Question
A 9-month-old baby has recently been experiencing difficulties falling asleep, even when tired. The baby rubs its eyes, tosses and turns, and is restless on the bed, taking a long time to finally fall asleep. How should this sleep problem be treated?
Answer
If a baby of five and a half months of age has poor sleep quality, a common cause is a lack of calcium. A lack of calcium may lead to symptoms such as unwillingness to take naps, frequent waking, difficulty being soothed, crying, night terrors, short sleep duration, and sweating. It is recommended to take the baby to the hospital for a blood calcium test to confirm the diagnosis. If it is a calcium deficiency issue, treatment can be achieved through the supplementation of calcium tablets and increasing the intake of calcium-rich foods such as soy products and bone broth, which help with calcium absorption. Usually, after improving the calcium deficiency condition, these symptoms will be alleviated, and the baby’s sleep quality will also improve.