Baby waking up at night: what is normal
What it's about
Everyone wakes briefly several times a night. In babies, sleep cycles are shorter than in adults – in one study about 62 instead of 81 minutes (Hammad 2026). Many children then fall back asleep on their own; others need help to go back to sleep.
What studies and expert bodies say
The BIÖG recommends keeping night-time activity to the bare minimum: little light, little talking, no play. It also describes how children at night often look for the same help they fell asleep with in the evening. Dental bodies such as the AAPD advise against letting children fall asleep with a bottle (more under “Milk at night”). In the app you can note what helped at every waking.
How much is normal?
Studies show big differences: babies and toddlers wake between zero and about three times a night (Galland 2012). In a Canadian study, at 6 and at 12 months, more than a quarter to over half of the babies did not yet have a 6- or 8-hour block of sleep – with no difference in development (Pennestri 2018). The BIÖG writes that by their first birthday most children can sleep 6 to 8 hours at a stretch and that waking is still normal after that.
What national health services say
In the UK, the NHS notes that newborn babies wake repeatedly in the night for the first few months, and suggests keeping nights dim and quiet so that babies learn that night is for sleeping.
Frequently asked questions
How often does a baby normally wake at night?
Studies show big differences: babies and toddlers wake between zero and about three times a night (Galland 2012).
When do babies sleep through the night?
The BIÖG writes that by their first birthday most children can sleep 6 to 8 hours at a stretch and that waking is still normal after that. In one study, at 6 and 12 months, a good quarter to over half of the babies did not yet have such a block of sleep (Pennestri 2018).
Why do babies wake more often at night than adults?
Everyone wakes briefly at night. In babies, sleep cycles are shorter – in one study about 62 instead of 81 minutes (Hammad 2026).
If you are worried
Experts recommend contacting your paediatrician or your local out-of-hours medical service if you are worried.
Sources
- Hammad et al. 2026: Sleep cycles in infants (actigraphy)
- Galland et al. 2012: Normal sleep patterns in infants and children
- Pennestri et al. 2018: Sleeping through the night at 6 and 12 months and development
- BIÖG, German Federal Institute for Public Health (kindergesundheit-info.de): sleep tips for the first year
- NHS: Helping your baby to sleep (reviewed January 2025)
General information, not a substitute for medical advice.
Sources checked: November 2026