Why your baby wakes at night and What you can do about it
If your baby is waking up a lot during the night, you're not alone, and you're not doing anything wrong. In fact, waking every 2–3 hours is completely normal for babies in their first year. Over half of toddlers still wake during the night well into their second year.
Knowing what’s normal, and when to ask for support, can make a huge difference in how you experience this stage.
If your baby is waking up a lot during the night, you're not alone, and you're not doing anything wrong. In fact, waking every 2–3 hours is completely normal for babies in their first year. Over half of toddlers still wake during the night well into their second year.
Knowing what’s normal, and when to ask for support, can make a huge difference in how you experience this stage.
Sleep & Settling
What’s Normal, What’s Not
Babies wake often for a mix of reasons: to feed, to be close to you, for comfort, or simply because their systems aren’t mature yet. Waking every few hours is typical in the first year of life.
But if your baby is waking more frequently than every 2 hours, seems constantly unsettled, or never seems satisfied with feeds, it might be helpful to talk to a health professional. Things like feeding issues or a disrupted sleep rhythm could be involved, and they can often be improved with the right support.
Why Babies Wake So Often
1. They Need to Be Close
Babies are born needing closeness and connection. Being near a parent helps regulate their temperature, breathing, heart rate, and stress levels. It also supports secure attachment, which is a strong foundation for emotional development.
So when your baby wakes and needs you, it’s not a “bad habit.” It’s part of how they’re wired to grow and thrive.
2. They’re Hungry
Breastfed babies feed 8–16 times in 24 hours, including during the night. Their tummies are small and they digest milk quickly, especially in the first few months.
Night feeding is not only normal, it’s important. It helps:
Meet your baby’s nutritional needs
Support healthy growth
Maintain your milk supply
Boost sleep-promoting hormones like melatonin and CCK, which help both of you fall back asleep⁸
In fact, breastfeeding parents often get more restful sleep than those using formula, because it’s quicker to settle the baby and get back to sleep.
3. They’re Seeking Comfort
Waking for comfort is just as valid as waking for food. Babies wake for connection, reassurance, and safety. These needs don’t disappear just because it’s night-time.
This isn’t your baby trying to manipulate you, it’s a developmentally appropriate way to build emotional security.
Who Can Help?
If you’re feeling overwhelmed or unsure whether your baby’s night waking is typical, talking to the right health professionals can really help. Consider reaching out to:
A Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) – to check feeding mechanics, milk transfer, and feeding frequency
A Paediatrician – to rule out medical causes like reflux, allergies, or sleep-related conditions
An NDC (Neuroprotective Developmental Care) Practitioner – trained to help with infant sleep, crying, feeding, and sensory needs
A Perinatal Mental Health Specialist – if you’re feeling persistently anxious, low, or exhausted, support is available for you, too
What About Sleep Training?
‘Sleep training’ often involves methods like controlled crying or letting a baby ‘self-settle’ without comfort. While some families see short-term sleep improvement, research raises concerns:
Babies may show reduced crying, but still experience elevated stress hormones like cortisol.
Repeated lack of comfort during distress can impact secure attachment development.
Evidence shows no long-term benefit to infant sleep or maternal wellbeing when used in the first 6 months.
Some parents report increased guilt or anxiety if sleep training feels unnatural or doesn’t ‘work’.
Many health professionals now support responsive approaches that improve sleep without ignoring a baby’s needs. These methods help build trust, emotional security, and healthier outcomes over time.
What Can Help Instead?
Some parents manage night waking more smoothly, not because their babies wake less, but because they’ve found strategies that support both their baby’s biology and their own wellbeing.
Here are some helpful options:
Safe co-sleeping or room-sharing
Side-lying breastfeeding for easier night-time feeding
A consistent, calming bedtime routine and sleep environment
Rest opportunities for parents (naps, sharing duties, reducing pressure)
Support from professionals who take a whole-baby, whole-family approach
You don’t need to “train” your baby to sleep better, but you can create a sleep setup that helps everyone get more rest.
The Bottom Line
Frequent night waking is normal in infancy. It supports growth, emotional regulation, and healthy attachment.
With the right support, knowledge, and strategies, you can make night waking more manageable, and even restful, for your whole family.
References
Ball, H. L. (2022). Parent–Infant Sleep: From Biology to Social Practice. Infant Mental Health Journal, 43(1), 6–22.
Douglas, P., & Hill, P. (2013). Behavioral sleep interventions in the first six months of life do not improve outcomes for mothers or infants. Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics, 34(7), 497–507.
Moore, T. G., Arefadib, N., Deery, A., Keyes, M., & West, S. (2016). The First Thousand Days: An Evidence Paper. Murdoch Children’s Research Institute.
Middlemiss, W., Granger, D. A., Goldberg, W. A., & Nathans, L. (2012). Asynchrony of mother–infant HPA axis activity following extinction of crying. Early Human Development, 88(4), 227–232.
Bowlby, J. (1969). Attachment and Loss: Vol. 1. Attachment. Basic Books.
Ainsworth, M. D. S., Blehar, M. C., Waters, E., & Wall, S. (1978). Patterns of Attachment: A Psychological Study of the Strange Situation. Lawrence Erlbaum.
Kent, J. C., Mitoulas, L. R., Cregan, M. D., Ramsay, D. T., Doherty, D. A., & Hartmann, P. E. (2006). Volume and frequency of breastfeedings. Pediatrics, 117(3), e387–e395.
Cohen Engler, A., Hadash, A., Shehadeh, N., & Pillar, G. (2012). Breastfeeding may improve nocturnal sleep and reduce infant crying. Early Human Development, 88(7), 519–522.
