Night Wakings
Why your baby wakes at night and gentle strategies to help them sleep longer.
Frequent night waking is the most common sleep problem parents contact a sleep consultant about — and it is also one of the most fixable once the cause is identified.
Common causes of night wakings:
- A sleep association — your baby needs feeding, rocking, or being held to fall back to sleep between cycles
- Overtiredness or an off schedule
- Developmental changes and growth spurts
- Genuine hunger in younger babies
For babies over 4 months, the most common reason for frequent night waking is a sleep association. Your baby has learned to fall asleep with help — and when they wake naturally between sleep cycles, they need the same conditions to get back to sleep. This is not a parenting mistake. It is a pattern that can be gently shifted without leaving your baby to cry.
The right fix depends on which cause is actually driving the waking — which is why generic advice so often fails.
Angelica Videla is a certified baby and toddler sleep consultant based in London, working with families across the UK, Europe, US, and Australia using gentle, responsive methods. The articles below explain the most common causes of night waking by age and what you can do about each one.
Baby Waking Every Hour at Night? Causes & Gentle Solutions
If your baby is waking every hour, there is usually a clear reason. Here is what causes it and how to fix it gently without cry-it-out.
Read article →Baby Waking Every 1–2 Hours at Night
Why your baby wakes every 1–2 hours at night and gentle, evidence-based strategies to help them sleep longer stretches.
Read article →Why Is My Baby Suddenly Waking More at Night?
Sudden night wakings are common and usually have a clear cause. Here is what triggers them and what to do about it gently.
Read article →Why Feeding to Sleep Can Lead to More Night Wakings
Feeding to sleep is not wrong, but it can lead to more frequent night waking over time. Here is why and how to shift it gently.
Read article →How Many Night Wakings Are Normal by Age?
What counts as normal night waking depends on your baby's age. Here is a realistic guide to what to expect.
Read article →If early mornings (or any other sleep issue) have been going on for a while, find out whether sleep consulting is worth it.
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