Patient's question:
My baby is two months old, healthy, but always cries at night. During the day, besides eating, she basically sleeps, wanting to sleep all the time. However, by 9 p.m., she doesn’t want to sleep and needs to be held and played with, or she will cry nonstop. It takes until 2 or 3 a.m. for her to finally fall asleep. It’s now winter, and both the adults and the baby are cold. I urgently hope this situation can be improved. Looking forward to your good news!Doctor's answer:
Hello: The central nervous system development of newborns is not yet mature, and the conditioned reflex of day/night sleep patterns has not been established. If they sleep too long during the day, they may resist falling asleep at night and will cry incessantly without being coaxed or carried by adults. Additionally, adults, tired after a long day, may be less sensitive to their child's hunger or the need for urination and defecation, leading to delayed responses that can cause crying. Children with rickets, due to calcium deficiency in their bodies, are prone to being easily startled and may cry when slightly disturbed during the night. Children suffering from chronic conditions such as tuberculosis or malnutrition also frequently cry at night.When a child cries at night, the first step is to analyze the cause and consciously train them to adjust their day/night cycle. Activities such as drinking, changing diapers, taking fish oil and calcium supplements should be concentrated during the day. Avoid overfeeding the child during the day; instead, opt for small, frequent meals to ensure they wake up due to hunger. Meanwhile, gently tapping or scratching their soles or amusing them to make them laugh and take deep breaths can disrupt their sleep. This helps encourage less daytime sleep and gradually establishes a routine of being awake during the day and asleep at night.
If the child suffers from conditions such as rickets, tuberculosis, or malnutrition, timely treatment is necessary. Once these illnesses are cured, the nighttime crying will naturally subside.