THE NIGHTS ARE LONG. BUT YOU DO NOT HAVE TO FACE THEM ALONE

What happens when a baby sleeps

Adult sleep moves in long cycles of roughly 90 minutes, with deep sleep at the start of the night and lighter sleep toward the morning. Baby sleep works differently. Newborn sleep cycles are shorter — around 45 to 50 minutes — and a much higher proportion of each cycle is spent in active, light sleep. (1) This means babies rouse more often, and more easily.

This is not a design flaw. Active sleep is thought to support brain development in ways that are unique to early life. The frequent waking in the early months is, from a biological standpoint, exactly what is supposed to happen.

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The first 6 weeks: no day, no night

Newborns have no circadian rhythm — the internal clock that tells the rest of us when itis day and when it is night. They do not yet produce melatonin, the hormone that signals sleep onset. (2) This means that in the first weeks, there is no biological reason for your baby to sleep more at night than during the day.

Most newborns sleep between 14 and 17 hours in a 24-hour period — but in stretches of 2 to 4 hours, around the clock. (3) This is entirely normal and has nothing to do with how you are caring for your baby.

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6 to 12 weeks: the first hints of rhythm

Around6 to 8 weeks, most babies begin to show longer stretches of sleep in the early part of the night — often 3 to 5 hours — and more wakefulness during the day. This is the beginning of circadian rhythm developing. It is fragile, and it does not happen on a fixed schedule. Some babies show this shift earlier, some later.

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3 to 4 months: the big shift

Around3 to 4 months, a baby's sleep architecture changes permanently. Their sleep cycles begin to mature and resemble adult sleep more closely, with distinct stages of light and deep sleep. Melatonin production begins in earnest, and a day-night rhythm starts to establish itself. (2)

This transition period can feel unsettled. Babies who were previously sleeping in longer stretches may start waking more frequently as they adjust to navigating the lighter phases of their new, more structured sleep cycles. This is sometimes called the 4-month sleep regression — though it is not a regression. It is a developmental shift that is permanent.

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4 to 6 months: wide variation

From around 4 months onward, the range of what is normal becomes very wide. Some babies begin consolidating night sleep into one or two longer stretches. Others continue waking several times. Both can be entirely healthy. Feeding needs, temperament, and whether a baby has developed particular sleep associations all play a role.

6 to 12 months: gradual consolidation — for most

By 6 months, most babies are physically capable of sleeping for longer stretches without a feed. Many do not, because sleep is a skill that develops unevenly, and because night waking serves other purposes — comfort, connection, developmental processing. (1) One to two night wakings at 9 months is common and normal. So is sleeping through. Both are true at the same time, fordifferent babies.

Around 8 to 10 months, many babies go through another period of more disrupted sleep linked to a developmental leap and the emergence of separation anxiety. If your baby starts waking more at this age after a settled period, this is a likely explanation — and it passes.

What this means for you

If your baby is waking at night, they are almost certainly doing something developmentally normal. The question is not whether night waking is normal — it is — but whether the current pattern is working for your family, and whether there are approaches that could help. That is what this hub is for.

Sources:

[1] Mindell JA et al. 'Behavioral treatment of bedtimeproblems and night wakings in infants and young children.' Sleep, 2006. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17068979

[2] Jenni OG, O'Connor BB. 'Children's sleep: an interplaybetween culture and biology.' Pediatrics, 2005. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15866845

[3] NationalSleep Foundation. 'Sleep Duration Recommendations.' National Sleep Foundation,2015. sleepfoundation.org/how-sleep-works/sleep-facts-statistics

Baby sleep does not develop in a straight line. It moves in waves — periods ofrelative settledness, followed by disruption, followed by a new normal. Almost every time this happens, there is a developmental reason. Understanding tha treason will not make the nights easier, but it can make them feel less bewildering.

