Why do newborns have trouble sleeping and have light sleep?

Common causes

Causes from childhood

According to Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Xuan Ninh - VIAM Nutrition Clinic, the sleep cycle of newborns is short, only about 40-50 minutes, divided into light sleep and deep sleep stages. Therefore, babies can easily wake up between cycles if there are external factors or due to the baby's physiological needs. This is completely normal, over time the baby's sleep cycle will improve and gradually adapt to the change.

When not fully fed, babies are restless and have difficulty sleeping. If your baby has symptoms of illness such as cough, fever, runny nose or digestive problems such as bloating, stomachache, indigestion due to the baby's weak digestive system, your baby will also feel restless and have difficulty sleeping.

Environmental impact

According to Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Xuan Ninh, the nervous system of newborns is still weak, easily stimulated and very sensitive to noise or strong light, making them easily startled and unable to sleep deeply.

A room temperature that is too hot or too cold or a wet or unkempt diaper can also make your baby uncomfortable and wake up frequently.

Not maintaining a stable sleep schedule also affects your child's biological cycle, making it difficult for them to fall asleep at a fixed time or wake up at irregular hours.

Measures to improve sleep for infants

Parents should adjust the room temperature to 22-24 degrees Celsius, creating a quiet and dark sleeping space to help children feel safe and fall into a deeper sleep more easily.

Combine activities such as a warm bath, listening to soft music or a massage to help your child relax with maintaining a regular sleep schedule, having your child go to bed and wake up at the same time every day to form a stable biological habit.

Supplementing micronutrients for children

Adequate calcium supplementation plays a role in regulating your baby's sleep. If your baby's body lacks calcium, the metabolism of the central nervous system will be affected, leading to a state of constant excitement in the cerebral cortex, making it impossible for your baby to sleep.

Calcium deficiency also causes rickets. At this time, the body will draw calcium from the bones, making the baby feel uncomfortable like ants are crawling. This condition occurs more strongly at night, the baby will cry more, and have serious difficulty sleeping.

• Vitamin D3 helps absorb calcium from the intestine into the blood, supporting bone development

• Vitamin K2 combined with vitamin D3 helps activate Osteocalcin, transporting calcium from the blood into the bones to avoid deposition in soft tissues.

Supplementing vitamin D3 and K2 at the same time helps the baby's body absorb calcium effectively to the right destination, improve bone density, support healthy bones and teeth. Supplementing enough micronutrients helps reduce night crying, restlessness, difficulty sleeping and poor sleep in children.

During sleep, the child's body secretes growth hormones that help develop bones and muscles, while strengthening the immune system and supporting the ability to fight disease. If sleep quality is not guaranteed, children are easily irritable, which negatively affects their future development.

By understanding your child's needs and creating the best conditions for sleep, parents can help their child develop healthily and have a good night's sleep every day.