🌙Middle of the night wakes🌙
Why do middle of the night wake ups feel so much harder? It’s usually because we have had our own sleep disrupted sometimes during times of deep sleep so we feel rubbish whilst also trying to help another human who may or may not want to go back to sleep!
When your baby wakes in the night, what you do depends a lot on their age, feeding needs, and sleep habits — but here’s what I recommend to help you handle it calmly and support good sleep patterns:
🌙 What to do when your baby wakes in the night:
✅ 1. Pause before responding
* Don’t rush in immediately — wait 1–2 minutes to see if they settle themselves.
* Babies often stir, fuss, or cry lightly between sleep cycles.
🕯 2. Keep it low-key
* If you go in, stay calm and quiet.
* Use dim lighting, soft voices, and minimal interaction.
* Avoid picking them up unless needed — try gentle soothing first.
🧸 3. Offer comfort without stimulation
Try:
* Patting their back or chest
* Shushing or humming
* Offering a dummy (if this works for your little one)
* Brief soothing words like “It’s sleep time now”
🍼 4. Feed if necessary:
* Under 6 months: Night feeds are still normal and expected.
* 6–12 months: Many babies can drop night feeds, but some still need one.
* 12+ months: If well-fed during the day, night waking may not be hunger-related.
🔁 5. Put them back down awake (if possible)
* If they fall asleep in your arms every time, they may struggle to settle on their own next time they stir.
* Try to lay them down awake, so they learn to self-settle.
🗓 6. Look for patterns
If night waking is frequent:
* Is your baby overtired at bedtime?
* Are naps too long or too short?
* Could teething, illness, or a sleep regression be involved?
🧠 7. Be consistent
* Babies thrive on predictability.
* Pick a simple, soothing response and repeat it consistently — this helps them understand what to expect.
If you are struggling with night wakes, please do reach out and see how I can help you ❤️
