It is a known fact that a newborn has irregular sleeping patterns. Most babies sleep during the day and are wide awake during the night. They may either sleep late or may wake up several times during the night. This may leave you wondering what could be the cause of this, but, fret not; babies waking up in the night is not always a bad sign.
Babies often wake up in the middle of the night for a number of reasons. Most of the time, the problems are only transient, such as when a child is going through a growth spurt or when they are teething.
In This Article
10 Most Common Reasons Why Babies Wake Up At Night
When nighttime awakenings grow chronic over time, it’s possible to look elsewhere for the cause. Even if you follow the usual routine and make sure your baby has been changed and fed before bed, he or she may still have trouble falling asleep. We’ve compiled a list of the top 10 causes of nighttime wakings in infants.
1. Teething
Teething can be a difficult time for a baby. Most babies start teething at around 6 months. The pain of teething varies from baby to baby. Some babies might experience slight pain and irritation and for some, it can be quite a painful period. Pain and irritation can occur any time of the day and night and hence it is one of the reasons a baby wakes up in the middle of the night.
2. Illness
Babies tend to fall sick often. They frequently get colds, coughs, and fevers. Cough and cold especially can cause a lot of discomforts. A baby might find it difficult to sleep when sick and even wake up several times during the night. A baby suffering from a stuffy nose resort to mouth breathing which can cause dryness in the mouth and wake the baby up in the middle of the night.
3. Development
When a baby begins to learn something new it affects the baby’s sleep pattern. When a baby learns to roll to the side he or she is constantly preoccupied with doing so. The same goes for crawling, walking, and talking. Even when they wake up in the middle of the night babies tend to practice their new skills. This is a common and natural phenomenon and there is nothing to stress about it. It passes as the baby gets accustomed to his or her new skill.
4. Dependency On Sleep Props
Sleep props are basically things your baby relies on to sleep. It could be a bottle of milk or even a pacifier. If your baby needs these props to sleep at night chances are your baby will wake up in the night. Since your baby is not accustomed to sleeping on his own he will wake up in the middle of the night craving for his sleep props.
Read on self-soothing tips for your baby here.
5. Startle Reflex
Babies get startled at the drop of a hat. A small sound or a touch will startle the baby and even wake up him from his slumber. This is common among children and is known as the infantile reflex. This reflex is one reason you need to swaddle your baby.
6. Sleep Patterns
Some children are naturally gifted with good sleep cycles. These babies sleep soundlessly through the night without getting disturbed while other babies have interrupted sleep and easily wake up. This is a natural thing and there is nothing to worry about it.
7. Hunger
One reason your baby wakes up in the dead of the night could be because he or she is hungry and thirsty. If you feed your baby way before his or her bedtime chances are your baby might feel hungry again the night. Hence feed your way baby an hour before his bedtime so that he sleeps soundlessly.
8. Irregular Circadian Rhythm
The biological clock of the body also known as the circadian rhythm is responsible for the sleep cycle. An adult body releases hormones during the day that help us to stay awake. Similarly, it also releases hormones at night that help the body to sleep. The circadian rhythm in a baby’s body is not fully developed hence they have an irregular sleeping pattern. They may feel fresh and awake during the night and sleepy during the day for this reason.
9. Environment
Just like in adults, the atmosphere of the room where the child sleeps also affects his slumber tremendously. If you make your baby sleep in a noisy room, he or she will wake up often. Similarly, if your baby is sleeping in a room that has bright lights he might have disturbed and interrupted sleep.
10. Separation Anxiety
If you have been co-sleeping with your baby for a while and then moved him to a separate bed or a different room your baby might face separation anxiety. Your baby becomes used to sleeping next to you and when he sleeps alone he might get startled if they don’t feel your presence. Separation anxiety is a common reason why babies wake up in the middle of the night.
FAQs
1. How Do I Know If My Baby Is Waking From Hunger Or Habit?
If your baby is really hungry, he or she will typically refuse to sleep again until they have been fed. If they drift asleep after five or ten minutes of wailing, it’s a very safe bet that they were simply searching for some assistance going back to sleep and weren’t genuinely hungry.
2. At What Age Do Babies Stop Waking Up At Night?
It is not until about 3 months of age that most newborns begin sleeping for a considerable stretch without waking up. Your kid may begin sleeping through the night for long stretches of time somewhere between 6 and 12 months (often around 8 or 9 months).
3. How Many Times Is Normal For a Baby To Wake Up At Night?
The majority of people need feedings at least twice, and sometimes three times, during the night. Babies’ sleep cycles are far shorter than those of adults, and they often wake up around once every 40 minutes. By the third month, many infants have established a routine of being up for longer stretches during the day and sleeping for longer stretches (up to five hours) at night.
