Many babies between 6 and 12 months old often wake up suddenly at night or wake up multiple times throughout the night, crying each time. This not only affects the baby’s healthy growth but also disrupts the parents’ rest.
Facing this situation, the first thing to consider is that the baby may lack calcium. Because at this rapid growth stage, the baby’s demand for calcium increases significantly. If there is insufficient calcium supplementation, it may lead to a decrease in the quality of nighttime sleep, resulting in frequent awakenings at night. Secondly, pay attention to the baby’s diet to ensure that breastfeeding mothers have sufficient milk supply and that the baby receives enough nutrients. In addition, the baby’s ability to regulate body temperature is not yet mature, and overheating or being in a too cold environment can affect their sleep. Therefore, maintain a suitable room temperature to prevent the baby from waking up due to discomfort. Also, the baby may wake up due to the need to urinate or have a bowel movement, which is a normal phenomenon. Parents should observe and help the baby solve these physiological needs in a timely manner.
Furthermore, if the baby shows symptoms of “overheating,” such as dry skin, mouth ulcers, increased eye discharge, abdominal discomfort, or diarrhea, it may indirectly affect their sleep. Other common symptoms of “overheating” include dry stool, yellow urine, restlessness during sleep, and mouth ulcers. These symptoms reflect the internal heat condition of the baby’s body, which requires appropriate dietary adjustments, ensuring adequate water intake, and consulting a doctor on whether to take some heat-clearing and detoxifying medicines.
Therefore, to improve the baby’s nighttime sleep, various aspects need to be considered: ensuring a balanced diet, especially calcium supplementation for the baby; creating a comfortable sleep environment, paying attention to temperature and humidity regulation; responding promptly to the baby’s physiological needs, such as changing diapers, breastfeeding, etc.; and observing whether the baby shows signs of “overheating,” adjusting the diet structure timely, and consulting professional medical advice if necessary. Through these comprehensive measures, it is hoped that the baby’s nighttime awakenings can be effectively alleviated, allowing the whole family to have better rest.
