Baby night waking: what's normal by age and how to respond

Night waking is one of the most normal things babies and toddlers do. Pregnancy, Birth and Baby's guide to sleep patterns says babies under 3 months may wake every 1 to 3 hours, that many babies aged 6 to 12 months still wake at night and need help to go back to sleep, and that waking is still common after 12 months. The Australian Breastfeeding Association agrees that waking is still normal even beyond 12 months.

The usual causes are hunger, short sleep cycles, separation anxiety, new skills, teething, illness and being too hot or cold. What helps most is a calm, predictable response: pause briefly, offer the least help your child needs, feed if they're hungry, and keep the room dim and quiet.

How often do babies wake at night?

There's a wide range of normal, and your baby doesn't need to match a chart. As a rough guide:

Sources for the table: Pregnancy, Birth and Baby (0–3 months, 6–12 months and after 12 months), the NHS guide to helping your baby sleep (3–6 months) and the Sydney Children's Hospitals Network's toddler sleep page (2–3 years).

Even babies who "sleep through" wake briefly. The AAP's guide to getting your baby to sleep says it's normal for a 6-month-old to wake during the night and go back to sleep after a few minutes. For more on longer stretches, see sleeping through the night.

Why do babies and toddlers wake at night?

Often there's more than one reason at once.

• Short sleep cycles. Pregnancy, Birth and Baby says a newborn's sleep cycle usually lasts about 45 to 60 minutes and young babies may wake after 1 to 2 cycles. Babies also spend more of their sleep in lighter, active sleep than adults do.
• Hunger. The NHS says newborns wake during the night because they need to be fed, and that teething discomfort or hunger may wake some babies between 6 months and a year.
• Temperature and comfort. The NHS notes that being too hot or too cold can disturb sleep. A wet nappy or an uncomfortable sleeping bag can too. See sleep environment.
• Separation anxiety. The Sydney Children's Hospitals Network says separation anxiety happens most often between 6 months and 2 years, and children may wake up upset when they realise you're gone. The AAP says most babies develop more robust separation anxiety at around 9 months, and some toddlers first show it at 15 or 18 months.
• New skills and growth. The NHS says growth spurts, teething and illnesses can all affect how a baby sleeps. Rolling, crawling and standing often unsettle sleep for a while; see sleep regression ages.
• Teething. The NHS teething guide lists not sleeping well among the possible signs, alongside a sore, red gum and more dribbling.
• Illness. Being unwell often unsettles sleep. A sudden change in waking, especially with other symptoms such as fever or poor feeding, is worth checking.
• Dreams and fears. KidsHealth's toddler sleep guide says dreams and nightmares can begin to affect toddlers, and lists discomfort, illness, teething pain and worry among the reasons toddlers wake.
• Screens before bed. KidsHealth suggests keeping toddlers away from screens in the hour before bedtime.

If your baby suddenly screams for no obvious reason, Pregnancy, Birth and Baby's crying baby guide suggests checking them from head to toe, including fingers, toes and genitals for a hair wrapped tightly around them.

What's a calm way to respond when your baby wakes?

A predictable routine helps your baby, and it helps you make decisions at 3am.

1. Pause and listen. Pregnancy, Birth and Baby suggests resisting the urge to rush in at every sound, because babies may settle back to sleep on their own. If your baby starts crying, go to them.
2. Check the basics. Is your baby too hot or cold, wet or uncomfortable? Change a dirty nappy, keeping it quick and quiet.
3. Start small. Try a quiet voice, a hand on their tummy, or patting with a gentle "shh" while they stay in the cot.
4. Step up if needed. If your baby is upset, Pregnancy, Birth and Baby suggests picking them up for a cuddle until they're calm, then putting them back in their cot.
5. Feed if they're hungry. Young babies often genuinely need a night feed. See the table below.
6. Keep it dim and boring. The AAP suggests not stimulating babies when you feed or change them at night, and speaking softly if you speak at all.
7. Do the same thing each time. A consistent response helps your baby know what to expect. With toddlers, KidsHealth notes that too much interaction during night checks can backfire.

Pregnancy, Birth and Baby's safe sleep guide says never to let a baby sleep with a sleeping adult or child on a couch, sofa or chair.

Should you feed or resettle at night?

