Why babies wake so often at night in the first months, how to keep night feeds calm, and how to get through the tiredness.
In short
- Waking at night is normal for months.
- She mostly wakes because she is hungry.
- Share the nights if you can.
Why she wakes
Newborns wake again and again at night for the first few months. Her tummy is tiny. She needs feeding day and night. Being too hot or too cold can also wake her.
From 3 to 6 months, she needs fewer night feeds. Some babies then sleep 5 to 8 hours or longer at night. Not all babies do. After 6 months, teething or hunger can still wake her.
You are not the only one. In one survey, 59% of parents of babies under 12 months said their baby sleeps less than 4 hours at a time.
Keep night feeds calm
- Keep the lights low.
- Talk only a little, in a quiet voice.
- Put her back down once she is fed and changed.
- Only change her nappy if she needs it.
- Do not play with her.
Getting through the nights
Rest when she sleeps. Leave any jobs that can wait.
If you have a partner, ask them to help. If you formula feed, take turns with the feeds. If you breastfeed, your partner can do the early morning nappy and dressing. Once breastfeeding is going well, they can sometimes give expressed milk at night. If you are on your own, ask a friend or relative to stay for a few days.
A cuddle or a feed in your bed is fine. Put her back in her own cot before you go to sleep.
Keeping every sleep safe
Put her to sleep on her back, for every sleep, day and night. Use her own cot or Moses basket. Keep it in the same room as you for at least the first 6 months.
Use a firm, flat mattress. Keep the cot clear. No pillows, duvets, bumpers, loose blankets or soft toys.
Never fall asleep with her on a sofa or in an armchair. Keep her away from smoke. Do not let her get too hot. Keep the room between 16C and 20C.
