Baby wakes every 2 hours? A sleep consultant shares helpful tips

Do you sometimes feel so sleep-deprived that you don’t know which way is up?

Does your baby wake up every 2 hours at night, wanting to be fed or nursed?

And sleeping through the night still feels like a distant dream?

Guess what: You’re not alone!

Only one-third of all babies sleep through the night by 12 months… And half of all parents struggle with sleep deprivation. Many also report feeling completely exhausted (according to a survey conducted in the UK).

Does this sound familiar?

If so, keep reading. In this article, I’ll share helpful tips and tricks to support you.

When will my baby sleep through the night? – Expert opinions

The answer to when a baby can theoretically sleep through the night varies widely among „sleep experts“ and pediatricians.

No wonder we parents feel so confused, right? 😉

Some say babies should have doubled their birth weight. Others believe that 1-2 night feedings are perfectly normal up to 9 months. Some suggest that babies should sleep through once they eat three full solid meals per day. Most parenting books assume that babies can „learn“ to sleep through the night by 6 months—but of course, that doesn’t apply to all babies. A few even push this milestone as early as 3-4 months (which makes me think, „Oh no, please no!“).

So how should we handle these mixed messages?

Personally, I would go with the most gentle of these recommendations, just to be on the safe side. After all, we’re talking about tiny human beings who are entirely dependent on us and have no way of telling us exactly when they’re ready for change.

The goal of helping a baby sleep through the night should always be to resolve existing sleep challenges—not to deprive them of food for the sake of convenience. I think we can all agree on that, right? 😉

(If you’re looking for support with sleep challenges, I highly recommend my free baby sleep course.)

YOU know your baby best

Given all these differing opinions, the logical conclusion is: Only you truly know your baby best (along with your pediatrician)! You have to decide whether your little one still needs nighttime feedings.

Is your baby waking up out of habit, or is it genuine hunger when they ask for the breast or bottle multiple times a night? Could their nighttime feedings be shifted to the daytime?

Often, it’s a tricky cycle: Because the baby drinks so much at night, they don’t eat enough during the day—so they’re hungry again at night… If your baby, at 3-4 months old, is waking every 1-2 hours at night and mostly sucking rather than actively drinking, chances are, this is more about sleep habits than true hunger.

Studies also show that introducing solids or increasing daytime feedings does not necessarily help in these cases!

By the way, you can read more about my own sleepless experiences (let’s just say, 13 nightly nursing sessions—yawn!).

Why you shouldn’t push for sleeping through the night before 6 months

If your baby is not yet 6 months old, please read carefully why I strongly do not recommend sleep training at this stage:

• From my experience with my six hungry breastfed babies—and my instincts—I would lean toward the later recommendation of 9-12 months. (If your baby naturally drops their night feeds earlier, that’s wonderful.)
• Additionally, breastfeeding and the associated occasional nighttime waking reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). This risk decreases significantly after the first 4-6 months. That’s why I personally recommend waiting until at least 6 months before considering any sleep training.
• Most sleep experts believe that babies do not develop the ability to fall asleep independently and self-soothe until around 4-6 months. Before then, it is normal for babies to sometimes fall asleep on their own in their crib (or bed) (yes, really! My fifth baby occasionally managed this without crying), but this should not be expected as the norm. That’s why only very gentle sleep approaches—if any—are advisable in the first four months.
• Swaddling is a wonderful way to provide your baby with warmth, security, and a womb-like feeling of snugness. Swaddling is recommended until about 4 months, or until your baby starts rolling over. However, sleep training should never be done while a baby is swaddled, as they need the ability to self-soothe—such as bringing their fingers to their mouth.
• Around the 4-month mark, babies go through a major developmental shift affecting their sleep and brain development. Their sleep cycles change, they wake up more frequently, they develop a sense of self, and they start rolling over. This phase can last 4-6 weeks. I believe it’s only fair to give them time to adjust before adding another challenge to the mix.

For all these reasons, I personally recommend supporting healthy sleep habits and gently encouraging longer sleep periods in the first 6 months—but definitely not expecting or forcing a baby to sleep through the night!

Defining „sleeping through the night“

So, what does „sleeping through the night“ even mean?

That’s actually a tricky question. Because, once again, experts don’t fully agree…

The term „sleeping through the night“ is defined differently depending on who you ask. Many sleep guides consider five consecutive hours of sleep to be „sleeping through.“ Meaning, if a baby skips one night feeding, it’s already counted as sleeping through the night.

Most parents, however, associate it with a full 10-12 hours of uninterrupted sleep. Given how exhausted we are, that definition sounds much more appealing, doesn’t it?

On the other hand, plenty of moms wouldn’t mind a brief nursing, bottle, or cuddle break at night—if it were just that one! I fall into this category. But as always, I truly believe that only you can decide what’s right for you and your baby!

The magical—and dreaded—4-month mark

Some newborns wake every 2-3 hours right from the start.

Others are so sleepy in the early weeks that they prioritize sleep over feeding. These babies might sleep four to five hours straight at night—at least when a growth spurt or other disruption doesn’t get in the way.

Around the 4-month mark, you’ll find out if you have a naturally great sleeper at home.

Between 3.5 and 4.5 months, your newborn’s sleep patterns undergo a permanent shift. From this point on, their sleep cycles will increasingly resemble those of an adult. This means more light sleep phases—leading to more frequent wake-ups, especially if they don’t find their usual sleep aid (nursing? bottle? rocking? bouncing?) when they stir in the middle of the night…

Many parents of 4-month-old babies can relate! (And this is more of a melancholic tune than a cheerful one.)

Plenty of babies who previously slept fairly well start having sleep issues around four months. This is a natural part of development! There will always be phases in our little ones’ lives when sleep takes a sudden turn for the worse.

By the way: Sleep regressions are completely normal, and here you can find out why the 4-month sleep regression is truly unique in a baby’s life.

In a nutshell

Experts believe that a 4-month-old baby weighing at least 7 kg (15.4 lbs) can achieve a 5-hour stretch of uninterrupted sleep at night. Typically, this longer sleep phase occurs at the beginning of the night, after which the baby wakes up more frequently for feeding.

Some babies naturally start sleeping for longer periods. Of course, none of my babies fell into this „miracle sleeper“ category, and yours probably didn’t either—otherwise, you wouldn’t be here. 😉

Like most baby sleep consultants, I believe that the vast majority of healthy babies can „learn“ to sleep through the night by 6 months. (For preemies, always go by their due date!)

Some babies still need 1-2 night feedings up until the end of their first year—especially if they’re particularly hungry breastfed babies. 😉

Please trust your instincts rather than relying solely on charts!

Looking for a clear answer?

Based on my research, my experience, and my six babies, I find that the 9-month mark is a great guideline.

From 10 months—certainly by 12 months—you can expect and gently encourage sleeping through the night. By this stage, the vast majority of babies are capable of getting their nutrition during the day and learning that nighttime is for sleeping. Even the „gentler“ sleep experts generally agree with this. (Bottle-fed babies often give up night feedings earlier. For healthy breastfed babies who are eating well during the day, I’d set the guideline at around 9-10 months.)

At a glance

Here’s a handy overview for guidance:

Night Weaning

Is your baby ready?

 

So, dear Mom and Dad—has the question „When will my baby sleep through the night?“ been answered for you?

Great!

You’re probably already wondering: „How do we make it happen?“

Right? Then let’s continue here: 5 simple steps: How to help your baby sleep through the night

 

Wishing you all the best and restful nights,
Your Sarah from Land of Little Dreamers