A new baby can experience problems sleeping for any number of reasons. Understanding the various causes of baby sleep problems can help parents figure out how to help baby get regular sleep. Since sleep is such an important part of babys development, its a good idea to partner with a physician if you think your babys sleeping difficulties can be the sign of a larger problem. Usually, though, problems sleeping are caused by something minor and will be resolved on their own.

A variety of health problems can cause baby sleep problems. Ear infections can create discomfort for baby and keep them from falling asleep. If you suspect your baby has an ear infection, youll need to see your doctor right away to get medication to help. Its also possible that a yeast or urinary tract infection could be causing babys sleepless nights. These can be uncomfortable and are quite common. Another common cause of sleeplessness for babies is milk allergies. If your baby is on formula instead of or in addition to breast milk, there could be an allergy that you are unaware of.

There are many more things that could lead to baby sleeping problems. Other common things to look for are acid reflux, fever, respiratory infections, and snoring or breathing irregularities. Knowing what to expect as far as the amount of sleep your baby should be getting at different ages can help prepare parents for sleep irregularities. Reacting to and resolving baby sleep problems is important to babys health and development. While its far from unusual for a baby to have disturbances in their sleep patterns, parents should always be aware of unexpected changes, as they could indicate a problem with the babys health or development. Always reporting changes during regular doctors visits help keep your babys health and development on the right track.