For many parents, night wakings are a common and often challenging part of their baby’s sleep journey. “Sleeping through the night” means something different for every parent and every baby. For some, it might mean an uninterrupted stretch of sleep for 6-8 hours, while for others, it might still include one or two feedings.
It’s essential to understand that sleeping through the night for a baby doesn’t always align with an adult’s definition. Our goal is to help babies learn independent sleep initiation so those night feedings get easier and easier until they eventually stop.
Eliminating night wakings requires us to get down to the root cause of why they are happening in the first place. In this blog post, I’m going to go over the top four reasons for night wakings:
3. Unable to initiate sleep independently
If you are experiencing frequent night wakings, it might be a sign that some things need to be adjusted. First, we need to tackle the cause of the night wakings.
1. Overtiredness
Have you ever heard that keeping your baby up longer will cause them to sleep more? It’s actually the opposite! Sleep begets sleep. When babies are overtired, their bodies create adrenaline, and they get that dreaded second wind. This makes it even harder for them to settle down and fall asleep, leading to frequent night wakings.
Overtiredness can be caused by not getting enough naps during the day, having an irregular sleep schedule, or simply missing the ideal sleep window. To avoid overtiredness, try to maintain a consistent sleep schedule and watch for your baby’s sleepy cues such as rubbing eyes, yawning, or fussiness.
By ensuring your baby gets enough sleep during the day and following age-appropriate wake windows, you can reduce the chances of overtiredness and improve their nighttime sleep.
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2. Daytime Sleep Struggles
Daytime sleep struggles can significantly impact nighttime sleep. This could mean too much or too little daytime sleep. If your baby is getting too much daytime sleep, it might be time to drop a nap. On the other hand, if your baby is in the stage of short, inconsistent naps (also known as “crap naps”), try your best to extend them. Our goal is to have naps between 1-3 hours.
Establishing a consistent nap routine is one of the best ways to help with daytime sleep struggles. If you’re not sure where to start, book a consultation with one of our AMAZING sleep consultants! They can work with you to build a consistent sleep schedule that works for both your baby and you.
3. Initiating Independent Sleep
Initiating independent sleep is a crucial goal when it comes to sleep training. When a baby can fall asleep independently, not only does it take a little stress off of you, but night wakings tend to naturally drop on their own since your baby knows exactly how to handle them. Woohooooo!!!
Teaching your baby to fall asleep independently is one of the best things you can do for them. Our 4-24 Months Content Library has everything you’ll need to start your sleep learning journey and will walk you through the entire process.
4. Hunger
When it comes to night feeds, our goal is to determine if your baby is truly hungry or waking out of habit, which can be a challenge at times. Try your best to provide good, full feedings during the day so your baby can reach their goal caloric intake during those daytime hours. It is completely normal to have at least one night feed until around 9 months, but if you are not ready to drop those night feedings, that is totally okay too. You know your baby best!
Dealing with Regressions
If you’ve tried all of these strategies and you aren’t noticing a change over the next few days, you could be experiencing a sleep regression! Sleep regressions are common and often coincide with developmental milestones. However, if it’s been more than a few weeks of frequent wakings, especially if they weren’t there before, it might be time to book a consultation with one of our baby sleep experts!
Sleep regressions can be frustrating, but they are usually temporary. During this time, try to maintain your baby’s sleep routine as much as possible and offer extra comfort and reassurance. Remember, consistency is key, and with time, your baby’s sleep will likely improve.
Recap on 4 Top Reasons for Night Wakings
Addressing the top four reasons for night wakings involves understanding and responding to your baby’s needs. Whether it’s overtiredness, daytime sleep struggles, difficulties with independent sleep initiation, or hunger, each issue requires a tailored approach. By observing your baby’s behavior and making necessary adjustments, you can help your baby achieve better sleep and reduce night wakings.
If you need support with your baby’s specific sleep needs or have any other questions about navigating baby sleep and a potential tongue or lip tie, we would love to work with you. Hop on a call with one of our AMAZING Certified Pediatric Sleep Consultants!
Whether your little one is a newborn (0-4 Months Content Library), 4-24 months (4-24 Months Content Library), or a toddler (2-5 Years Content Library), we have the resources you need to get your family the sleep you all deserve!
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