The most difficult challenge you will face each time your baby is born is the lack of sleep that will follow, as your baby cannot tell the difference between day and night. Your baby only cares about one person, and that’s himself. It’s a basic survival instinct, and the natural desire to feed your baby will take precedence over everything in your life during this time. That’s why every time your baby finally starts to sleep through the night for the first time, it’s such a relief to every parent. However, many parents are concerned to discover that this does not always last.
Many new parents make the mistake of assuming that a baby’s sleep patterns are linear and will progress in this way over time. Unfortunately, this is not always the case, as many babies will have a series of disruptions in their sleep patterns during their first year. For example, you can get your baby to sleep seven or eight hours a night when she is four or five months old. However, there may be a disruption in her regular sleep pattern and she may start waking up in the middle of the night or have trouble falling asleep at first. This is actually quite common and can be caused by a number of things, which can include a growth spurt, a new milestone, or even a big change like a new crib.
If your baby is going through a growth spurt, he may be waking up in the middle of the night because he needs an extra feeding or maybe he learned a new milestone, like rolling over or even sitting up. In this case, your baby will most likely be practicing these new skills in her crib, because he’s so excited about them. That’s why it’s important to keep in mind that your baby’s sleep patterns aren’t always going to progress as you initially assumed.
The good news is that eventually your baby’s sleep pattern will almost always return to normal after a week or two. It is important during this time to keep your baby in the same bedtime routine and not to panic and change things. This will only confuse your baby and help prolong the disruption in her sleep pattern. Trust the process and stick to your routines if you want him to get back on a regular sleep schedule.