25/02/2026
Who among us doesn’t wake up overnight for a drink or a wee, for some reassurance from a bad dream or because you need to flip the pillow around to the cool side?
But did you know that humans are designed to rouse between sleep cycles to check in with our body and surroundings for signs that we are safe to carry on sleeping? In adults that’s around every 90-110 mins and in little ones up to around three that’s every 45-50mins.
The difference is, when we wake overnight, our developed prefrontal cortex helps us to self settle back to sleep. Our bodies know it’s safe to continue sleeping. Little ones don’t have this - they need time and experience of their needs being responded to over and over again. They need us to help them!
The goal here shouldn’t be “how can I get my baby to sleep through the night” and instead should be “how can I best support my little one overnight to achieve more efficient sleep, in a way that’s developmentally appropriate”. This could be by looking at overall sleep in 24 hours, by addressing red flags, with connection, or by simply lowering expectations around what’s normal 🌙