15 Sleep Problems Babies Will Never Grow Out Of

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Any seasoned parent will say that as a parent to a newborn, there's not much sleep. In fact, the only person who will be doing much sleeping in the house is the baby. The good news is that typically, newborns sleep at least 14 to 17 hours a day, which is more than half a day that is dedicated to sleep.

The bad news is that a newborns napping schedule can be super unpredictable. Either way, sleep is an important part of a baby's growth and development. It is doubly as important to them as it is to the rest of us when it comes to energy and basic cognitive functioning. Even while sleeping, babies are developing habits and behaviors that will follow them into adolescence and adulthood. The sleeping patterns and habits of babies are important because it sets the tone for their future sleeping habits and health. Having a regular napping schedule, proper sleeping form, and no lights can all contribute to healthy sleeping habits.

Good sleep habits could help combat issues with insomnia, nightmares, SIDS, and even obesity. Developing good sleeping patterns not only helps a baby sleep well, but sets them up for a successful future. Parents who monitor their children's sleeping habits are able to tell when something is off and get their child back on track before permanent damage is done. Below is our list of bad sleep habits that babies probably will not grow out of and how parents can avoid them.

15 Napping At Random Spots Throughout The Day

We all need to take naps. It's recommended that teens and adults get a quick nap in (less than 30 minutes) every day. We don't really need much more than that or else it could negatively impact our sleeping schedules. Babies on the other hand need naps. They need them longer and more frequently, because naps actually contribute to a healthier sleep schedule.

Babies start out sleeping through most a day, up to 16 hours, but they wake frequently to eat and poop, of course. The first year of life is especially critical to a baby's sleeping habits, because they evolve so much in the course of a year. Babies who don't develop regular napping times are more likely to have sleep problems as they get older. It is recommended that parents develop regular napping schedules as not to disrupt the baby's natural flow of naps and sleep at night.

14 Sleeping At Irregular Hours Every Week

Parents usually have to build their sleep schedules around their babies, and sometimes it works the other way around. Many kids develop bad sleeping habits due to a lack of consistent sleeping hours each week. It's often due to having more lax sleeping schedules on the weekend when the kids don't have school or the parents don't have to go to work.

Babies can develop similar sleeping problems due to daily changes as well. If a parent has something to do on the weekends, the baby might begin to form his/her sleep schedule around that. The problem is that it can begin to interfere with how the baby sleeps or naps during the week. The best thing to do is work around a baby's sleep schedule, because changes will naturally occur as they get older and start school. If parents start their children out young with healthy sleep schedules, they are less likely to stray from good sleeping routines when they get older.

13 Waking Up Too Early

Babies that start to develop sleeping problems may develop issues with waking up at the right time and falling asleep at the proper times. It seems weird, but waking up early and going to bed late are actually synonymous to one another. Restlessness is the key component that links the two together.

Babies that don't have set sleeping schedules may fall asleep late and experience restlessness throughout the night causing them to wake up at the most unglorified hours. Other times, babies may be taking naps that are too long during the day or getting a head start on sleep too early in the afternoon that leads to them waking up super early in the morning or in the middle of the night. Parents can begin to implement ways to combat their child's restlessness or try to find a way to get their sleeping schedule back on track. These types of issues can follow a child past childhood and well into adulthood.

12 Falling Asleep Too Late

Again, falling asleep late and waking up early are peas of the same pod when it comes to bad sleeping habits. Both are a result of restlessness. There are a few things that contribute to late sleepers though and a few changes that can be made to combat the problem.

Some of the issues that cause late sleeping are listed in this article. The biggest issue with late sleepers is what they do before they go to bed. Pre-bedtime rituals should aid in preparing a baby for sleep, but sometimes babies can be engaged in activities that stifle their ability/want for sleep at bedtime. Some of these things include playing with toys or electronics before bed and drinking or eating sweets that are full of caffeine (all listed below). Whatever the vice is, it has to be stopped in order for the baby to return to a normal sleep schedule.

11 Sleeping With The TV Or Tablet On

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Today's kids grow up in an era where technology rules everything. Their parents, siblings and friends are consumed by it. It is no doubt going to be apart of their daily lives. Many children enjoy playing with tablets, phones or other electronics. There are all sorts of wonderful programs and educational games out there designed for babies and children to play with.

