Newborns
Feeling baffled and worn out because your little one fights sleep, even when they’re clearly tired? You’re in good company. Many parents face this puzzling situation, wondering, “Why does my baby fight sleep when they need it most!”
Here’s something reassuring: babies are born with the ability to sleep but learning how to settle down is a skill they develop over time. Settling into sleep requires a sense of security and relaxation that isn’t always easy for infants, especially during the day when the natural sleep aids like melatonin and the circadian rhythm aren’t as strong as they are at night. Factors like learning new skills or changes in their routine can also keep them too stimulated to sleep.
This blog is here to help you understand why this happens and to share strategies to gently guide your baby from resisting sleep to welcoming it, making bedtime a smoother experience for both of you.
“Remember how your newborn could sleep just about anywhere, unfazed by noise or movement?”
From birth, your little one’s brain is on an incredible growth trajectory, especially pronounced during the first three years. This brain growth is hungry for sleep, but as your baby becomes more aware of their environment, they might resist this need. The maturation of the circadian rhythm, which kicks into noticeable gear around the infamous 4-month sleep regression, marks a significant shift. This internal clock starts its calibration even before birth but really shows its colors as your baby approaches that 4-month milestone, changing their sleep patterns to more closely resemble that of adults.
Unlike the newborn phase, where sleep was a simple alternation between active and quiet states, after the 4-month regression, babies start to experience the full range of sleep stages that adults do. This transition is accompanied by a more sophisticated regulation of melatonin and cortisol, hormones responsible for sleep and wakefulness, respectively. These hormonal changes are increasingly influenced by environmental cues, such as light and temperature, nudging their sleep patterns towards more nighttime sleep and establishing a more predictable bedtime routine.
However, even with these developments, young infants still require relatively short wake windows and depend on multiple naps throughout the day—typically 4-5. As they grow, their ability to stay awake for longer stretches improves, gradually consolidating more sleep at night and reducing the need for daytime naps. This evolution continues until around age 3-5, when most children phase out napping entirely.
Remember how your newborn could sleep just about anywhere, unfazed by noise or movement? This superpower stems from their initial phase of adjusting to life outside the womb, a time of immense brain development that demands a lot of sleep. In these early weeks, seamlessly drifting from being cuddled in your arms to resting in a bassinet is the norm. But as they start “waking up” to the world around them, everything begins to change.
As your little one’s awareness grows, so does their fascination with everything around them—sights, sounds, even the subtle shift from your arms to the bassinet becomes a big deal. This heightened sensitivity and budding preference for your closeness over solitary sleep spaces can lead to what we often refer to as the Fear Of Missing Out (FOMO).
Interestingly, this resistance to sleep isn’t just about not wanting to miss out. It’s also about how our bodies react to sleep cues. Just like adults might ignore the urge to sleep by scrolling through their phones, babies can push past their sleepiness, especially during the day when melatonin levels are lower. If they skip that initial sleep signal, the body switches gears, pumping out adrenaline and cortisol to keep them awake. While they might seem energized, this hormonal boost actually makes settling down even tougher, increasing heart rate and body temperature—both of which are not conducive to sleep.
This dance between needing sleep and the body’s alertness mechanisms can be tricky. But understanding this interplay gives us clues on how to better support your little one as they learn to embrace rest, even amidst the excitement of their rapidly expanding world.
Wondering if your little one is fighting sleep? Look out for these telltale signs:
For any parent longing for a good night’s rest (and let’s be honest, during the day too), watching your baby resist sleep can be bewildering and exhausting. You’re not alone in wishing for a peaceful night or wanting to catch a break during the day. We understand the struggle of trying to soothe a baby who seems to have turned sleep into a battleground.
Struggling to figure out why your baby won’t easily drift off? Here are the key reasons, some of which we’ve touched on earlier:
“Be sure your baby’s wake windows give them enough time to build up sleep pressure.”
“Resisting sleep is just a temporary phase, often linked to developmental progress.”
It’s important to remember that for many infants, resisting sleep is just a temporary phase, often linked to their rapid developmental progress. Whether your baby is mastering the art of crawling, or simply more aware of the world around them, these milestones can disrupt their usual sleep patterns. However, this phase is both common and natural, reflecting your little one’s growth and curiosity.
Patience and understanding are your best allies during this time. With the right approach and adjustments to their sleep routine, most babies gradually return to more predictable sleeping habits. But if sleep resistance persists, and you find yourself in need of guidance, our program is designed to offer the support you need. Together, we can work towards establishing healthier sleep patterns for your child, ensuring that everyone in the family enjoys the restful nights they deserve.
The Batelle Sleep Program is a great option to help you achieve better sleep for your whole family. We’ve helped over 5,000 families get the sleep they need, and we’d love to help you too!
