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Newborns squirming and having difficulty sleeping can be attributed to various reasons. But what are the physiological and pathological factors to pay attention to? And is this phenomenon due to calcium deficiency in infants? Let's explore the answers in this article!
The phenomenon of newborns squirming and having difficulty sleeping
From birth until the age of 3-4 months, mothers can easily observe the phenomenon of newborns squirming and having difficulty sleeping. It is characterized by the baby exhibiting body tension and squirming for a few minutes. This phenomenon often concludes when the baby reaches 3 to 4 months old.
Newborns squirming during sleep is a perfectly normal condition
The difficulty newborns face in sleeping and squirming can be attributed to two main groups of reasons: Squirming due to physiological expressions and squirming as a manifestation of illness. In most cases, babies squirm due to physiological reasons. However, some infants may experience issues related to illness. Therefore, it is essential to pay attention to signs when your baby squirms.
Causes of Newborns Squirming and Having Difficulty Sleeping
As mentioned earlier, newborns squirming and having difficulty sleeping are primarily caused by two main groups of reasons: Physiological or pathological causes.
Physiological reasons causing newborns to squirm and have difficulty sleeping
- Due to sleep environment: The influences from the surroundings can affect the baby. For example, an uncomfortable, warm, too bright, or noisy sleeping place can be the main reasons for the baby's squirming. Therefore, it's crucial to check these factors before considering other reasons.
- Due to baby's hunger: The stomach of a newborn is very small, leading to the baby being able to suck only a small amount of milk. Consequently, the baby gets hungry quickly and demands to suck continuously. Therefore, mothers need to breastfeed more often, about every 2-3 hours. However, this can be flexible depending on each baby. In reality, when hungry, the baby will start to exhibit movements like squirming, twisting, and bending. So when you observe these actions along with the baby not having eaten for a few hours, consider this issue.
Newborns squirming and having difficulty sleeping may be due to hunger
- Due to baby's reaction during defecation or urination: When a baby wants to urinate or defecate, many infants tend to squirm and arch their bodies. This action is believed to be the baby's effort to expel something. This is explained by the fact that in newborns, the muscles around the bladder are not fully developed. Therefore, newborns exhibit strong squirming to expel waste.
- Wet diapers: Newborns tend to defecate more frequently than other age groups. As a result, babies often urinate in diapers more, and mothers may not be able to change them quickly. Wet diapers can make the baby uncomfortable and exhibit squirming.
- Tight diaper/swaddle: During sleep, babies often have involuntary limb movements. So if the mother wraps the diaper or swaddle too tightly, it can cause newborns to squirm and have difficulty sleeping.
Pathological reasons causing babies to squirm frequently
- Low Blood Calcium: When a baby experiences this condition, they may show signs of increased nervous system stimulation: restlessness, disrupted sleep, startle reflex, frequent squirming, and arching during sleep. Additionally, the baby may exhibit other symptoms such as night sweats, vomiting, hiccups, hair loss, excessive crying, slow weight gain, and later signs of rickets.
- Other illnesses: Itching and irritation of the baby's skin can disturb their peaceful sleep. Insects entering the baby's ear can trigger squirming and arching reactions.
Do newborns squirming and having difficulty sleeping need calcium supplementation?
Newborns squirming and having difficulty sleeping can be caused by various factors, and calcium deficiency is one of them. However, mothers should rely on the signs to identify the actual cause of newborns squirming and having difficulty sleeping. For babies developing normally and receiving sufficient breastfeeding, the risk of calcium deficiency is low.
Calcium deficiency also causes newborns to squirm and have difficulty sleeping
However, you should also observe other signs in your baby. For example, if the baby frequently squirms, has restless sleep, cries at night, sweats profusely, and experiences hair loss around the hairline, it is highly possible that your baby is lacking calcium.
In this case, expose your baby to sunlight every day to supplement vitamin D, which helps the baby absorb calcium and phosphorus better. Alternatively, consult a doctor to get a clearer understanding of your baby's health and seek advice on calcium supplementation.
Tips to Help Newborns Stop Squirming
To ensure your baby has a good night's sleep and minimize squirming, parents can apply the following tips:
Pay attention to your baby's emotions
In most cases, the squirming and arching behaviors of the baby will naturally resolve, especially for newborns squirming and having difficulty sleeping due to physiological factors. In these instances, you need to focus on your baby's emotions. Although the baby's squirming is a normal expression in newborns, it simultaneously reflects the baby's 'emotions,' indicating discomfort due to a wet diaper or hunger, for example.
Therefore, pay attention to your baby's emotions. During these times, simply adjust factors related to the baby's sleep environment: weather, clothing, room temperature, diapers, etc. Additionally, regularly wash the baby's clothes, blankets, and beddings to prevent skin irritation and itching.
Ensure complete nutritional supplementation for the baby
The nutritional regimen in the early years plays a crucial role in a child's development. Hence, it is essential to provide adequate nutrition for both the mother and the baby.
Parents, pay attention to breastfeeding adequately
As mother's milk is the primary source of nutrition for the baby, mothers should consume nutrient-rich foods beneficial for both the mother and the baby, such as salmon, beef, various legumes, brown rice, and eggs.
Especially for newborns, mothers should actively supplement vitamin D3 K2 for the baby as early as possible. D3 and K2 contribute to more efficient absorption of calcium in the intestine. Providing sufficient D3 K2 for the baby will also reduce the risk of calcium deficiency, leading to better sleep and minimizing the chances of newborns squirming and having difficulty sleeping.
In addition, each day, expose the baby to sunlight for 15 - 20 minutes. This helps supplement vitamin D for the baby, increasing the ability to absorb calcium and reducing the risk of calcium deficiency. This, in turn, helps the baby partially reduce the likelihood of squirming due to calcium deficiency.
Pay attention to your baby's squirming behavior
Parents should observe additional signs in their baby
On a daily basis, pay attention to the timing, gradual increase or decrease trends, and intensity of your baby's squirming episodes. These can be observable signs indicating potential health issues for your baby. If you are still concerned, consult a doctor to identify the root cause and determine an appropriate course of action for resolution.
Hopefully, this article has somewhat addressed your concerns about newborns squirming and having difficulty sleeping. It aims to guide you in finding solutions and ensuring comprehensive health for your little one.
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