But, it's not so wonderful around bed time. A baby with a tablet is likely a happy baby. He or she is likely enthralled in the different colors and lights, trying to figure out what it all means. They can play with a phone or tablet for hours on end and start to develop an affinity for them. This can become a problem when it comes to good sleeping habits, because some children may wish to sleep with their tablet, phone, tv or other device on. Studies have shown that even when a baby has their eyes closed the blue-tinted light emitted from a device like a TV or tablet signals to the brain that it isn't time to sleep.

10 Sleeping With Some Form Of Light Source

In the above point, we mentioned how light can inhibit sleep. This doesn't just occur with tablets or phones, it can happen with night lights too. Babies are not the only humans whose sleep is affected by light at night. Kids and adults both have a hard time sleeping in the presence of light. Unfortunately, it's a habit that many of us develop when we're young. Sometimes, it's before we can even speak.

Our bodies respond to light or the lack there of by secreting two different kinds of hormones. Light triggers the release of cortisol which tells our bodies to stay alert. Darkness can trigger the release of melatonin, a hormone that is released when it is time to sleep. There are many companies and manufacturers who design night lights and lamps specifically for babies and young children, but they don't need the light. Even the smallest amount of light can inhibit a baby's sleeping patterns. It's best not to keep a light on in the room during bed time, because this habit can follow the child well into adulthood.

9 Drinking Caffeinated Beverages Or Eating Sugary Foods

Some babies enjoy a drink of juice or some light snack before bed. Some kids even get into the habit of drinking liquids before bed that they can't go to sleep without their bottle or sippy cup. It honestly seems quite harmless to give a baby something to eat or drink before bed, but this type of behavior can develop into bigger problems for the child.

Beverages like soda and some kinds of juice are loaded with sugars and caffeine which are natural inhibitors to sleep. A baby that has juice or a sugary snack before bed will likely be restlessness and wake up throughout the night. Furthermore, a baby who goes to bed with bottle or snack in hand is likely to develop a slight dependency on their bottle of juice or snack in order to go to sleep. These habits can spiral well into adulthood and can even lead to problems with health and obesity.

8 Sleeping On The Sides

Many studies suggest that it is healthier for a baby to sleep on his/ her back. Babies who sleep on their stomachs are at a higher risk of developing respiratory problems and SIDS. Babies who are put to sleep on their sides will likely roll over onto their stomachs at some point during the night. Once a child is able to roll between different positions on their own, it is safer for a baby to sleep on their stomach or side, but before that, it could be pretty detrimental with lasting effects.

In adults sleeping on the belly has actually been shown to help improve sleep apnea. Babies that sleep on their sides or stomachs are at risk of developing respiratory issues as they aren't able to breathe properly while in this position. Babies who don't roll onto their stomach may tend to stick with the side position which can lead to other problems as adults. Sleeping on the sides can cause digestive problems or put a strain on certain organs.

7 Developing Bad Pre-sleep Habits

Bad pre-sleep habits can come in a variety of forms from late night snacking, to playing games or watching TV. It is important that a baby understands how to develop good pre-sleep habits that will follow them into adulthood. Babies that play with phones or tablets before bed will probably be less enthused about bed time, especially when it means the electronics have to be taken away. Similarly with television,it can be hard to go to sleep when you're in the middle of your favorite show.

The best way to combat some of the issues with sleep is to develop habits that prepare the baby for bedtime. Make sure the bed is only being used during naps and sleep, not for games or other activities. Parents can limit the use of TV or electronics before bed or even cut them out completely in the late afternoon or night when the baby is about to go to sleep.

6 Night Terrors

Everyone has nightmares at some point in their life. It can happen after watching something scary on TV or witnessing a traumatic event. Dreams and nightmares are the brain's way of processing things that we've seen, heard or thought about during the day whether good or bad. Bad dreams, can have a way of disrupting our sleep schedules and even make it impossible to get any rest afterward.

