Why Is My Baby Waking Every Hour? (And What to Do Without Sleep Training)

It’s the middle of the night. You’re awake again. Your baby, who was just asleep what feels like moments ago, is crying and needs you again.

If your baby is waking every hour at night, it can feel physically and emotionally draining. You might wonder if something is “wrong”, if you’ve done something to cause it, or if your baby will ever sleep for longer stretches.

Let me reassure you: frequent night waking is not a reflection of poor parenting, nor is it something that always needs to be ‘fixed’ through sleep training. 

Babies wake for many reasons, and understanding those reasons is the first step toward more peaceful nights.

In this blog, I’ll guide you through what might be happening, why sleep training isn’t the only option, and how to gently and respectfully support your baby’s sleep.

Understanding Infant Sleep: A Biological and Developmental Perspective

In the first year of life, infant sleep is biologically different from adult sleep. Newborns spend around 50% of their sleep in active (REM) sleep, which is lighter and more easily disrupted (Grigg-Damberger, 2016). As babies grow, their sleep architecture matures – but not all at once.

Young babies typically cycle through light and deep stages of sleep every 40–50 minutes, whereas adult sleep cycles average 90–110 minutes (Galland et al., 2012). In the early months, these shorter cycles serve a purpose: they make babies more responsive to feeding cues and help regulate physiological processes like breathing and temperature.

As infants mature neurologically, their sleep becomes more stable. Around 4–6 months, circadian rhythms begin to strengthen, and by 9–12 months, more consolidated stretches of sleep become biologically possible (Jenni & O’Connor, 2005). However, this process can be influenced by a range of factors, including feeding needs, emotional regulation, and physical comfort.

Frequent waking is often a developmentally appropriate behaviour in the first year. That said, hourly waking is not always normal, and when it persists, it can signal that something else is going on.

Why Might My Baby Be Waking Every Hour?

Here are some of the most common – and often overlooked – reasons for hourly night waking in infants and toddlers.

1. Physical Discomfort or Body-Based Tension

If your baby is waking frequently and seems unsettled, it’s worth exploring whether something in their body feels uncomfortable – especially when lying flat.

Common causes of physical discomfort include:

• Reflux and digestive discomfort: Babies with reflux may wake more often due to burning sensations, trapped wind, or regurgitation (Rosen et al., 2018).
• Food intolerances or allergies: These can cause bloating, eczema, congestion, or discomfort that disrupts sleep. Non-IgE mediated allergies (e.g. CMPA) often present with delayed symptoms (Venter et al., 2017).
• Oral function challenges: Tongue tie, high palates, or uncoordinated sucking can lead to inefficient feeding and increased air swallowing, contributing to wind and discomfort – especially at night.
• Birth tension: Babies born via assisted delivery, fast or prolonged labour, or caesarean may carry residual tension in the head, neck, and jaw that impacts feeding, digestion, and sleep. This can manifest as restlessness, back-arching, or waking frequently when laid flat.

Want to learn more? Read my blog: Why Your Baby’s Birth Can Be Linked to Their Sleep and Feeding

In many cases, this type of tension can be supported through gentle bodywork (e.g. craniosacral therapy or osteopathy) alongside responsive sleep and feeding strategies.

2. Cognitive and Developmental Milestones

Around the time your baby learns to roll, crawl, sit, stand, babble, or gesture intentionally, their brain is forming thousands of new connections. These milestones represent a huge leap in neurological organisation, which often shows up as more fragmented sleep (Scher, 2005).

During these times, your baby may wake more frequently because they are processing new experiences and gaining independence. It’s not a regression, and it’s not something to train away – it’s progress, even if it doesn’t feel like it at 2 am.

3. Imbalance in Sleep Pressure or Wake Times

Sleep pressure builds the longer we’re awake. Babies who are under-tired (napping too frequently or for too long during the day) may struggle to stay asleep at night. On the flip side, overtired babies – particularly those with long wake windows or short naps – often struggle to stay asleep due to cortisol dysregulation.

As a guide:

Age	Approx. Wake Windows	Total Daytime Sleep
4–6 months	2–2.5 hours	3–4.5 hours
6–10 months	2.5–3.5 hours	2.5–3.5 hours
10–18 months	3–5 hours (1 or 2 naps)	2–3 hours

(Source: Sleep Health Foundation, 2020)

4. Feeding Patterns and Sleep Associations

Some babies wake more frequently to feed, particularly during growth spurts or times of transition. While night feeding is biologically normal, especially under 12 months, feeding every hour may signal a comfort association or underlying feeding issue.

This isn’t something that needs to be “broken” – rather, it’s a cue to observe your baby’s feeding efficiency, swallowing, and settling strategies. A feeding assessment may be useful if you’re unsure whether feeds are nutritive or purely for comfort.

