While some parents have a hard time getting the baby to sleep, other parents find keeping the baby awake is more the challenge. Some babies, such as my daughter, just love sleeping. It seemed that I battled keeping her awake so much that I began to worry something was wrong. However, after a trip to the pediatrician, I learned nothing was wrong – she just enjoyed sleeping.
The problem was that my daughter loved to sleep during the day, meaning at nighttime, she preferred being awake. Okay, so what can you do if you have a child who sleeps, especially during the day? Start by taking note of anything that might be promoting the problem. For instance, some babies find “white noise” relaxing, which could include the television, music, a ticking clock, tabletop waterfall, bubbles from a fish tank, and so on. If you have any of these items, consider putting them away or turning them off during the day or moving them to another part of the house where the baby would not hear the sounds.
In addition, pay attention to the way in which you have your baby dressed. If your child is too warm, he or she may feel sleepy. Therefore, keep clothing appropriate for the room temperature and make sure it is not too tight in that swaddling can also create a sense of security, making the baby tired. We also suggest that you not keep a quiet home. For instance, some parents will avoid vacuuming, talking on the phone, or other noises to help the baby sleep. Instead, go about your daily business with everyday noises that might actually help to stimulate the baby.
The same is true for the lightness of the room. If you typically keep the blinds or drapes pulled, go ahead and open them up, letting the sunshine to flow into the house. Finally, make sure your baby is not being overfed. Just as with adults, a baby that is fed too often or too much will tend to feel sleepy. By making some adjustments, you can take a baby that sleeps too much to being a normal, active child.