Why is my baby waking during the night again?
Sleep regression. A term that has become popular throughout the infant sleep industry over recent years. It’s commonly used whenever a baby or toddler who was sleeping well at night suddenly starts waking more frequently and/or takes longer to fall asleep at bedtime.
As a parent, one of the most challenging experiences is dealing with a little one waking up in the middle of the night. Sleepless nights are an inevitable part of the parenting journey. However, waking up multiple times at night can be exhausting for parents and make it difficult to function optimally during the day.
Image by Drazen Zigic on Freepik
To my mind, the term ‘sleep regression’ is a misnomer. If your baby or toddler is experiencing unsettled sleep then it’s very likely that there is a reason rather than just blaming it on the blank term ‘regression’. However there is one, just the one sleep regression, that I will give time to and that's the four month one. There’s actual evidence to prove this one’s existence and universally it’s recognised as a sleep regression.
At four months there is a hive of activity in your baby as their brain and body develops quickly. There are neurological changes as links between your baby’s brain and nervous system are formed. This can result in your baby waking more frequently. It’s the biggest change in your baby’s sleep and it’s permanent. Not permanent in that they will continue to wake regularly throughout the night forever - stop panicking! But permanent as in their sleep cycles become more like an adult’s. As your baby reaches the end of a sleep cycle they may stir and wake up, rather than link into the next one. So it should really be referred to as sleep maturing rather than sleep regressing.
It doesn’t start on the dot of 4 months. It can happen anytime between the ages of 3 to 5 months. For some babies the change is so subtle you may hardly notice a difference in your baby’s sleep but for some it’s much more obvious. These babies will need help to go to sleep at bedtime and support in practising falling back to sleep again when they wake during the night. This can take several weeks but don’t despair. Hang in there, it will get better!
Of course, once you’ve nailed that sleep blip there will undoubtedly be more along the way! Generally speaking there will be a reason why your little one is having disrupted sleep. Here are some questions to ponder,
👶 Is my baby hungry or thirsty?
👶 Does my baby have a wet or soiled nappy?
👶 Is my baby teething? Is my baby in the early stages of an illness?
👶 Is there a developmental change? Learning to crawl? Learning to stand?
👶 Are there any changes in their life? Starting childcare?
👶What about the environment where they're sleeping? Too hot? Too cold? Bright light coming in?
👶 Is my baby experiencing separation anxiety? This can happen from around the age of six months.
It may be that you have ruled out all the obvious reasons and your baby continues to be unsettled during the night. Since babies have shorter sleep cycles compared to adults, they may at times wake up when transitioning between sleep cycles, resulting in periods of wakefulness. Therefore you may need to provide support to help them fall back to sleep. As frustrating as it may be, the good news is that occasional night wakings are normal for babies.
It's important to note that every baby is unique. Some babies wake up more frequently than others, and it can be hard to decipher the reason behind their wakings. If your baby consistently has difficulty sleeping or exhibits concerning sleep patterns, then please do reach out for guidance and support.
You can book a FREE discovery call with me. The perfect way that I can learn about the current challenges you are facing with your little one and you can discover how we can work together to achieve your goal. The call will help us decide if we are the right fit for each other.
