Hello dear parents,
In this article, I will give you an overview of the most common causes of nighttime awakenings and show you proven strategies for more restful nights.
In my daily work with babies and toddlers, I encounter this issue again and again: Many parents are confused and ask themselves, "What can we do if our little darling keeps waking up at night?"
First of all: Waking up at night is completely normal at first. Especially in the first few months, there are very obvious reasons for this, which we as parents know and can easily understand.
Hunger and thirst, discomfort, a full diaper, being too cold or too hot – all of these are typical triggers. Toddlers, on the other hand, often process the day's experiences while sleeping or are plagued by nightmares. Teething or a growth spurt can also disrupt sleep.
The most common causes of waking up at night in the first few months:
- Hunger and thirst
- Uncomfortable sleeping environment
- Processing of experiences
- Fears and nightmares
- Teething and growth spurts
Things become much more difficult for parents when their baby or toddler gets older and still wakes up several times a night. Some of you struggle with waking hours, while others have to breastfeed or bottle-feed their child every hour. This leads to significant sleep deprivation – for you and your little ones, and often the whole family suffers. If this continues for weeks or months, it can have serious consequences for the health of everyone involved. Long-term sleep deprivation should not be underestimated!
Many parents don't even realize what a lack of sleep does to their child. Children seem different from us adults; they often don't seem that tired. Many of you tell me that your child is very active and fit despite the lack of sleep. Some are even genuinely irritated that your little darling is so fit and cheerful, while you can fall asleep standing up.
How can this be?
A child's body has a very clever tactic: To help them cope with everyday life, it releases cortisol, a stress hormone. This hormone initially makes your child appear cheerful and sometimes even a bit fidgety and fidgety. Does that sound familiar? In fact, very few children are truly tired at first glance.
This cortisol makes it difficult for children to sleep peacefully and peacefully through the night. They are essentially constantly "stressed out." Furthermore, these children almost always need help falling asleep in the evening or even during the day, which in turn leads to them waking up even more often at night. This often creates a cycle that many parents find difficult to break.
The solution is for your little one to learn to sleep well and for long periods. Then the adrenaline in their body will disappear, and everything will be much more relaxed.
So what can parents do if babies wake up a lot at night?
If your child wakes up frequently at night, it's important that you remain calm and patient. I always recommend checking first whether your child is really awake or just transitioning into a new sleep cycle. So don't panic; wait and see. If your child is really awake, it often helps to just stroke them or speak to them gently. If your baby is hungry, you should, of course, feed them. But be careful not to let nighttime feedings become a habit, and find out how much food they really need at their age.
There are a few things to consider to ensure babies and toddlers sleep through the night appropriately for their age. Because everything is interconnected: Daytime sleep is just as important as nighttime sleep.
Here are some points that I believe are essential to improve baby sleep:
- An evening routine: A set routine before going to bed helps the baby prepare for the night.
- The right sleeping environment: Ensure a dark and cool children's room or bedroom (16-18 degrees).
- Age-appropriate sleep times: Make sure your baby gets enough sleep during the day.
- Gentle sleep support: Help your baby fall asleep on their own, but don't overwhelm them. Take small steps over several weeks! Step by step!
When does it make sense to seek professional support?
If your baby or toddler's nighttime waking persists over an extended period and is causing you stress as a parent, seeking expert support is definitely advisable. As an experienced baby sleep expert, I can help you identify the root causes of your child's sleep problems and develop a personalized, step-by-step plan with you that's tailored to your family.
In my Facebook group "Quiet Nights for You and Your Baby" with over 6,000 moms, we exchange ideas daily about these and many other topics related to baby sleep.
I have been a baby sleep expert for over 5 years and have accompanied over 900 families on their journey to restful sleep.
I warmly invite you to become part of this community and benefit from the experiences of other parents.
Feel free to visit me in my Facebook group or on my Instagram channel to learn more about my work and to exchange ideas with other parents.
Quiet nights and relaxed parents – that’s my goal!
Your Anne-Katrin from Schlafengel, baby sleep expert for over 5 years.
Further information at www.schlafengel.com