For babies, it's the same idea. Bad dreams can cause a baby to wake up in the middle of the night and not be able to sleep well afterward. Recurring nightmares can be the result of some sort of trauma and should be addressed with a doctor. But, when a baby or child is continually suffering from nightmares, it can cause them to become restless which can lead to even more problems with nightmares due to the brain's hyperactivity. It can disrupt their sleeping schedule for a long time and even extend into childhood if not addressed properly.

5 Tossing And Turning A Lot During Sleep

Most of us are not able to stay completely still during sleep. We move around to make ourselves more comfortable or as a result of a dream that we may be having. But, there are some people whose movements during sleep are extreme. We've seen pictures of couples and families in bed where someone's foot ends up in the other person's face. (Yeah, it can get that bad!) It's certainly no fun for others, but it may be highlighting some deeper issues with sleep problems.

Tossing and turning is a habit that people may form as babies and it follows them into adulthood. Sometimes it can stem from the lack of comfortableness. Maybe there isn't enough space; it's too cold or too hot for a good night's sleep. Maybe it's just a general restlessness. Ultimately, it's a sign that something within the baby's sleeping environment is making it hard for them to get comfortable and sleep well.

4 Snoring

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Many babies and many people tend to sleep with their mouths wide open. The vibrations of the throat muscles as they breathe leads to snoring. Snoring can sometimes be harmless, but it can become a problem as a child gets older and enters into adulthood.

The best position for babies to sleep is on the back. This is true for children under one year of age. Sleeping on the back prevents many of the respiratory issues that a baby could face if they slept on their stomach. As adults, lying on the back can increase a person's chances of snoring because of gravity pulling the throat muscles down towards the back of the neck. Snoring may not present problems in a baby's ability to breathe during sleep, but it could lead to issues when the baby becomes an adult. A good way to help with snoring when a child gets older is to have them sleep at an elevated level where their head is supported.

3 Waking At Odd Hours In The Night

Babies that develop issues with restlessness or become dependent on certain items during or before bedtime may have issues with staying asleep during the night. Kids who eat or drink late at night or throughout the night are more likely to have to use the bathroom at some point during the night.

It could make it a lot harder for them to fall asleep and stay asleep. This could extend into childhood and cause even more problems when the child starts attending school. It can contribute to a pattern of restlessness that could be hard to get rid of once it is started. The best way to avoid this is by determining what could be triggering the odd waking hours. If it's food or juice, parents should probably avoid giving their child food before bed. If it could be due to a medical condition, it may be a good idea to schedule an appointment with the child's healthcare provider.

2 Sharing A Bed Or Room With Parents Or Another Family Member

This can be a super hard habit to kick, especially for parents who start out co-sleeping with their baby. When a baby is co-sleeping or starts to develop a habit of needing to sleep with someone in order to rest, it could start having a negative impact on the baby and the person who shares the same sleeping quarters with the child.

Some babies become may get used to sleeping with mom or dad or even sharing their bed or room with a sibling. When or if this pattern is threatened, it can become really difficult to get the baby to start sleeping alone. Parents who have babies or young children that sleep with them also know the troubles that can with co-sleeping because it can be hard to get any rest while sharing space with a young child. Babies who aren't broken out of co-sleeping early could develop a dependency on their mom, dad or other family to sleep, and it could become increasingly harder to break them free of this habit.

1 Not Being Able To Fall Asleep Quickly 

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There are many different things that could cause a baby to have a hard time falling asleep quickly. Some of the factors listed above like caffeine, co-sleeping, pre-sleep rituals, and lights are all reasons why a baby might be having trouble getting the sleep that they need. If it isn't kicked, this is a habit that could follow a child into adolescence and adulthood.

There's a big difference between lying down for a nap or sleep and actually being able to fall asleep. Research has shown that it usually takes a person about 7 minutes to fall asleep. This process is similar for babies. If it seems to be taking a baby longer than 10 minutes to get to sleep, then it is important to find the cause of their restlessness. A bad start at sleep could potentially be the beginning of other sleep problems and waking during the night.

Sources: HuffingtonPost.com, SleepForKids.org, TodaysParent.com, WhatToExpect.com, RaisingChildren.net

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Source: 15 Sleep Problems Babies Will Never Grow Out Of