How to stop baby waking up in middle of night
As parents, few things are more frustrating than when your little one wakes up in the middle of the night and seems wide awake, ready for a “party” you weren’t expecting! This is what’s often called a split night and it’s quite common.
What Is a Split Night?
A split night happens when your child goes to bed as usual but then wakes up for a long stretch during the early hours. Sometimes they’re happily alert and ready to play, other times they might be upset and frustrated about being awake. Either way, it’s tricky for everyone involved!
What Causes a Split Night?
Split nights often happen because of your little one’s daytime sleep pattern. Either too much daytime sleep or not enough can throw their nighttime sleep off balance. Other factors can also contribute, including:
- Developmental changes — Learning new motor skills like crawling or walking can temporarily disrupt sleep.
- Feeling unwell — Illness or discomfort can make it harder for them to settle back to sleep.
How to stop baby waking up in middle of night?
A good place to start is by checking your child’s daytime sleep routine. Making sure they get the right amount of naps and total sleep for their age can really improve their night-time sleep.
Here’s a helpful guide to typical sleep needs by age:
Age | Total Sleep per 24 Hours | Number of Naps per 24 Hours |
0-3 months | 16-18 hours | 4-5 naps |
3-6 months | 15 hours | 3-4 naps |
6-7 months | 14 hours | 2-3 naps |
7-12 months | 14 hours | 2 naps |
13 months – 2.5 years | 12-13 hours | 1 nap |
3-5 years | 10-13 hours | No naps |
6-12 years | 9-12 hours | No naps |
If you notice your little one’s daytime sleep isn’t quite right, perhaps they’re sleeping too much or too little. Try adjusting it slowly. Remember, it can take about a week or so for their body clock to get used to the new routine.
Changing sleep habits takes time, and your child may resist the changes at first. But with consistent routines and the right amount of daytime sleep, you can help your little one and yourself, get a more peaceful night’s sleep.
If your little one is struggling with split nights, please do get in touch.