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‍Rolling(around 4 to 5 months)

Learningto roll is one of the first major motor milestones — and it often coincides with the 4-month sleep shift described in the card above. Your baby's brain is working hard on a new physical skill, and that processing continues during sleep. You may notice your baby waking and practising rolling in their cot, or struggling to settle because they have rolled onto their front and cannot yet get back. This phase usually passes within a few weeks as the new movement becomes automatic.

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Crawling(around 7 to 10 months)

Crawlingis a significant neurological milestone — it requires both sides of the brain to coordinate in a new way. Research has found that the period around the onset of crawling is consistently associated with disrupted sleep, even in babies who had been sleeping well. (1) This is not a coincidence. The brain reorganisation that makes crawling possible also temporarily unsettles sleep. It tends to resolve within two to four weeks of the new skill consolidating.

Pulling to stand and walking (around 9 to 15 months)

Pulling up to standing — and eventually walking — is another period when night waking often increases. Babies frequently practise these movements in their cots, sometimes waking themselves in the process. Some also experience a new form of frustration: they can pull themselves up but not yet get back down, which can make settling harder. Again, this tends to be a temporary phase that resolvesas the movement becomes familiar.

Teething

Teething is one of the most common explanations parents reach for when sleep disrupts —and it is worth being honest about what the evidence says. A well-designed cohort study found that teething does cause real but short-lived symptoms: increased drooling, gum tenderness, and mild irritability in the days immediately around a tooth breaking through. (2) However, the disruption is typically brief — around 8 days per tooth — and is unlikely to explain weeks of poor sleep on its own.

 If your baby's sleep has been unsettled for a long period, teething may be a contributing factor during certain windows, but it is rarely the whole story. If your baby seems genuinely unwell — high fever, significant distress, or symptoms that persist beyond a few days — always check with your GP.

Separationanxiety (peaks around 8 to 10 months and again around 18 months)

As babies develop a stronger sense of object permanence — the understanding that people and things continue to exist even when out of sight — they also begin to feel their absence more acutely. This is healthy cognitive development, and it is the reason many babies who previously settled easily begin to find separation harder, including at bedtime and during night wakings.

This phase tends to peak around 8 to 10 months and may resurface around 18 months. It is not a behaviour to correct — it is a sign that your baby has formed a secure attachment. It does pass, though it can be exhausting while it is happening. Consistent and warm responses at bedtime tend to help more than any specific technique during this window.

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What to take from this

If your baby's sleep has shifted and you cannot identify a cause, ask yourself what has changed developmentally in the past few weeks. More often than not, there is a connection. These phases are temporary — but if the disruption becomes difficult to sustain, a sleep consultant can help you find a path through that works for your family and your baby's stage.

Sources:

[1] Scher A. 'Infant sleep at 10 months of age as a window tocognitive development.' Early Human Development, 2005. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15737703

[2] WakeM, Hesketh K, Lucas J. 'Teething and tooth eruption in infants: a cohortstudy.' Pediatrics, 2000. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10969108

Sleep environment

A  safe, consistent sleep space makes a real difference. Current guidance  recommends placing babies on a firm, flat surface on their back, with  room-sharing for at least the first six months. (5) Beyond safety,  consistency matters — familiar cues (darkness, a consistent temperature, low  background sound) help signal to your baby that it is time to sleep.

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Bedtime routines

A  consistent bedtime routine is one of the most reliably supported tools in  infant sleep research. (1) Even a short, predictable sequence — bath, feed,  book, song — helps your baby begin to anticipate sleep. The effect is not  dramatic, but it is consistent and carries no risks. This is something you  can start at any age.

Behavioural approaches (sleep training)

Behavioural  sleep interventions are the most thoroughly researched approach for older  infants, typically from around 6 months. The most studied methods include  graduated extinction (where parents respond to night waking after  progressively longer intervals) and bedtime fading (gradually shifting  bedtime later until the baby falls asleep more easily, then moving it  earlier).

 A  rigorous randomised controlled trial found that both graduated extinction and  bedtime fading were equally effective at improving infant sleep, and showed  no evidence of harm to the children's emotional wellbeing or the parent-child  relationship at follow-up. (6) The evidence that these approaches work is  generally strong. The harder question for many families is whether and when  they feel ready to try them.

