Unsettled Baby in 2010

In 2010 parents face many issues and obstacles that can lead to an unsettled baby. Any parent caring for an unsettled baby who will not sleep or feed properly will understand how distressing and exhausting both physically and emotionally this can be. I would like to briefly outline some of the areas that could be causing unsettled behaviour in a baby which may shed some light on what parents could do to help. I will break this into four age groups for easy reading:

0 - 4 months

• Maternal anxiety and emotional challenges which could lead to maternal postnatal depression. This fragile emotional state is reflected in a baby's behaviour.
- readjusting to home life after leaving employment
- isolation from a partner working away or no extended family support
- confusion from the abundance of 'helpful' advice
- relationship breakdown with the added pressure of a baby
- over conscientious personality with a high needs baby
• Overstimulated baby
- too many visitors
- too many outings
- bright lights
- shopping centres (some personalities more than others)
• Personality mix of a mother and her baby (Dr Sears)
• Intolerance
- wrong formula
- maternal diet imbalance if breast feeding (commonly high sugar or dairy intake)
• Colic or reflux pain and discomfort
• Digestive disturbances from spinal subluxations occurring at birth (Paediatric trained Chiropractor can assist with relieving this)
• Hungry
• Over fed
• Not ready to self settle and sleep

4 - 9 months

• Food intolerance and imbalance in a baby's diet
• Preservatives
• Increase in carbohydrates to protein and fats ratio
• Hungry requiring either more milk feeds or solids
• Overtired, rushed or overstimulated (media imaging)
• Recovering from or suffering from an illness
• Situation
-returning from holidays
-moving house
-dad works away
-too many trips in and out of the car, drop offs and carers
• 'sleep associations' that do not suit individual child or situation
-dummy
-feeding
-rocking
• Lack of suitable and consistent routine

9 - 18 months

• All of the above age group suggestions
• Parents trying too hard to get things right or comparing their baby to others without recognising individual development. This can lead to maternal anxiety, tension and depression
• A baby not having enough activity and stimulation to adequately prepare them for sleep

18 months onward

• Fears developing from what is seen or heard in books, media and situations witnessed or experienced at Day Care
• Night terrors occurring in the earlier part of the night
• Nightmares occurring in the earlier hours of the morning
• Lack of consistent and predictable routine
• Poor diet

Not all sleep issues or babies are the same, therefore different strategies maybe required. Some of these a parent will be able to fix themselves while others may require professional help.