Do Babies “Outgrow” Night Wakings?

Some babies, if you are lucky, will naturally be good sleepers and really enjoy zonking out in their beds on a regular basis. (You know those parents…”my baby was so EASY! I want to have FIVE kids!”)

However, not all of us are so lucky ;)

While conventional folk wisdom tells us things like “your baby will outgrow night waking” or “this too shall pass”, research actually shows that if no intervention is taken, night wakings can continue 3-4 years.

And while night wakings on into years 5, 6, 7 are less common, the parents of children those ages who have come to me for help definitely didn’t find that the habits were outgrown!

So don't listen to anyone who can only say "this too shall pass" while you are in the midst of suffering from sleep deprivation. There are very simple fixes (which don’t involve letting your child cry alone all night) to correct frequent night wakings whether in the first year, second, third, or beyond.

Sure, it's always helpful to start early, shaping a young baby's sleep habits through observing wake windows and sleepy cues, helping them gradually get used to the crib, using helpful tools like sound machines, etc.

But I also want to encourage you that it's never too late. If you have a child who is 1, 2, 3, and has never slept well or never slept through the night, I promise it's never too late for them to learn. And it may not even be as difficult as you would think, now that they are old enough to understand your verbal communication and use logic and reasoning.

I've helped children as old as 7 who had never slept through the night in their own beds before.

I actually love and specialize in helping toddlers and preschoolers so please reach out if your child has never slept well and you are ready to make a change.

Go to my link for all my free resources - daily schedules, ideal bedtimes, and newborn sleep foundations - or schedule a free 15 min discovery call with me to see if my sleep coaching services are right for your family!

Warmly,

Sara Skiles
Certified Pediatric Sleep Consultant