
Why your baby wakes up at night and how to help him settle
Why your baby wakes up at night and how to help him settle
Did you know? Waking up during the night doesn’t always mean your baby is hungry.
Once your baby is a few months old, he will sleep for longer stretches at night and won’t need as many feedings as he did during the early weeks. If he is still waking up frequently and crying, something else could be bothering him.
Your trouble-shooting checklist
Babies may wake during the nights for a variety of reasons. Don’t assume your baby’s nighttime crying is a sign of hunger, especially if he’s recently had a feeding. Ask yourself these questions instead:
- Does his diaper need changing?
- Is he too hot or cold?
- Does he need a burp?
If it seems your baby is in need of comforting, try a soothing back rub, pat, or gentle lullaby. Try to avoid ‘comfort feeding’ your baby back to sleep if there are no real signs of hunger. It may seem like the easiest solution at the time but if you get into the habit of feeding him every time he wakes, the number of night wakings will actually increase.
Helping your baby to help himself
If your baby wakes up crying and is showing signs of hunger, offer him a feeding. If he is waking in the night soon after a feeding and you’ve ruled out the other possible issues (above), he can gradually learn to soothe himself back to sleep. Waking at night can stop your little one from getting enough sleep, which in turn can affect his health. Establishing good sleep habits now can help prevent poor sleeping habits as your baby gets older.
Sources
Fisher A, McDonald L, van Jaarsveld CH et al. Sleep and energy intake in early childhood. Int J Obes 2014; 38(7):926-9.
McDonald L, Wardle J, Llewellyn CH et al. Sleep and nighttime energy consumption in early childhood: a population-based cohort study. Pediatr Obes 2015; 10(6):454-60.
Taveras EM, Gillman MW, Pena MM et al. Chronic sleep curtailment and adiposity. Pediatrics 2014; 133(6):1013-22.
Related articles

Baby Allergies - 3 Facts Every Mum Should Know
Most allergies develop at infancy, particularly food allergy and atopic dermatitis (eczema).
2 mins to read

How much sleep does my baby need?
As a new parent, your baby’s sleeping habits are probably one of the first things you talk about with other new moms and dads. Here’s a rough guide of what to expect.
1 min to read

How to help a picky eater
Wondering how to help a picky eater? Developing a palate takes time. So we’ve prepared a menu of useful tips to help turn your picky eater into a food lover.
1 min to read

Signs of A Weakened Immune System & How You Can Help Your Child
A strong immune system is the key for a healthy growing child. It gives them that extra protection to go on with their daily playtime.
4 mins to read

How many calories do mums who breastfeed need?
It’s no surprise that your energy and nutrition needs go up when you’re breastfeeding. Choose healthy foods and beverages to get the extra calories and nutrients you both need.
3 mins to read

First Words And Language Development
Hearing your little one say their first word makes you tingle with emotion and pride! How can you help baby through these amazing changes?
4 mins to read

Top 3 tummy troubles in babies
Because babies are born with immature digestive systems, they may experience episodes of colic, constipation, or spit-up during their first months.
3 mins to read

Exercise with toddlers: Clever mom hacks for hectic lives
Some days, the last thing you probably feel like doing is exercise—particularly if you’ve had a sleepless night. But keeping active can do wonders for your physical and mental health.
2 mins to read

Signs your newborn’s hungry and signs he’s full
When it comes to feeding your baby, how will you know when to start and when to stop? Simple—he’ll tell you.
5 mins to read

Baby Babble - What Does It Mean?
Whether your baby is pedaling joyfully with their hands and feet, beaming from ear to ear, or crying as hard as they can in bed, they are obviously trying to tell you something. But what?
3 mins to read

Baby Cruising - Milestones
By now your little one is likely to have started to get the hang of crawling, and is probably well on her way to cruising.
2 mins to read

Working mom woes? Follow our tips for going back to work after a baby
If your family finances demand that you’re to become a working mom, you’re more than likely planning your return to work while navigating a rollercoaster of emotions—from feeling guilty and anxious
3 mins to read

Overfeeding newborn: look out for the signs
Did you know? Your baby was born with the natural ability to eat when he’s hungry and stop when he’s full.
2 mins to read

How Can I Make Sure My Baby Sleeps Well?
The question on every new mom's mind is "when will my baby sleep through the night?" There are some tips to help!
5 mins to read

Finding a sleep schedule that works for you and your toddler
“How do I get my toddler to sleep?” is an age-old, universally asked question. Find out how other parents are doing it across the globe.
6 mins to read

How to be a confident parent: start today with six easy steps
Becoming a new parent, and bringing your newborn home, is the most daunting experience to navigate.
4 mins to read

Best way to do tummy time for newborn
Tummy time can start soon after you bring your baby home from the hospital. Just don’t expect too much. At first your newborn will struggle to lift her head even a tiny bit while on her stomach.
3 mins to read

Discover Your Child’s Allergy Risk
What is an allergy?
3 mins to read

What is mastitis?
Mastitis is an inflammatory condition of the breast. It can happen when milk stays in your breast too long, or from infection in your breast.
3 mins to read