 There  is no single right approach. A sleep consultant can help you find a method  that fits your family's situation and values.

Feeding and sleep associations

If  your baby frequently falls asleep at the breast or bottle, they may need that  same input to resettle when they rouse naturally between sleep cycles during  the night. This is called a sleep association. Adjusting the timing of feeds  — so that feeding happens earlier in the bedtime sequence rather than as the  final step — can gradually shift this pattern, though it takes time and  consistency.

 A  lactation consultant can help you assess whether feeding is playing a role  and how to approach any changes without affecting your milk supply or your  baby's nutrition.

What to rule out first

Some  medical conditions can disrupt infant sleep, including reflux, tongue tie,  food sensitivities, and ear infections. If your baby seems uncomfortable or  unwell between waking episodes, or if the pattern changes suddenly, always  speak to your GP or health visitor before making changes to sleep routines.  Sleep difficulties accompanied by poor weight gain, significant feeding  problems, or signs of illness warrant medical assessment first.

Sources:

[5] American Academy of Pediatrics. 'Safe Sleep:  Recommendations.' HealthyChildren.org, 2022. healthychildren.org/SafeSleep

[1] Mindell JA et al. 'Behavioral treatment of bedtime  problems and night wakings in infants and young children.' Sleep, 2006. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17068979

[6] Gradisar M et al. 'Behavioral interventions for infant  sleep problems: A randomized controlled trial.' Pediatrics, 2016. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27221288

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Infant sleep consultants — Specialists who assess your baby's sleep patterns, your family's routines, and your approach to parenting, and help you build a step-by-step plan that fits your situation. They work with families from newborn through toddler age.

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Lactation consultants and feeding specialists — If you suspect that feeding is contributing to night waking, a lactation consultant can assess the role of feeds in your baby's sleep and guide you through any adjustments without compromising breastfeeding.

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Postnatal wellbeing coaches — Sleep deprivation carries a real emotional toll. Apostnatal wellbeing coach can support you as a parent through this stage, notjust your baby.

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Q  How many times should my baby wake up during the night?

There is no single correct answer. Newborns waking every 2 to 3 hours is entirely normal. Many 6-month-olds still wake once or twice, and some perfectly healthy toddlers still wake at night. The more useful question is whether the current pattern is sustainable for your family — and if not, whether support could help.

Q  What is sleep training and is it safe?

Sleep training is a general term for behavioural approaches that help babies learn to fall asleep and resettle more independently. The best-studied methods have beenshown to improve infant sleep without harmful effects on emotional developmentor the parent-child relationship. (6) Whether to try sleep training, and whichapproach, is a personal decision. A sleep consultant can help you work out whatfits your values and your baby's temperament.

Q  What is the 4-month sleep regression?

Around3 to 4 months, babies' sleep architecture changes significantly as their sleepcycles begin to mature. Babies who were sleeping reasonably well may beginwaking more frequently. This is not a regression to a previous state — it is adevelopmental shift that is permanent, though the disruption it causes usuallyeases with time and, if needed, with support.

Q  Can I create bad habits by responding to mybaby at night?

Thereis no good evidence that responding warmly and consistently to a young baby'snight waking causes long-term sleep problems. In the early months, responsivenight parenting is developmentally appropriate. As babies get older, patternscan be gently shaped with consistency — but what this looks like is differentfor every family.

Q  When should I see a doctor about my baby'ssleep?

Seeyour GP or health visitor if your baby seems unwell or in pain between wakingepisodes, is not gaining weight well, has feeding difficulties alongside sleepproblems, or if a previously established sleep pattern changes suddenly withoutexplanation. Sleep difficulties in otherwise healthy, well-fed babies can beaddressed with behavioural support — but ruling out medical causes first isalways the right first step.

Sources:

[6] GradisarM et al. 'Behavioral interventions for infant sleep problems: A randomizedcontrolled trial.' Pediatrics, 2016. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27221288