The baby doesn't sleep well during the day

A child does not sleep well during the day - this, seemingly insignificant violation of the routine of a small child, in fact, can be a sign of many problems, including in the area of the baby's nervous activity. A full daytime rest is more necessary for a child to restore his strength, actively spent in the first half of the day. In addition, the latest scientific research in somnology, including children's, proves that when a child sleeps, amazing changes begin to occur in his body in the slow sleep phase. Firstly, during this period, a hormone responsible for growth is produced, secondly, the immune system activates and restores its properties. If the baby does not rest during the day, he may develop a metabolic disorder, leading to obesity. This is explained by the fact that the body will compensate for the lack of rest at the expense of additional calories, that is, the baby will begin to overeat.

Thus, the statement that daytime sleep for a modern child is nothing more than a tribute to an outdated tradition is, at the very least, unfounded.

The child sleeps poorly during the day, reasons for daytime sleep disturbances

• Too long a period of night sleep, which extends until midday.
• Disorders of the nervous system.
• Basic failure to observe daily routine and sleep by parents.
• Changing time zones due to moving.
• Nervous overexcitement associated with excessively active games in the first half of the day. Emotional overstrain.
• Congenital hyperactivity associated with perinatal pathologies.
• Somatic diseases that may be hidden and manifest themselves as anxiety and unwillingness to fall asleep during the day.

The daily sleep norms for children are as follows:

• Newborn babies should sleep at least 15-16 hours a day.
• Children from 1 to 3 years old – at least 13-14 hours per day.
• Children from 3 to 7 years old - at least 12 hours per day.

Babies who have just been born sleep a lot and often, their sleep is called polyphasic. Newborns are supposed to fall asleep up to 10 times a day, children up to one and a half years of age in addition to night sleep should sleep twice during the day, and only after 2 years can a child sleep once during the day for at least 1.5 hours. That is, after every active six hours, a full rest in the form of sleep is needed.

In addition to the problem of daytime sleep, when the child does not sleep well during the day, an overly long daytime sleep is also a clear violation. Of course, this is somewhat convenient for parents when the restless child calms down for three to four hours, but the subsequent awakening is often accompanied by whims, irritability on the part of the baby and an obvious reluctance to fall asleep on time when evening comes.

• Daytime sleep disturbances in very young children are not much different from nighttime disturbances. The main recommendations for restoring newborn sleep are as follows:
• It is necessary to accustom a small child to certain rituals that are regularly performed before sleep, whether it is daytime or nighttime. This could be a lullaby, rocking, or a sweet phrase. Gradually, without even realizing the meaning of these rituals, the baby gets used to them and develops a habit of falling asleep with these sleepy "motivators" present.
• You should not engage in active forms of play or conversation an hour before bedtime; you should also, if possible, eliminate obvious irritants – loud music, strong smells, bright light.
• Waking up should also be done on a schedule so that the child’s body gets used to resting for a certain period.

The child sleeps poorly during the day, does he need help from a doctor?

When a child has trouble falling asleep during the day, or refuses to sleep at all, there are alarming signs that should be presented to a pediatrician to determine the cause.

You should see a doctor within a certain time period or if you notice the following symptoms:

• Any sleep disturbance in children under one year of age that lasts more than two or three days requires consultation with a pediatrician.
• If a one-year-old child has difficulty falling asleep during the day for a month, you should consult a doctor.
• If a child does not sleep during the day and his mood changes, he becomes irritable, capricious, the help of a pediatrician is needed.
• If a child wakes up during the day (and also at night) due to difficulty breathing, you should immediately seek medical help.
• Another alarming symptom is enuresis during daytime sleep in children over three years of age.

The reasons for poor sleep and sleep disorders may be different. In newborn babies, sleep is most often disturbed as a result of physiological disorders - intestinal colic. In addition to such a natural phenomenon, sleep can also be disturbed by latent anemia, as well as rickets, which increases the excitability of the baby's entire nervous system. The doctor may prescribe an ultrasound examination of the brain (neurosonography), and a consultation with a pediatric neurologist will also be necessary. Starting from five months, sleep can be disturbed due to teething, after their eruption, sleep is usually restored. Children over two years old can sleep due to hidden somatic pathologies, their sleep can be interrupted by "scary" fairy tales or cartoons heard or seen on TV.

A child sleeps poorly during the day - this is a problem that is usually solved together with a doctor, provided that the cause of the sleep disorder is determined. General recommendations for parents are as follows:

• Maintaining sleep hygiene – ventilate the room, clean and comfortable bed.
• Eliminate all possible irritants an hour before you plan to sleep.
• Maintaining a routine – the child should be put to bed at the same time, as well as woken up at the same time.
• Maintaining a feeding schedule – you cannot overfeed your baby before bedtime; meals should be taken at least half an hour before falling asleep.
• Following certain “sleep” rituals to help your child fall asleep peacefully.
• Avoid emotional overload throughout the day (watching movies, pictures that are not appropriate for the child’s age).
• Maintaining a generally calm atmosphere in the family.

Timely referral to a doctor if alarming signs associated with daytime sleep disturbances in a child appear.