Patient's question:
For more than a month, every time she falls asleep during her nap, she's nursing. She dozes off gradually, but as soon as she's put in bed, she wakes up within a few minutes. It's especially severe during the day. We've been supplementing her with calcium and vitamin D, but it hasn't made any difference. We thought it might be related to her back...Doctor's answer:
Crying, especially when a child cannot sleep well, is often caused by calcium deficiency. The central nervous system of newborns is not yet fully developed, and the conditioned reflex of day/night sleep patterns has not yet been established. If a child sleeps for too long during the day, they may resist falling asleep at night. Without being coaxed or carried by adults, the crying will be even more intense. Additionally, adults, tired after a long day, may be less sensitive to their child's hunger or the need for bathroom breaks, leading to delayed responses, which can also cause the child to cry. Children with rickets, due to calcium deficiency, are prone to being easily startled and may cry frequently at night, even from slight disturbances. Children with chronic conditions like tuberculosis or malnutrition also often cry at night.When a child experiences nighttime crying again, the first step is to identify the cause and consciously implement specific training. This involves adjusting their day/night cycle, scheduling activities like drinking, changing diapers, taking fish oil and calcium supplements, and other tasks during the day. Avoid overfeeding the child during the day; instead, opt for smaller, more frequent meals to ensure they wake up due to hunger. During the day, gently tapping or rubbing their soles or playing with them to make them laugh and take deep breaths can help influence their deep sleep patterns. This way, the child will gradually sleep less during the day and develop a habit of being awake during the day and sleeping at night.
If the child has conditions like rickets, tuberculosis, or malnutrition, prompt treatment should be administered. Once these conditions are fully recovered, the nighttime crying will naturally subside.