They Are Suffering From Sleep Debt

In my experience, when a baby is fighting sleep, either protesting initially falling asleep, waking up in the middle of the night and not wanting to fall back asleep, or waking up too early in the morning, they are suffering from sleep debt. When the body is overtired, it releases cortisol so that it can stay awake even though it should be sleeping. This stress hormone makes it very hard for your body to fall asleep and stay asleep.

By offering your baby more sleep at biologically appropriate times so that they can get the most beneficial and restorative sleep, you will help them chip away at their sleep debt. They are no longer overtired, and falling asleep and staying asleep becomes easier. The best way to do this is usually by moving bedtime earlier to let them fall asleep before their cortisol levels spike and give them a second wind.

Watch your baby for their sleepy cues, like rubbing their eyes, tugging their ears, or getting extra fussy. These are the cues that they are ready for sleep. An even better tip is to track when these cues are happening every day so that you can start putting your baby to bed before they even happen because they are a sign that they are over ready for bed!

Hungry or Undertired

Babies are reluctant to sleep all the time. Most parents have the same question: Why is my baby not sleeping? Most new parents struggle with their infant’s sleeping pattern. The reasons for it aren’t alarming. When a baby isn’t tired enough, he might not feel [ready] to sleep. He might cry to show his reluctance.

Another reason why your baby might not be sleeping can be hunger. Make sure your baby is well-fed before sleep. If you’ve made sure your child is tired and has had enough food but is still not sleeping, you might need to check if his sleeping place is comfortable and warm enough.