Why A Baby Won't Sleep at Night

While some babies sleep through the night, others wake and prevent their parents from sleeping. Depending upon parental expectations and the cultural situation, baby waking may or may not be a problem.

  1. Reasons for Waking

    • By the end of their first year, many babies can sleep through the night. Frequently, however, babies wake to eat. Bigger babies sleep longer without being fed, according to the University of Illinois Extension. Some return to sleep easily, but many do not.

    Cultural Considerations

    • Cultural beliefs play a role in how parents handle night waking. Some cultures don't expect babies to sleep alone, while others expect a baby to sleep through the night so parents can rest.

    Role of Personality

    • Some night waking can be attributed to a child's personality. At two years old, one out of every five children awakens and cries most nights. Like adults, babies can be restless or sound sleepers.

    Age Matters

    • Babies' sleep patterns are often dependent upon their ages. While newborns sleep sporadically, babies begin sleeping in blocks of six to eight hours by the age of four months. By six months, they are sleeping in 10 to 12 hour blocks. Babies normally awaken once a night up to the age of nine months.

    Fun Fact

    • Infants go through a complete sleep cycle about every 50 to 60 minutes.

    Warning

    • Parents must follow strict guidelines when putting babies to sleep. To lower the risk of SIDS, healthy babies should be put down on their backs.

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