Hacks to help your little one fall asleep

One common complaint most parents with babies and toddlers have is that their children don’t sleep through the night. Often parents don’t know the reason why their children are continuously waking up at ghastly hours and not getting the recommended amount of sleep for their age. A tired baby is an irritable baby, which can lead to a tired and over-emotional parent.

“Being a new parent is stressful enough, and when that is coupled with a baby that doesn’t sleep, it can bring on many different emotions and struggles,” explains Mario Correia, brand manager for Karvol. Mario goes on to explain that sometimes it can be fixed quickly with a little patience and perseverance, while other times intervention may be needed.

Why your baby isn’t sleeping can be anything from her not knowing the difference between night and day, to colic to not eating enough. Discovering the reason why your baby isn’t sleeping and what can be done about it is important to overcoming this tiring time.

Newborn to three-month-old babies

• Your child may be confused as to when they are meant to be awake and when to be asleep. You can change this by limiting daytime naps and ensuring your night-time ritual includes no stimulation such as loud noises or lit rooms.
• Not all babies want to sleep on their backs and would prefer to sleep on their tummies. This can be nerve-wracking for parents. If there is no physical reason as to why your baby won’t sleep on her back, try swaddling your baby and giving her a pacifier to help get her to sleep.
• Too many late-night feedings can become stimulating for your baby, and soon mom is her night-time play pal. Speak to your paediatrician about how much your baby should be eating and if you can stretch the time between feeds.

Four to five-month-old babies

• Sleep regression can occur at any time between four and 12 months. This happens because your little one is becoming more aware of the world around her. Keep to your night-time routine and make sure that your child is making up for lost sleep during their daytime naps. Remember that an irritable baby is more difficult to get to sleep.

Six months and older

• Your baby may be waking up due to teething pain. Instead of picking her up, offer her a teething ring to help soothe her gums and comfort her. If this doesn’t work chat to your paediatrician about what you can do.
• Too many late-night feedings, again, may be causing sleepless nights. Your baby at this age doesn’t need a night-time feed but knows that when she cries, she is picked up. Sleep therapy is a good way to get your little one ready to sleep.

Additional sleeping ailments for various ages

Sometimes ailments such as allergies and a stuffy nose can play their part in keeping your little one still wide-eyed at all times of the night. Not being able to breathe easily and fall asleep comfortably can be rectified quickly. Using Karvol (for babies three months and older) to decongest your little one’s nose can help them (and you) get a good night’s sleep. When released, the combination of aromatic oils including menthol, camphor, eucalyptus, thymol and lavender oil work actively to help you breathe more easily day and night. The capsules can be added to the humidifier or dotted onto a handkerchief placed next to your child as they sleep.

How much sleep do children need?

While there is no hard and fast rule, the general guide is newborns should get 14–17 hours of sleep over a 24-hour period, older babies and toddlers need around 12 hours of sleep a night; children aged three to six – 10-12 hours; seven to12 years olds – 10-11 hours; and teenagers – around eight to nine hours.