Sleep
Night wakings and normal sleep
Your baby's frequent night wakings might feel exhausting, but they're often completely normal. Research shows that between 28-57% of babies 6-12 months still wake at night, and this doesn't affect their development or your long-term mood. The pattern varies—breastfed babies tend to wake more often than formula-fed babies, which is expected. It also matters that your baby's sleep looks totally different from yours in early months; babies spend lots of time in active sleep, the twitchy kind that actually helps their brains develop. Understanding what's normal for your baby can help you figure out what actually needs attention versus what's just part of early parenting. If you're worried about specific sleep patterns, your pediatrician can help you sort through what's typical for your child.
Clare shares research to help you feel informed — not to replace your doctor. For anything specific to your child, your healthcare provider is always the best first call.
Research sources
· Children (Basel, Switzerland), 2017
· American journal of human biology, 2021
· Pediatrics, 2018
· Sleep health, 2024