6 Reasons Baby Won’t Sleep (and Solutions)

Every new parent expects they’ll have to deal with less sleep than they’re used to when their baby arrives, but even with that expectation set, many are still surprised at just how chaotic and disruptive “the sleep factor” turns out to be.

There are times when your baby just won’t sleep through the night. There will be times when you know why they’re struggling to reach and remain in the land of nod.

But there will also be times when you don’t know, and that can be additionally stressful. The good news is that many of the things that can disrupt a baby’s sleep have solutions that can increase their  — and your —chances of sleeping through the night.

In this post, we’ll outline six common causes of baby sleep problems, as well as run through their solutions.

There’s too much Noise

Did you know that humans are only born with two fears, and that all the others are learned fears? One of those fears is falling. The other is loud noises. Babies are exceptionally sensitive to unexpected noises, since, well, they haven’t yet learned to differentiate between a real threat and, say, a car’s horn beep.

Even peaceful neighborhoods can be on the receiving end of loud noises throughout the night, and when they occur, there will be an increased chance that your baby wakes up. Investing in a white noise machine can be a highly effective strategy for dulling the impact of those noises, creating a sleep-friendly ambiance.

Those devices can also benefit parents, too — they’re just as effective for promoting sleep in adults as they are in children, and that can also help to calm any anxious thoughts you have when you get into bed.

This was a game changer for me when my kids were babies. It can take some trial and error to find a white noise that you like, but once you’ve found it, that sound is magic for getting to sleep. Another benefit is that white noise machines can travel with you to help baby sleep even when you’re on the road.

The Room Is too Cold

Babies don’t know how to control their body temperature. While it might seem obvious to grab a nearby blanket when they’re cold, that part of their brain hasn’t developed yet. As such, it’s on the parents to make sure that their baby is at an agreeable temperature at night.

The ideal temperature for babies is 68–72°F, but humidity levels can make a room feel colder than it actually is, so it’s best not to rely on room temperature alone. It’s worthwhile to read the full guide on signs your baby is cold at night and what to do about it if it’s an issue. Even a few minor adjustments can make sure that they’re warm and comfortable at night, which ensures there’s one less complaint that could be reasonable for waking them up.

The Room Is too Bright

Babies, like adults, find it difficult to fall and remain asleep when it’s bright, since, to their small minds, light signals that it’s daytime (and thus waking hours).

There are many reasons why a room might be bright. It could be that they go to bed when the sun’s still out, which is likely during the summer months, or that the early sunrise wakes them up prematurely. External artificial light, such as streetlights, can also be disruptive to sleep.

The easiest way to manage room brightness is to invest in blackout curtains, which provide a convenient method for creating a room that’s as dark as possible. It’s also worthwhile being mindful of how you use lights during any nighttime interventions — low, soft lighting is much better than a bright overhead light.

They’re too Tired

It sounds counterproductive, but sometimes, babies can struggle to fall asleep because they’re too tired. It pays to be aware of the signs that your baby is getting tired, such as yawning, slowing down, or rubbing their eyes. It’s at that point that they should be going to bed or having a nap.

They’re Going through a Developmental Leap

This point might be a little frustrating to read, because there isn’t actually much you can do about the sleep disruption that can come with one of your baby’s developmental leaps, which tend to happen every three months.

But being aware that it’s the cause of your baby’s poor sleep can help you to avoid making one of the mistakes that many parents make, which is to alter their baby’s sleep routine. Even if you have to experience a few sleepless nights, it’s much better to stick with the consistent sleep routine that you’ve already developed.

Their Circadian Rhythm Is Off

Want an easy — and fun — way to encourage your baby to sleep well? Make a habit of spending as much time going for sunny walks as possible. That can help to keep the circadian rhythm in check, which is one of the primary driving forces behind ensuring a baby can fall asleep.

We’ve seen that there are plenty of reasons why babies might struggle to fall and remain asleep, but we’re also seen that all of these problems have solutions, and many of them are straightforward. Most of them are concerned with simply making a few adjustments to the baby’s sleeping environment and routine.

By incorporating the above tips into your approach to your baby’s sleep, you can go a long way towards boosting their sleep quality, which also has a ripple effect on your sleep quality too.