10 reasons why your baby wakes up at night
1) Sleep cycle
There are different wave patterns that our brains do during sleep, which is defined as a sleep cycle or “steps” of sleep. When babies move from one stage to another during the night, they are transmitted. In this transition, many babies will wake up. Sometimes they cry, sometimes they wake up feeling hungry.
It is normal for babies (and adults) to wake up 4 to 5 times a night during these transition periods. However, most adults wake up and recover so quickly that they rarely remember waking up
The challenge for parents is to intervene less and less during these awakenings as the child grows up: “we want to help our babies become more and more independent (without our help) during these awakenings so that sleep at night becomes a reality.”
2) Ambient temperature
Sometimes the room temperature may not be very conducive. Make sure the temperature in your baby’s room is comfortable. It should not be too hot or too cold for your baby. Dress your baby according to the weather and temperature in the room.
3) Changing routines
Babies have trouble adjusting to a sudden change in routine. If your baby is used to falling asleep at a particular time during the night, be sure to follow the pattern every day. Try and maintain your baby’s sleep rituals as much as possible, even if the baby is away from home. This will help your baby know that it’s time to sleep.
4) Full stomach
If your baby has a full stomach before sleep, the chances of waking up in the middle of the night will be less. Make sure your baby has a healthy and full dinner before sleep arrives. Healthy eating is also important throughout the day, as stomach problems could also be the cause of disturbed sleep. If your baby has fallen asleep without eating, you can try to wake the baby gently and feed him.
5) Night games
Playing, talking or doing fun activities with your baby at odd hours can cause a lot of fuss when he wakes up every night. If your baby starts to get bored, he is likely to get up early. Just be there with your little one so he feels calm and can lie down.
We hope that now you are aware that babies wake up at night. Do not worry too much about the baby’s nighttime activity. Remember that waking up in the middle of the night is limited to the first few years of your baby only. While most babies learn to sleep during the night in the first year, others may take a little longer.
6) Teething
There is no doubt that teething awakens children at night and disrupts sleep. Teething usually begins around the age of 6 months, but teething affects babies’ sleep throughout their childhood.
7) Hunger
Newborns need to eat 24 hours a day, but even older babies need a diet (or maybe two) during the night. We generally recommend an attempt to wean at night around 9 months, although we considered normal that a baby needs a meal at night up to 12 months in some cases.
8) Sick baby
Infants and children usually have an increase in infections after 6 months of age. This occurs mainly because once a baby reaches 6 months, he is able to put a lot of new items (including their hands) in their mouths. This causes increased exposure to germs. Many babies who have colds or upper respiratory tract infections will wake up because of congestion or coughing. Fever, vomiting and diarrhea also wake up babies at night.
Console and support your baby with a little love and care. The sleep schedules will normally return in a few weeks after the illness, especially if you can follow good sleep rules.
9) Wet / dirty layer
Babies can sometimes wake up because they do not feel comfortable during sleep, so need to be changed and most of the time they go to bed immediately afterwards.
10) Baby napping too much in the day
The long daytime naps are good – until they interfere with the night. That’s when you know your baby is taking a nap too much. Remember that the overall amounts of your baby’s daily sleep will stay the same, so you’ll sleep well at night. So long, consistent naps will result in less sleep at night.
