How to handle false starts with your infant
Getting your baby to sleep for the night can sometimes feel impossible. There are so many things that can affect a little one’s sleep–from medical problems like acid reflux to comfort issues to the Moro reflex. None of these sound like the culprit?
Have you considered infant sleeping false starts? Here’s what you need to know to get better sleep.
What are false starts?
Never heard of false starts? You’re not alone. A lot of parents have never heard of the phenomenon, but they are actually more common than you think.
A false start occurs when your baby wakes up mere minutes after you put them to bed for the night. Anything shorter than an hour (usually within 30 to 45 minutes) is typically considered a false start. It is too short for them to have gotten a full sleep cycle and can leave everyone feeling cranky and tired.
If your baby is able to sleep for two hours or more, this is not considered to be a false start. This allows the baby to move into another sleep cycle and is quite normal, especially for newborns who must eat more frequently.
What causes false starts at bedtime?
Infant sleeping false starts may not have just one cause. Many aspects of their feed-wake-sleep cycle can start to develop false starts. Here are a few of the most common reasons they occur and what you can do about it.
Overtired baby
When babies get too tired a false start may occur. This can result from naps that were too short or even changing up the timing.
What to do
Start by carefully monitoring their nap times and making sure that they get the right amount of sleep throughout the day for their age. Newborns can only stay awake for about 45 minutes to 1 hour in the first two months of life.
Another way to limit infant sleeping false starts from being overtired is to bump bedtime up by 15-minute increments. This keeps your baby from getting too tired around bedtime and limits the likelihood that they will wake up shortly after being put down. You may have to go by trial and error until you find the right time.
Separation anxiety
False starts are often caused by a baby’s desire to be physically close to their caregiver. Many infants want to be kept as close as possible to their mommy or daddy, and they instinctively know when a parent leaves them to sleep on their own.
You will know if a false start is caused by separation anxiety if they transition back to sleep quickly when you come to soothe them.
What to do
Give your baby something that reminds them of you. You can try sleeping with their crib sheet or pajamas for a few nights so that it holds your scent. As your child gets older, you may be able to transition them to a stuffed animal or a special blanket that can comfort them when they realize that they are alone.
Hunger
One of the more common reasons for infant sleep false starts is hunger. If they are falling asleep before they can finish their pre-bedtime meal, they will not have enough in their stomach to keep them satisfied for longer stretches of time. This will cause them to wake up when they feel that rumbling in their tummy.
What to do
If your baby starts to doze off during their bedtime snack, do what you can to keep them awake to finish their meal. You can tickle their toes or stroke their head and arms. Keep them from being covered or swaddled while feeding as this can inhibit their sucking reflex. Once the baby is old enough to have real food, try feeding them something with a high-fat content like oatmeal.
Poor sleeping environment
Have you evaluated what the sleeping environment is like in your baby’s nursery? False starts can be quite common if a baby wakes up and is unable to transition to their next sleep cycle due to bright lights or loud noises. If they are far away from you, it might be harder for them to know that all is well and that they can safely return to their slumber.
What to do
Evaluate the sleeping environment to make sure that nothing is disturbing your infant’s rest. Use blackout curtains to keep the room nice and dark. Consider using a white noise machine to block out sounds from the rest of the house.
Also, focus on temperature. Make sure that the room is not too hot, especially if you are going to swaddle them or have them wear warmer pajamas made of fleece.
Get better sleep
Sleep is a necessity for you and your baby. The good news is that there are tons of things you can do to ensure that you and your baby start getting improved sleep. And, if you need additional help, we’re here. My Sweet Sleeper can help you to pinpoint where sleep is going off the rails and help
Lean on our sleep consultants, whether that means one-on-one help or connecting with others who are in similar stages in one of our group sessions. At My Sweet Sleeper, we have the expertise and support you need to start getting a better night of rest for you and your baby!
Related Articles:
Three tips for starting a naptime routine.
Sleep schedules for babies: what to know.
Three tips for setting bedtime boundaries with your child.
