My baby won't sleep / keeps waking at night
Most relevant for 4–18 months, though the routine ideas work later too.
1What might be going on
- Night waking is common and normal in the first year — sleep cycles are short and still maturing.
- This can sometimes happen around new skills (rolling, crawling, standing), teething, or a growth spurt.
- Hunger, a room that is too warm or too bright, or a very late nap can also play a part.
2What you can try
- Keep the last hour before bed calm, dim, and predictable — same order, same place, every night.
- Put your baby down drowsy but awake when you can, so falling asleep does not depend on being held.
- Keep night-time care quiet and low-light: feed or change, then back to bed without play.
- Watch nap timing — an over-tired baby often wakes more, not less.
3Try this
Pick a four-step bedtime sequence you can repeat anywhere (bath, pyjamas, one book, lights out) and keep it in the same order for two weeks before judging whether it helps.
4Parent tips
- Take shifts with a partner or trusted adult if you can, so at least one of you gets a long stretch.
- Progress is usually uneven. A better week followed by a rough week is normal, not a failure.
- Write down wake times for a few nights — patterns are much easier to see on paper.
5Related resources
6When to seek additional help
Consider speaking with your child's pediatrician or another qualified professional if:
- Your baby is not gaining weight as expected, or feeding has changed a lot.
- You notice breathing pauses, loud snoring, or long gasping while asleep.
- You feel persistently low, anxious, or unable to cope with the exhaustion — speak with your own doctor too.