There are many reasons your baby may be waking up several times within an hour of going to sleep, though overtiredness may be one, there are several others. Knowing why your baby is waking can make dealing with it easier.
1. Undertired
Yup! Undertired can look very like overtired particularly in the number of wakes. The main difference is: baby wakes happy from a short sleep.
2. Discomfort
Babies sleep in short cycles – approximately 30-45 minutes long. Listen to your baby’s cry to determine what (and IF) they are asking.
Focus on figuring out the root cause of the wake (P.S. comfort is a need too!).
Focus on responding to what you think your baby is asking of you NOT what you expect they will ask. The first one is responding to what is happening in the present moment. The second one is responding to your prediction of the future.
3. Environment
Here are some environmental factors that may be waking baby:
- Lights
- Noises
- Temperature
- Itchy onesie
4. Underlying Health Conditions
Some examples of underlying health-related conditions are:
- Gas (can be caused by improper feeding, health condition, intro to solids)
- Tongue ties
- Reflux
- Food Sensitivities
- Iron deficiency
- Sensory processing
Any of these could contribute to wakefulness. If your baby is wakeful AND experiences symptoms of a health-related issue, then the wakefulness may be related to the underlying condition.***
*** Please note: Although these are common culprits that disrupt sleep, the list above is not exhaustive. It is not intended to be used as a substitute for getting individual medical advice from your individual provider(s).***
Did you find this article helpful?
If you want more information like this:
