bookmark_borderWhy My Baby Won’t Sleep In A Bassinet?

Sharing a bed with the baby can be dangerous for the baby’s health which is why parents invest in baby bassinets. Parents try to buy the best bassinet for their infant but it becomes heartbreaking when the baby rejects the bassinet. So, let’s see why the baby won’t sleep in a bassinet and what you can do about it.

What to do when my baby won’t sleep in a bassinet?

There can be several reasons due to which your baby rejects sleeping in a bassinet. Let’s discuss those reasons:

why my baby won't sleep in a bassinet
Happy Baby
  • Habit: During the initial days of birth, parents usually make their babies sleep with them on the bed which makes them habitual of sleeping with their parents. After that, sleeping in the bassinet and changing their habit can be difficult tasks for them.  
  • Looking for comfort: Some babies like being around their mothers, so if your baby won’t sleep in a bassinet it may be because they just want comfort from you.
  • Wants to be fed: The baby won’t sleep in a bassinet when he is hungry, look out for the signs of hunger. If the baby’s fist is closed very tightly, it means he is hungry and wants to be fed. 
  • It’s too hot or cold: The babies cannot sleep alone in the bassinet when the room is too hot or cold. Keep the temperature optimum to help them sleep in alone.
  • Baby is not feeling well: Babies usually have a hard time falling asleep when they have reflux issues. To minimize this issue they should be fed while keeping them in an upright position and they should be burped after every feed.

How to get your baby to sleep in a bassinet?

Here are few tips that will help you to get your baby to sleep in his bassinet:

  • Be consistent: When you start putting your baby to sleep in his bassinet make sure to be consistent. Do not let your baby sleep in your bed for even a nap. If the baby cries and resists sleeping in the bassinet, you can try soothing him by touching or picking up. Once the baby settles a bit, put him back in the bassinet.
  • Put baby in the bassinet when drowsy: Teaching the baby to fall asleep on his own is a great life skill and you can start putting baby down drowsy but awake as early as 3 months of age.
  • Swaddle the baby: Swaddling the baby decreases the limb movement of babies and gives them a sense of being in the womb which soothes them and helps them sleep peacefully.
  • Play white noise: If your baby won’t sleep in a bassinet then you should try playing white noise in their nursery. It calms the baby and helps them fall asleep.
  • Check the temperature: The baby won’t sleep in a bassinet if the room is too hot or cold. The temperature of the baby’s room should be ideally between 68 to 72 degrees Fahrenheit.

Final Words:

It can be a tiring job for parents when the baby won’t sleep in a bassinet because otherwise, it can be dangerous to co-sleep with the baby. But when they know the reason that why their baby is rejecting the bassinet, they can try different tips and tricks to help their baby to sleep peacefully in the bassinet. Baby sleeping in the bassinet is comfortable for parents and safe for the baby himself.

bookmark_borderWhy Is My Baby Fighting Sleep At Bedtime?

In early parenthood, all you wish for is a good night’s sleep but it might be a rare luxury when your baby is fighting sleep at bedtime. You can tell that the baby is tired and fussy but just won’t go to sleep and you must be wondering that why is my baby fighting sleep every other day?

Reasons of a baby fighting sleep

Whenever a baby is resisting and does not want to sleep, there will always be a reason behind it. Let’s have a look at a few possible reasons:

baby fighting sleep
Such a cuite
  • Baby is overtired: Sometimes babies play too much during the day, not getting enough rest can make them overtired due to which they have a hard time falling asleep at night. The signs of being overtired include rubbing their eyes, crying a lot without any reason, and seems irritated.
  • Teething: Teething signs in babies can start as early as 3 months of age. The discomfort and pain due to teething usually lead to the baby fighting sleep. If the baby is showing the signs like biting, fussiness, rubbing ears, etc. then teething is the real culprit behind it.
  • Sleep regression: Sleep regression is a phase in which a baby who was previously sleeping well, suddenly experiences poor sleep. It usually happens at the age of 4 months, 6 months, 8 to 10 months, and again at 12 months. The signs of sleep regression are fewer naps during the day, being extra fussy, and waking up frequently at night.
  • Tummy ache: A baby fighting sleep can be due to tummy ache. If the baby’s tummy feels too tight, he cries more than usual, he is tensing up his muscles while crying then his tummy is hurting.
  • Dirty diaper: When the baby shows signs of irritability and does not go to sleep then his diaper can be dirty which is making him uncomfortable.
  • Hunger: A hungry baby will resist sleep until they are well-fed. If a baby is hungry his fist will be closed very tightly and if he is well-fed his hands will be open.

How to deal with a baby who does not stop fighting sleep?

When it comes to getting your baby to stop fighting sleep, consistency is the key. If you stick to your plan, putting the baby to bed will become easier with time. Here are a few tips to stop a baby from fighting sleep:

  • Develop a bedtime routine: Babies love to have a routine in their lives. Make sure you develop a routine for bedtime i.e. give a bath, read a book, turn off the lights, and play white noise. When you repeat these steps every night, the baby will automatically know that it is time to sleep.
  • Look out for clues of drowsiness: Do not ever miss the clues of sleepiness that your baby gives i.e. rubbing their eyes, yawning, and closing their eyes again and again. If you miss these clues the baby will be overtired and it will lead to the baby fighting sleep.
  • Create a calm environment: Make sure the baby’s nursery has a good temperature and there is no extra noise in the room. The quiet environment of the nursery will help the baby to sleep easily.
  • Decrease daytime naps: Skip one nap from baby’s daytime naps and see if that helps them to sleep quickly at night. When a baby sleeps too much during the day it can lead to the baby fighting sleep at bedtime.
  • Be patient: Understandably, you are very tired and just want to sleep, but you need to be patient with the baby and lookout for signs that cause troubles in the baby’s sleep.

Final takeaway:

Being a new parent is an overwhelming experience because you have to cater to all the needs of the baby. On top of that baby fighting sleep is a huge problem that you might be facing every other day. But be patient and try all the tips that we shared with you and they might help you.