Frequent waking - what’s normal?

If your baby is waking every hour or two during the night, you're not alone and you're definitely not doing anything wrong. Frequent waking is a normal and expected part of infant sleep, especially in the first year. Still, when you're running on fumes and counting minutes of rest instead of hours, it's easy to feel mentally and physically overwhelmed.

Why Do Infants Wake So Often?

Infants have very different sleep cycles than adults. Their brains and bodies are still developing the ability to connect long stretches of sleep. Here are some common (and very normal) reasons babies wake up frequently:

1. Sleep Cycles are short

Newborn babies (under 12 weeks) have short sleep cycles, between 40-50 minutes. After this time they can fully wake and have a hard time linking sleep cycles. This is developmental and will start to change at around 4 months.

2. Hunger

Especially in the early months, babies need to eat every 2–4 hours. Their tummies are tiny!

3. Developmental Milestones

Rolling over, crawling, babbling—all those exciting milestones can disrupt sleep. Your baby might wake up to “practice” a new skill.

4. Sleep Associations

If your baby falls asleep while being rocked, nursed, or held, they may expect the same conditions when they wake between sleep cycles.

5. Separation Anxiety

Around 6–9 months, babies develop object permanence and begin to understand when you're not there. That new awareness can cause more night waking.

6. Growth Spurts or Illness

Teething, colds, or a sudden need for more milk during a growth spurt can lead to more frequent wakings.

7. Feeding issues or discomfort

Babies with reflux, allergies, or feeding difficulties (such as tongue tie or latching problems) may wake frequently due to discomfort and/or hunger. If your baby seems unsettled after feeds and/or during feeds, or is experiencing excessive wind or congestion, it’s worth speaking to a GP, paediatrician, infant feeding specialist or your health visitor.

8. Environment

If a room is too light, too noisy or too hot/cold, this can all cause your little one to wake. Nappy leaks are another common reason to see night wakes.

When Is Frequent Waking Normal?

It can be common for babies up to the age of 12 months to wake 1-3 times per night (especially if your baby is still feeding). Many babies by the age of 5-6 months will start to have longer stretches of sleep at night (particularly in the first part of the night) and some babies by the age of 12 months will be seeing consistent sleep overnight of 10-11 hours. If your baby is healthy, growing well, and generally happy during the day, frequent waking may just be part of their normal development. What’s not ideal is hourly waking that continues over time and leaves both you and baby exhausted.

When to Seek Support

If your baby is beyond the newborn stage and hourly wakings have become the norm, it may be time to look at sleep habits. Is the sleep environment supportive? Are feeding or physical issues being overlooked? Does your baby know how to settle independently at bedtime?

You Don’t Have to Struggle Alone

Sleep can be improved gently with responsive, evidence based strategies. You can guide your baby toward longer stretches of sleep – and reclaim some rest for yourself too.

If you’re ready for a more settled night, my 1:1 sleep packages are here to help.

Final Thoughts

Frequent waking can feel never-ending—but it won’t last forever. Your baby is growing, learning, and adapting every day. Night waking is really tough, but it’s also a sign that your little one is developing just as they should. If it becomes a problem, there are gentle ways to get longer stretches of sleep.

In the meantime, take care of yourself too. Ask for help and try and get some much needed rest when you can.