No one sleeps when medical reasons baby won’t sleep. While it is natural for young infants to wake frequently during the night, it isn’t the same for older babies. You are most likely to start feeling desperate if your baby isn’t sleeping through the night. You’ll start asking yourself why your baby isn’t sleeping and what you can do to get him or her to sleep. We have compiled a couple of medical reasons baby won’t sleep. Read through and you might find an answer and a solution to your baby’s sleeping problem.
Allergies and Intolerance
The number of kids suffering from food allergies and sensitivities is on the road. In facts, one in every thirteen kids has some form of food allergy according to studies conducted by foodallerg.org.
So, how does food allergy or intolerance affect your baby’s sleep? Allergic reaction or intolerance to certain foods causes extreme discomfort in the digestive tract. For this reason, your baby won’t be able to sleep and will stay awake at the time he or she normally sleeps.
Some of the signs that your child might be allergic to certain foods include diaper rashes, excess spit, lots of uncharacteristic drooling, frequent hiccups, and of course, lack of sleep. If you notice any of this signs and suspect he or she might have a good allergy, start eliminating some foods from his or her diet. If the symptoms persist, consult a pediatrician.
Reflux
Reflux in infants is a fairly common condition. Food from a baby’s stomach usually flows back up into the esophagus causing the reflux because when they are born, their lower esophageal sphincter is still not fully developed. This shouldn’t be a cause of alarm, but you should start worrying if it’s causing lack of sleep for the baby.
Signs that your baby has reflux include screaming, squirming, and arching. Contact your pediatrician in case you notice any of these signs and suspect that your child has reflux.
Adenoids/Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea occurs when a person stops breathing while sleeping. Not only are babies with adenoids, enlarged tonsils, or other conditions that hinder them from getting adequate oxygen during sleep at risk for sleep issues, but are at a high risk of developing other health issues. If your baby is restless when sleeping, breathes heavily during the sleep cycle, or he or she snores, then consult your pediatrician to see what can be done to improve the quality of his or her.
