What Causes a 6-Month-Old Baby Not to Sleep?

Hunger

• Babies wake up to feed during the night. Realize that a breastfed baby wakes more often than a formula-fed infant, and some babies simply wake more often than others. At 6 months of age, a breastfed infant probably wakes up only once during the night to nurse. A formula-fed baby might sleep through the night or also wake to feed at this age. Often a baby will wake up around the same time every night to feed, so you will be able to anticipate the sleep interruptions.

Health Problems

• Sometimes waking at night can be an indication of an underlying health issue, so your pediatrician should be notified of any sleep issues. Sleep issues occur in infants who were born prematurely or had birth complications. Waking up throughout the night can also be a sign of a urinary tract infection, pinworm, colic, allergies, gastroesophageal reflux, pain (such as from teething or an earache) or a food allergy or sensitivity.

Discomfort

• Sometimes babies can't fall asleep because they are not comfortable. The temperature could be too hot or cold, or the baby could have too many or too few layers of clothing. The infant might also be uncomfortable in the diaper or pajamas he's wearing. The baby might have a wet or soiled diaper, causing discomfort and inability to fall asleep. Infants who sleep in the same bed as parents might stay awake because of an inability to sleep with others. Infants who sleep in a crib in a room alone might have separation anxiety and be too fearful to sleep.

Other Reasons

• A 6-month-old baby stays awake for other reasons as well. For example, the baby might be a light sleeper and wake up from various noises during the night. The baby might be stuck in a sleep pattern that involves sleeping less at night and more during the day. The average baby sleeps about 14.5 hours a day, but your child might sleep more or less than this. According to University of Michigan of Health System, babies who have depressed mothers often have sleep issues.