It depends on age, growth and your baby. These are starting points, not rules.

The NHS says that for some babies aged 6 months to a year, night feeds may no longer be necessary. KidsHealth's guide for 4- to 7-month-olds says most babies of that age no longer need a middle-of-the-night feed, though some, particularly breastfed babies, may still wake. These sources differ, so go by your own baby and talk to your GP or child-health nurse if you're unsure about growth or feeding.

When you're ready to cut back, see dropping night feeds and the night weaning plan.

How should you handle toddler night waking?

Toddlers wake for many of the same reasons as babies, plus fears, dreams and testing limits.

• Walk them back calmly. The Sydney Children's Hospitals Network says many toddlers wake after one or two sleep cycles and wander to their parents' room. It suggests carrying or walking them back to their own bed and settling them with minimal fuss, and says not to punish them, as they may not be fully awake.
• Comfort after nightmares. The Sydney Children's Hospitals Network's nightmares page suggests talking gently about the dream if they want to, reminding them they're safe, and staying until they feel calm.
• Keep night terrors safe. The night terrors page says they happen when a child is partly awake from deep sleep, usually in the first 2 to 3 hours of sleep. Gently guide your child away from anything they could bump into, and keep the floor clear.
• Set kind, clear limits. KidsHealth suggests deciding your rules in advance, such as how many drinks of water you'll allow, and sticking to them.
• Offer a comfort item. For toddlers over 1, KidsHealth suggests a comfort object such as a small toy or blanket can help them feel secure.

When should night waking worry you?

These tiers are based on the NHS guide to urgent medical help for under-5s and Pregnancy, Birth and Baby.

Call your local emergency number (000 in Australia, 999 in the UK, 911 in the US) now if your child:

• is struggling to breathe, breathing very fast, grunting or sucking in at the ribs
• has blue, grey, pale or blotchy skin, lips or tongue
• is floppy, very hard to wake or can't be woken
• is having a seizure
• has a weak, high-pitched or continuous cry
• hasn't had a wet nappy in 12 hours

Call your local emergency number (000 in Australia, 999 in the UK, 911 in the US) or go to the nearest emergency department now if your baby is under 3 months and has a temperature of 38°C (100.4°F) or higher. Pregnancy, Birth and Baby advises taking a baby under 3 months with a fever above 38°C to the nearest hospital emergency department immediately.

Get medical advice today (GP or a health advice line (Pregnancy, Birth and Baby on 1800 882 436 in Australia, NHS 111 in the UK, your pediatrician's after-hours line in the US)) if your child isn't feeding, has been vomiting for 24 hours, has a fever and seems unwell, or you think something is wrong.

Talk to your GP or child-health nurse soon if:

• waking changes suddenly or keeps getting worse, and you can't find a reason
• your child snores most nights, or gasps or snorts in their sleep; the Sydney Children's Hospitals Network's sleep apnoea page lists these as signs worth checking
• nightmares or night terrors happen very often, get worse or affect your child's days
• you have questions about feeding, weight or growth

How do you look after yourself through broken nights?

Broken sleep is hard, and it's not a sign you're doing something wrong. The NHS suggests asking a partner to share night feeds or take the early-morning change, or asking a friend or relative to stay for a few days so you can sleep. See sleep deprivation.

If you feel yourself becoming overwhelmed, Pregnancy, Birth and Baby advises placing your baby in their cot, walking away and returning when you feel calm. Never shake a baby. If low mood or anxiety is building, talk to your GP, a perinatal support line (PANDA on 1300 726 306 in Australia, Samaritans on 116 123 in the UK, the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline on 1-833-852-6262 in the US) or a parenting support service (Tresillian or Karitane in Australia, your health visitor in the UK, your pediatrician's office in the US). If you have thoughts of harming yourself or your baby, call a crisis line (Lifeline on 13 11 14 in Australia, Samaritans on 116 123 in the UK, 988 in the US) or your local emergency number (000 in Australia, 999 in the UK, 911 in the US) now.

What to note in a night log

For a week, note the times your child wakes, how long they're awake, and what settled them (feed, cuddle, a few words). Add anything that changed that day, such as a missed nap, a new tooth or a cold. Patterns often jump out, such as waking an hour after bedtime or after a short afternoon nap, and the notes help your GP or child-health nurse give specific advice.