When a mother tells me: “My baby wakes up a lot at night. Is that normal?”
I always answer the same way:
Yes. It’s normal.
And you’re not alone.
We live in a culture that makes us believe the “ideal baby” is one who sleeps 12 hours straight in their crib, asking for nothing.
But that’s not real. It’s not physiological. It’s not realistic.
Why does your baby wake up?
Night wakings are not mistakes.
They’re a natural part of infant sleep development.
Some common reasons:
- Short sleep cycles:
Babies have sleep cycles of about 30–40 minutes. At the end of each cycle, they may partially or fully wake up. - Neurological immaturity:
Their nervous system is still developing. Waking is part of that process. - Physical or emotional causes:
Teething, hunger, growth spurts, separation, overtiredness, overstimulation… or just needing to check that they’re not alone.
Sometimes it’s “nothing”—but to them, it matters.
So… how many wakings are normal?
What’s “normal” depends on each baby.
I don’t want you to get too hung up on numbers—these are theoretical references and may look completely different for your child. But to give you an idea:
- At 4 months: waking every 1.5–3 hours is totally normal (even more is possible)
- Between 6–12 months: many babies still wake 2 to 4 times (still normal)
- After 12 months: 1 or 2 wakings are still common
The goal shouldn’t be to eliminate all wakings.
The goal is:
- That wakings feel more manageable
- That your baby feels accompanied
- That you can rest more, little by little
What can you do?
- ???? Observe and adjust sleep times
Sometimes small changes to naps or bedtime can improve the night. - ???? Strengthen the bedtime routine
A predictable ritual helps the baby’s system prepare for rest. - ???? Review sleep associations
What does your baby need to fall asleep? Is it sustainable for you?
Supporting sleep isn’t the same as creating dependency. And there are gentle ways to make small changes if needed. - ???? Lower expectations
This isn’t giving up.
It’s understanding your baby’s developmental reality—and caring for yourself from that place.
At HONEST, we believe…
The problem isn’t that your baby wakes up.
The problem is that you’re alone, exhausted, and lacking real information.
That’s why we don’t promise babies who sleep through the night.
But we do promise to support you, so that each night feels a little bit lighter.
