4 Reasons for Night Wakings & How To Get Through Them
Do you have a baby who wakes throughout the night? You are not alone. It’s no secret, sleep is one of the most important aspects of life, especially if you aren’t getting it.
Let’s talk about the major reasons why night wakings happen and what you can do to help your baby through them.
Why Do Night Wakings Happen?
Your baby’s age. Up until 6 months of age, your baby may need to wake during the night for a feeding (or two) to receive the proper nutrition he or she needs. Every baby is different and some sleep through the night earlier than others. If your baby is waking through the night to eat, remind yourself that this is okay. This is an opportunity to teach your baby to fall asleep as soon as they are done feeding.
Daytime calorie intake is not adequate. I like to think of baby calorie consumption like filling up a gas tank. If their tank is not filled during the day, your baby will look to fill their tank during night time horus. Here is what you can do. Offering your baby a full feeding every 2.5-3 hours is important for daily nutrition. Be sure to pay attention to your baby’s hunger cues and try not to exceed 4 hours between feedings.
Your baby is learning something new. When babies are learning a new skill (also known as a mental leap), it may cause a disruption in their sleep pattern. This is what you can do to help. Be sure to offer your baby plenty of opportunities to practice their developing skills during waking hours so they don’t use bedtime as practice time.
Inconsistent approach to night wakings. When your baby wakes during the night, how do you usually respond? Be sure whichever method you are using, you stick with it and stay consistent. Responding differently during night wakings can send your baby mixed messages. Babies (and most adults) thrive on consistency. Be sure to respond to your baby the same way during each night waking. The goal is to communicate that night time is time to sleep.
Let’s face it, night wakings are hard. Try to remember that they are part of your baby’s developmental process. Be patient with yourself, mama. You (both) will get there. I promise.
