Baby Waking Up Every Hour: What to Do

We hate to be the bearer of bad news but…

Night waking IS normal.

But if your baby is waking every hour, it can be a challenge to get them to have a night of deep sleep. This can be frustrating for both you and your child.

There are many things that could change the way your baby sleeps, like a bad cold, a new tooth, or a change in the bedtime routine.

Why Does My Baby Wake Up Every Hour?

Frequent night wakings are a normal baby’s sleep pattern. There are a few reasons why night wakings are happening.

• One reason is that your baby may be going through a growth spurt or hitting new developmental milestones. This can cause them to wake more often and enter a light sleep phase at night as their bodies adjust.
• Another reason for sleep problems in babies is teething. This can cause discomfort and make it difficult for your baby to sleep through the night.
• If your baby is ill, this can also disrupt their sleep. They may wake more often as their body fights off the illness.
• It’s also possible that your baby is overtired. If they’re not getting enough daytime naps, they may be more restless at night.
• If you’ve recently moved your baby to a new sleep environment, they may need some time to adjust. This can cause them to wake more often at night until they get used to their new surroundings.

If you’re not sure what’s causing your baby to wake more often at night, talk to your doctor. They can help you rule out any medical causes and give you some tips on how to help your baby sleep through the night.

Is It Normal for Babies to Wake Up Every Hour?

The answer is, unfortunately, yes. It’s called the “four-month sleep regression,” and it’s (mercifully) temporary. Here’s what you need to know about this tough phase in your child’s life and how to get through it.

During the four-month sleep regression, your baby may start waking every hour or more often at night between sleep cycles.

She may also start taking shorter naps during the day. And she may seem more cranky and fussy than usual when she’s awake.

The good news is that the four-month sleep regression is temporary.

It usually lasts for about four to six weeks, and then your baby’s sleep patterns will start to improve again.

In the meantime, there are a few things you can do to help your infant get through this tough phase.

• Try to keep your infant on a regular sleep schedule. This may be difficult, but it will help her get back on track more quickly.
• Make sure your child is getting enough daytime sleep. If she’s napping well during the day, she’ll be less likely to be awake at night in between sleep cycles.
• Create calm and relaxing sleep habits. This will help your child wind down and prepare for sleep.
• Don’t let your newborn get overtired. An overtired infant will have a harder time falling asleep—and staying asleep.
• Be patient. The regression is temporary, and it will eventually end. In the meantime, just do your best to cope with the occasional sleepless night. Before you know it, your infant will be sleeping through the night again.

If you’re dealing with this regression, just remember that it’s temporary and that there are things you can do to help your baby (and yourself) get through it.

Hang in there—better sleep is on the way!

What Is the Normal Sleep Cycle of a Baby?

The normal sleep cycle of an infant is a topic that is often debated among parents. Some parents believe that their babies should sleep through the night, while others think it’s okay for their baby to wake up several times during the night.

According to experts, the normal sleeping cycle is around 15 to 18 hours per day. This means that your baby will sleep for around 15 to 18 hours in a 24-hour period.

During the day, your infant will likely take one sleep cycle at a time or several naps during the day. The length of each nap will vary, but they typically last between 30 minutes to two hours.

At night, your baby will sleep for around eight to nine hours.

However, it’s important to note that babies don’t sleep through the night as adults do. Instead, they sleep in cycles that last around 50 to 60 minutes.

So, what does this all mean? If you have a newborn baby, don’t expect them to sleep through the night.

And, if your child is waking up several times during the night, don’t worry – this is completely normal. Just help him get back to sleep.

What to Do If My Baby Wakes Up Every Hour at Night?

Younger babies tend to wake up at night more often than older babies. And if your baby wakes up every hour at night, there are a few things you can do to help them (and you) get some more sleep.

First, try to figure out why they’ve suddenly started waking up. Are they hungry? Wet? uncomfortable?

Once you know the cause of the wake-ups, you can address it and hopefully help your baby (and you) get some much-needed rest and you can say goodbye to sleep deprivation.

If hunger is the issue, try feeding them a little earlier before bedtime. Keep in mind that the younger the baby, the more likely she’ll wake up in the middle of the night due to hunger.

If they’re wet, make sure to change their diaper before they go to sleep.

If they seem uncomfortable, try adjusting their clothing or swaddling them tighter. Sometimes all it takes is a little tweaking to help your child (and you) get a better night’s sleep.

Of course, there will be nights when nothing seems to work and your baby just won’t settle down. On those nights, try your best to relax and get some rest when you can.

As your baby grows, there will be fewer sleep disruptions and more uninterrupted sleep at night.

What Are the Best Ways to Make a Baby Sleep Longer at Night?

If you’re like most parents, you probably don’t get nearly enough sleep. And if you have a baby, that lack of sleep can be even more pronounced.

So what can you do to make sure your baby sleeps longer at night?

Here are a few tips:

• Make sure your baby is full before bedtime. A full tummy will help your baby sleep for longer stretches and more soundly in bed.
• Have an early bedtime. Putting your baby to bed earlier in the evening can help her sleep longer at night.
• Make sure your baby is eating enough during daytime feedings so she doesn’t get hungry at night. You can do this for both breastfed and bottle-fed babies.
• Sleep training can help babies sleep longer at night time, especially if they are already beyond the newborn stage. Many parents can help their baby learn healthy sleeping habits at a young age through sleep training.
• Create a conducive sleep environment. A quiet, dark room is an ideal baby’s environment for sleeping and will help your baby fall asleep more easily and stay asleep for longer periods of time.
• Give your baby a chance to fall asleep on her own. Once your baby is drowsy, put her in her bed, crib or bassinet and let her drift off to sleep independently. This may take some time, but it’s worth it in the long run.
• If your child has developed separation anxiety and doesn’t get much sleep, you might want to consider co-sleeping for a while. Your child can see you during his awake time for stretches of several hours at night.

Being well-rested is important to a child’s optimal growth.

How Do I Get My Baby to Self-Soothe?

The simple truth is that you cannot force your baby to self-soothe. However, there are things that you can do to encourage your baby to self-soothe.

One of the best things that you can do is to create a consistent sleep routine for your baby. This will help to cue your baby that it is time to go to sleep.

A sleep routine might include a bath, reading a book, and singing a lullaby.

It is also important to create a calm and quiet environment for your baby to sleep in.

This means making sure the room is not too bright or too noisy.

You might want to consider using a white noise machine and blackout shades to help your baby fall asleep.

Finally, it is important to be patient with your baby.

It takes time for newborn babies to learn how to self-soothe.

If you are consistent with your bedtime routine and create a calm environment, many babies will eventually learn how to self-soothe.

How Do I Get My Baby to Fall Asleep After Waking Up at Night?

If your baby wakes up in the middle of the night as well as early morning and won’t go back to sleep, there are a few things you can try.

First, try comforting your infant. You can hold your child, rock your baby, or give your baby a pacifier. This can help him go back to sleep.

If that doesn’t work, try changing your baby’s position. Sometimes, babies wake up because they are uncomfortable. Try putting your child on his or her side or stomach.

You can also try putting on some white noise. You can turn on a fan, humidifier, or white noise machine to help your baby fall asleep.

Finally, if nothing else works, you can try feeding your infant. A full stomach may help your baby fall asleep through the night.

Conclusion

A baby waking every hour at night is normal.

However, if your child is waking up more than once a night and it could be due to an illness, teething pain, or discomfort.

There are many things that can cause a child to wake up frequently during the night, so checking with your pediatrician is always a good idea.

Until you know for sure what’s going on, make sure you’re taking advantage of more tips for getting your child back to a good sleep after being awake.