Today I have a guest post from Stacy over at Mom Woot
My name is Stacy Belk. I’m a stay-at-home mom of two (a three-year-old girl and a five-year-old boy) and a home cook. Aside from spending plenty of time in the kitchen, I’m also into making crafts for and with my kids!
Things could get daunting if you’re a first-time parent. So many changes will happen both to you and your baby, and there are so many things going on at times that it could get overwhelming!
Below, I’ll talk about one of the things that most parents usually freak out about: baby’s sleeping habits. I’ll provide some of the most common issues raised by many parents, and I’ll provide some possible reasons and solutions.
1. My baby’s sweating when sleeping.
This one happened to my child when he was an infant. It was my first time to witness something like it, so I panicked! After research and a consultation with a pediatrician, however, I learned that it’s about immature bodily functions.
Infants still have an immature nervous system in their first few weeks/months. At this point, they’re not able to regulate their body temperature properly, which could result to sweaty hands, feet, and head.
This is normal in most babies, and the sweating should stop when the baby reaches 8-10 months.
2. My baby is gasping when asleep.
One of the most common reason for this is a developing nervous system. Gasping while sleeping is common in babies – in the first few weeks or months, their immature respiratory system is still adjusting to life outside of the womb.
As long as your little one breathes right away right after gasping. If he does not breathe for about 10 seconds, you will need to consult the doctor to see if there’s a more serious complication.
3. My baby occasionally coughs and wheezes while asleep.
This has happened to my daughter when she was a baby – she would cough and have a stuffy nose when sleeping, but come morning, it’s gone!
It turns out that my baby was experiencing congestion because the air in the entire house was dry (it was winter, and the heater was sucking all of the moisture).
Our pediatrician recommended getting a good baby humidifier, which was a godsend! It keeps the air in the room clean and crisp, and it fixed my baby’s condition right away. The white noise sound of the machine seemed to help him sleep, too!
4. My baby’s lip quivers before he sleeps.
Quivering and trembling lips (sometimes hands and legs, too) aren’t that common, but are usually normal. A number of newborns exhibit this before they drift to sleep.
Like the first case on this list, this could be an effect of a still-developing nervous system. Infants need about one to two months to adjust to life outside your womb – after this period, the quivering should stop.
One of the most effective solutions to this is simple: holding your baby close. The skin-to-skin contact will make them feel more relaxed.
If your family has a history of seizures, go to the doctor and have your little one checked right away. Seizures are rare, but it’s best to rule this one out for peace of mind.
I hope these were helpful! Being a new parent and seeing all these changes could be nerve-wracking, but don’t panic! These are most likely normal. Remember that consulting the paediatrician is always the best thing to do to assure that your baby’s OK.