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Mothers who smoke during pregnancy are more likely to have babies with sleep problems, as being exposed to nicotine in the womb results in your baby having difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep.
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Having a smaller body size at birth is linked to increasing the risk of poor sleep, as a marker of alterations in the nervous system affect your baby’s sleep regulation.
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Waking up during the night is necessary for your baby’s survival. Their bellies are tiny so it empties quickly therefore they will wake up for a feeding. Their body senses are also sensitive so they wake easily from a wet or dirty diaper.
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Babies have different phases of sleep and therefore their sleep patterns aren’t in sync with yours. They might sleep 16 hours a day, but they have shorter cycles than you which stretches from 3-6 hours at a time.
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Parents who argue affect their baby’s behaviour and development which in turn affects their sleep patterns. Therefore they are more likely to have babies who have trouble sleeping.
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Babies are programmed to want to be close to an adult at night and they can sense when they’re alone. Therefore they will wake up and crave warm body contact to know that they are safe.
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