What Can I Do to Support My Baby’s Sleep – Gently?

Let’s be clear: sleep training is not your only option. If your instincts are telling you that your baby needs support, not separation, here’s how to start.

1. Rule Out Discomfort First

Look for signs like:

• Back-arching or stiff body posture when laid down
• Gagging, hiccups, or frequent posseting
• Gassy tummy, straining, or difficulty passing wind
• Persistent congestion or mouth breathing

If you suspect discomfort is playing a role, consider speaking to your GP, IBCLC, or infant feeding specialist. You may also want to explore cranial osteopathy or a feeding assessment if birth tension or oral function issues are present.

2. Rebalance Sleep Pressure

Take a close look at your baby’s naps and wake windows. Try adjusting nap lengths, extending or shortening wake windows, or moving bedtime slightly earlier to see if it helps them stay asleep longer.

3. Introduce Comfort Layers

• A breathable comforter (for babies over 6 months)
• White or pink noise to buffer environmental sounds
• Bedsharing safely can also support longer sleep stretches for many families (Ball & Volpe, 2013)

Read: Safe Bedsharing: A Guide for Parents Who Don’t Want to Sleep Train

4. Gently Stretch Night Feeds (If Age-Appropriate)

If your baby is over 6 months and waking hourly to feed, you can begin to gently space out feeds using comfort first. Try cuddling or rocking before immediately offering the breast or bottle if it’s been under 2 hours since the last feed.

This isn’t about denying needs – it’s about gradually building your baby’s ability to settle in other ways, with your support.

When Should I Seek Help?

If your baby is waking hourly and:

• Seems consistently uncomfortable or in pain
• Has difficulty feeding, gaining weight, or staying latched
• Has persistent reflux symptoms, allergies, or congestion
• Sleep feels unsustainable for your mental or physical wellbeing

…it’s time to reach out. You deserve support. Your baby deserves to feel better.

Final Thoughts

Hourly waking is exhausting, but it’s not a sign of failure, it’s a signal. Often, that signal is pointing to a deeper need: for comfort, regulation, or physical support.

With the right information, a bit of trial and error, and a responsive, gentle approach, sleep can become easier, without ever having to shut the door and leave your baby to cry.

Need personalised support?

I offer holistic 1:1 sleep consultations that look at the whole child – sleep, feeding, birth history, and more. We’ll find the root cause of the waking, not just a quick fix.

👉 Book a FREE 15 minute discovery call here

FAQ’S

FAQ 1: Will my baby ever sleep through the night without sleep training?

Yes! Babies naturally start consolidating sleep as their nervous system matures and discomforts (like reflux or teething) ease. Gentle adjustments and connection-based support can help speed the process up—without leaving your baby to cry.

FAQ 2: How do I know if hourly waking is caused by discomfort?

Look for signs like back-arching, congestion, frequent spit-ups, excessive wind, or difficulty feeding. If you suspect reflux, allergies, or feeding issues, speak with a healthcare professional or holistic sleep coach for tailored support.

FAQ 3: My baby feeds hourly at night—should I stop feeding?

Not necessarily. Night feeds are normal, especially under 6 months. If your baby is over 6 months, growing well, and waking every hour to feed, you can gently stretch feeds using comfort first (rocking, shushing) before feeding if it’s been less than 2 hours.

References

Ball, H.L. & Volpe, L.E. (2013). Infant sleep and parental fatigue in the first year of life. Sleep Medicine Clinics, 8(3), 287–299.

Galland, B.C., Taylor, B.J., Elder, D.E. & Herbison, P. (2012). Normal sleep patterns in infants and children: A systematic review of observational studies. Sleep, 35(11), 1435–1444.

Grigg-Damberger, M. (2016). The Visual Scoring of Sleep in Infants 0 to 2 Months of Age. Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, 12(3), 429–445.

Jenni, O.G. & O’Connor, B.B. (2005). Children’s sleep: An interplay between culture and biology. Pediatrics, 115(1 Suppl), 204–216.

Rosen, R., Vandenplas, Y., Singendonk, M., et al. (2018). Pediatric Gastroesophageal Reflux Clinical Practice Guidelines. Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, 66(3), 516–554.

Scher, A. (2005). Infant sleep at 10 months of age as a window to cognitive development. Early Human Development, 81(3), 289–292.

Sleep Health Foundation. (2020). Sleep needs across the lifespan. https://www.sleephealthfoundation.org.au

Venter, C., Maslin, K., Allen, K., et al. (2017). Better recognition, diagnosis and management of non-IgE-mediated cow’s milk allergy in infancy: iMAP guideline. Archives of Disease in Childhood, 102, 902–908.