🌙 Split Nights🌙
You finally get your little one to sleep… only for them to party in the middle of the night for an hour (or two 😩).
They’re wide awake, happy, maybe even babbling and you’re left wondering what on earth is going on?!
Welcome to the world of split nights 💫
A split night is when your baby or toddler wakes in the middle of the night, usually for a long stretch, and doesn’t seem tired enough to go back to sleep.
It’s not that they can’t sleep… it’s that their sleep pressure has dropped too low to stay asleep.
Here’s why it happens 👇
💤 Too much daytime sleep — they’ve had enough rest in the day, so their body clock isn’t ready for a full night stretch.
⏰ Bedtime too early — total wake time before bed wasn’t long enough, leaving extra “energy” stored up for later.
💭 Developmental leaps — new skills, big milestones, or brain growth spurts can all disrupt sleep cycles temporarily.
✨ What you can do:
1️⃣ Check daytime naps — consider cutting nap length or shifting nap times slightly later.
2️⃣ Make sure the last wake window before bed is long enough (this varies by age).
3️⃣ Keep interactions calm and low-key during a split night — lights dim, voices quiet, no play.
4️⃣ Be patient — often, a few small tweaks and consistency get things back on track.
Split nights can be exhausting, but they’re fixable and totally normal at certain ages. With the right balance of naps, wake windows, and routine, your little one’s body clock can reset and those long night-time parties will pass. 💛
