain
Pain or discomfort can also cause your baby to cry at night. Something as simple as a hair or thread that’s become wrapped around your baby’s toe or finger can make her cry. A diaper rash or gas may cause discomfort too.8
Sometimes your baby’s crying may point to an illness. If you baby has other symptoms like difficulty breathing, vomiting, coughing, diarrhea, a rash, or seems to cry more when she’s moved or picked up, a visit to your doctor is a good idea. In any case, do check in with your doctor if you suspect that she might be ill.9
9. They Don’t Want A Sibling!
Believe it or not, your baby may be crying to eliminate competition from a future sibling. An interesting study proposes that breast-fed babies over 6 months of age cry at night to prevent their moms from having another baby. Nursing a baby at night seems to make it difficult for mothers to ovulate again after pregnancy. That can definitely keep them from pregnancy. Now during difficult times, for instance, if there’s a food shortage or an infectious disease going around, a baby has a better chance of survival if she doesn’t have to share the attention of her parents.10 How’s that for some perspective!
Ask For Help If You Get Overwhelmed
If you find that you’re getting frustrated and angry because of your baby’s crying bouts, settle her in a safe place and take a moment for yourself. Ask a trusted friend or relative for help if you find yourself getting overwhelmed. You can also alternate “night duty” with your partner so that you don’t feel too exhausted.11
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