Assuming your baby's circadian rhythm is scheduling a 6 A.M. wake up, then her body starts to secrete cortisol three hours prior to that. And at this point, the melatonin production has ceased for the night. So baby hits the end of a sleep cycle around 3:00.
However, sometimes when sleep pressure and the circadian sleep rhythm are no longer in sync with each other this can result in your baby waking up ready to go in the middle of the night and then having to stay up for a while before the circadian rhythm takes over enabling them to go back to sleep.
After 4am, the production of melatonin slows way down/stops. Sometimes this makes it hard for babies and toddlers to sleep past those wee hours of the morning. It can be hard to get your child to go back to sleep at this hour.
There are factors you can control, obviously. If baby's too hot, you can turn up the AC or put a fan in the room. If they're teething, a little Children's Tylenol can often solve the problem, at least temporarily. But those are the simple fixes.
The average newborn cries and fusses almost three hours a day until around 3 to 6 months of age. Some newborns cry more than this. Newborns are usually the most unsettled during their first three months.
Any waking between 4am and 6am is considered an early waking. Unfortunately, if your baby wakes at 6:15am, it may feel early but it's actually a natural biological time for them. We'd all love it if our babies slept until 8am but it's not something to expect.
Immature digestive systems: Babies have immature digestive systems and their little bodies are learning too! It's common for gas to build up, become trapped, and not be passed easily. Our digestive system is still active at night and the breakdown of milk and foods can cause excess gas.
Sleep Cycle: Babies wake up during the night primarily because their brain waves shift and change cycles as they move from REM (rapid eye movement) sleep to other stages of non-REM sleep. The different wave patterns our brains make during certain periods define these sleep cycles or “stages” of sleep.
Overtired. Being overtired is the most likely reason why your newborn is awake instead of napping, as newborns have VERY short wake windows and can become overtired very easily. Once a newborn becomes overtired, it becomes extremely difficult to get them to sleep.
Your baby isn't just learning new skills, she's also eager to practice them, even during the middle of the night. She's also being stimulated and storing loads of new information each day. All that brain overload is a good thing, but it makes it hard to settle down and may cause night wakings.
If your baby is still awake or sleeping lightly, hold your hand on your baby's chest for a few minutes. Gentle pressure can offer comfort and reassurance for your baby to settle down a bit. Remember, it can take up to 20 minutes to reach deep sleep.
Most often, temporary things like illness, teething, developmental milestones or changes in routine cause baby sleep issues — so the occasional sleep snafu likely isn't anything to worry about.
To help your baby sleep until 7am, it's essential to develop a calming and predictable bedtime routine, such as bathing, reading a story, or singing a lullaby. This routine will signal to your baby that it's time to sleep and make the transition to bedtime more comfortable.
If your child is waking at 5am, it is very likely she is still tired and can barely make it 1.5-2 hours before she needs a nap. If you are putting her down before 7:30/8am for a nap, her first nap of the day is essentially being lumped in with what should have been nighttime sleep.
Baby sleep
Most wake 2 to 3 times during the night for feeds. Babies have shorter sleep cycles than adults and wake or stir about every 40 minutes. By 3 months, many babies will have settled into a pattern of longer times awake during the day, and longer sleep times (perhaps 4 to 5 hours) at night.
The first three months with your baby often seem the hardest. Sleep-deprived parents can feel overwhelmed, but that is normal and you will quickly learn how to read your baby's cues and personality. Don't worry about “spoiling” your baby at this stage. The more responsive you are, the more secure your baby will feel.
Most babies will have a period of increased fussiness starting at around 2 weeks of age and usually peaking between 6-8 weeks of age. Although, this is a normal developmental stage for infants it can be very stressful for parents and caregivers.
General satisfaction with life increased in the first months after birth and peaked when the child reached 6 months old. The baby and toddler phase is not necessarily the happiest time in life.
So first of all, what is a split night? Well simply put, it is when your little baby (or toddler) wakes in the middle of the night for a LONG period of time and won't or can't go back to sleep. This could be up to a few hours or so.
We recommend using white noise all night long to help your baby settle and sleep, so definitely keep the white noise going while you're feeding your baby! This continuation of their “sleep noise” will ensure they remain sleepy and in the right zone to go right back to sleep after their feed.
Here's what happens... Assuming your baby's circadian rhythm is scheduling a 6 A.M. wake up, then her body starts to secrete cortisol three hours prior to that. and at this point, the melatonin production has ceased for the night. So baby hits the end of a sleep cycle around 3:00.