3 Reasons Why Babies Cry Before Sleeping

When parents encounter their baby crying for hours before sleep, most of them are clueless about what needs to be done. You might be exhausted from taking care of your child the entire day and ready to fall asleep at a moment’s notice, but your little one does not seem to be on the same page as you. Babies have spent all their time in your womb, where everything was automatically comfortable for the child. Therefore, it takes a little more effort at our end to ensure that a safe and comfortable environment for the child is also created out here.

Video: Why Babies Cry To Sleep & Ways to Soothe Them

Why Do Infants Cry Before Sleeping?

While babies can break into a fit of crying for various reasons, a few major ones seem to trouble a baby, especially when he attempts to fall asleep.

1. The Inability to Fall Asleep at Night

For many babies, there doesn’t seem to be anything wrong with them. However, they will invariably cry whenever they sleep at night. This is usually frequent in children are younger than 3 months. The crying is simply a reaction of their body getting used to the sleep cycles since that seems out of the ordinary for them right at the beginning. A variety of bodily processes and organs, from the heart to the bladder and the digestive system, all need to fall in line with the body’s sleep system. After 3 months, the body gradually starts adapting to it.

2. Presence of Any Physical Discomfort

Crying is pretty much the only way of communication that babies have, so they tend to cry whenever they need to convey something. And most of the time, it is something that gets them irritated or makes them uncomfortable that elicits a cry. This can also happen during bedtime if the environment is not conducive enough to make them fall asleep. Babies suffering from cold or being present in a hot room can feel likewise. The emergence of teeth tends to be stronger around night time, making the pain stronger. Having pooped in his pants or wearing tight underwear could irritate him, too.

3. Attempt to Establish Social Contact

Another reason a baby might start crying right around sleeping time is more to do with his behaviour than anything else. His need for attention and the possibility of wanting social contact might cause him to communicate with you by crying loudly. Some babies tend to know that sleeping time would mean they wouldn’t see their mother, which could also make them cry. Babies who are exhausted after a long day or have faced a lot of stimulation can find the silence of the night unnerving. Any presence of illness or hunger can keep him awake, or simply the need to play before sleeping could make him ask for your presence.

How Long Do Babies Cry Before Falling Asleep?

The time between your baby’s cries and falling asleep should not exceed ten minutes. Babies occasionally scream before falling asleep as a result of genuine physical distress.

Infants with trouble breathing through their noses may cry, especially if their surroundings are dusty or dry. Also, your infant may suffer from teething pain, which can start as early as three months. In addition, your kid might be dozing in itchy or uncomfortable sleepwear, which could cause a rash. Moreover, a wet or soiled diaper may cause your child to cry.

Tips for Soothing a Crying Baby

Getting a baby to calm down, especially around sleeping time, can be quite demanding for parents. So here are a few tips that work most of the time on all sorts of babies.

1. Creation of a Conducive Environment

For a baby to fall asleep easily, the temperature in their room needs to be at its optimum. This can be very well tested by checking your child’s temperature around his stomach or his back. Then, choose clothes based on the weather and layer them accordingly. Avoid wrapping him up intensely in blankets even in winter, since a lot of those can lead him to suffocate and cause a sudden infant death. Instead, try using heat during winters and a gentle fan in summers to keep the air flowing.

2. Swaddle Your Baby Properly Before Putting Him to Sleep

Even in sleep, your baby needs to feel safe and secure, similar to how the mother cuddles and holds him. This is usually achieved by wrapping up your child in a light blanket. This also helps keep random limb movement in check, which can erroneously wake him up from sleep. Go for muslin cloths that are light and wrap him in such a way that his chin, ears and head are uncovered. Choosing to go with a sleeping bag meant for a baby can also be a good option.

3. Choosing the Right Clothes for Sleeping

Babies are ultra-sensitive to the smallest choices regarding them. Even the slightest disturbances in those can make it difficult for the little one to fall asleep. His clothes are vital, and choosing them appropriately cannot be any less important. While you may opt for fitting clothes during the day, choosing a loose-fitting option for your baby when he sleeps at night is best. Pick thick enough to keep him comfortably warm, even if loose. Don’t use head covers unless he’s ill since they can be quite uncomfortable or shift around in his sleep. Avoid clothes with laces or strings that can enter your baby’s mouth.

When You Should Worry?

Knowing why babies cry before sleep at night can help put your mind at ease and make you stop worrying about your child. Most children come to terms with sleeping at night by the time they are 4 to 6 months old. However, you might have to take him to a doctor if the crying continues uncontrollably.

Also Read:

What is Sleep Regression in Babies?
Which is Sleep Position is Safe for Babies?

Our Editorial Policy

Parenting is a huge responsibility, for you as a caregiver, but also for us as a parenting content platform. We understand that and take our responsibility of creating credible content seriously. FirstCry Parenting articles are written and published only after extensive research using factually sound references to deliver quality content that is accurate, validated by experts, and completely reliable. To understand how we go about creating content that is credible, read our editorial policy here.