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If your baby isn’t sleeping through the night yet, you might be wondering whether something is wrong. The reassuring answer? For many babies in the first 12 months, night waking is entirely normal. Infant sleep is biologically different from adult sleep, and frequent waking often reflects feeding needs, brain development, and emotional regulation — not bad habits.
Here’s what’s really going on, and what you can realistically expect.
Why Night Waking Is Developmentally Normal
1. Babies Have Different Sleep Cycles
Adults cycle through deep and light sleep over roughly 90-minute periods. Babies move through shorter sleep cycles and spend more time in lighter stages of sleep. This makes them more likely to stir — and fully wake — between cycles.
Waking doesn’t necessarily mean something is wrong. It’s often simply how infant sleep works.
2. Feeding Needs Don’t Disappear Overnight
Babies grow rapidly in their first year. Their stomachs are small, and especially in the early months, night feeds support growth and milk supply.
Even older babies may wake for calories, comfort, or connection. Night feeding patterns vary hugely between babies — and that variation is normal.
3. Brain Development Can Disrupt Sleep
The first year is a period of enormous neurological growth. As babies learn new skills — rolling, crawling, standing, babbling — sleep can temporarily become unsettled.
You might notice more frequent waking during developmental leaps. This doesn’t mean sleep is “broken.” It often means development is happening.
4. Emotional Regulation Is Still Developing
Babies rely on caregivers to help regulate their nervous systems. Night waking can be a way of seeking reassurance, especially during periods of separation anxiety (which commonly emerges around 6–9 months).
Responding to your baby doesn’t “spoil” them. In fact, consistent responses build security over time.
The Myth of the “Sleep-Through” Milestone
“Sleeping through the night” sounds like a clear milestone — but it isn’t one with a universal age attached.
For some babies, it might mean a six-hour stretch. For others, it may not happen consistently for many months. Cultural expectations often shape how we define “good sleep,” and in many parts of the world, fragmented infant sleep is simply considered normal.
Comparing your baby’s sleep to others can increase anxiety, but sleep temperament varies enormously.
When Night Waking Might Need Extra Support
While night waking is common, it’s worth speaking to your GP or health visitor if you notice:
- Poor weight gain or feeding difficulties
- Persistent reflux symptoms
- Loud snoring or breathing concerns
- Extreme parental exhaustion affecting safety or mental health
Sometimes sleep disruption has an underlying cause — but often, reassurance is all that’s needed.
How to Make Night Wakings More Manageable
Understanding that night waking is normal doesn’t make 2am feel easier. But small adjustments can help:
Keep Nights Low-Stimulation
Dim lighting, minimal conversation, and calm responses help signal that nighttime is for sleep.
Share Responsibilities
If possible, take shifts with a partner or trusted caregiver so each of you gets a longer stretch of rest.
Rest During the Day
Short naps can meaningfully improve mood and resilience — even 20 minutes helps.
Focus on Trends, Not Single Nights
Sleep often fluctuates. Look at patterns over weeks rather than reacting to one difficult night.
A Note on Safe Sleep
Follow current safe sleep guidance:
- Baby on their back
- Firm, flat sleep surface
- Clear cot (no pillows, loose blankets or toys)
- Room-sharing (not bed-sharing) for the first 6 months is recommended in the UK
If you are so tired you feel you may fall asleep feeding, it’s important to familiarise yourself with up-to-date co-sleeping safety guidance in advance to reduce risks.
The Bottom Line
If your baby isn’t sleeping through the night in their first year, it doesn’t mean you’ve done anything wrong — and it doesn’t mean they’re “behind.” Night waking is often a reflection of biology, development, and emotional needs.
Infant sleep matures gradually. In the meantime, the goal isn’t perfection — it’s safety, support, and doing what works for your family.
This stage, however exhausting, is temporary.
And one day, you may find yourself trying to wake them up instead.
Reviewed and updated 20 February 2026
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