Question
A four-month-old baby has been experiencing very little sleep recently, about an hour during the day, and waking up every 1.5 hours at night. When the baby wakes up, it cries and is fussy, eating very little. It falls asleep when held but cries when put down. The parents are very worried and hope to find a solution.
Answer
When encountering this situation, don’t get anxious and should carefully analyze the cause. First, consider whether the baby is sleeping too much during the day. Generally, babies under six months old should sleep three to four times a day, with each session lasting 1.5 to 2 hours; for babies between seven to twelve months old, two to three naps a day, each lasting 2 to 2.5 hours. Too much daytime sleep will inevitably affect nighttime sleep. If the baby is sleeping too much during the day, parents can consciously wake the baby or engage in playtime with them. After a few days of adjustment, the baby will gradually develop the habit of sleeping less during the day and longer at night.