Frequently Asked Questions About Baby Sleep
- Written by Eva Beke, Founding Sleep Consultant at The Sleepy Little Bubs
Baby sleep advice is everywhere, but much of it is overly simplified. Babies have different sleep needs, temperaments, feeding requirements and routines, which means there is rarely one rule that applies to every family.
Below are answers to some of the most common questions parents ask about daytime sleep, night waking, bedtime and creating a safer sleep environment.
Does keeping a baby awake during the day help them sleep better at night?
Usually, no.
Keeping a baby awake for longer does not automatically mean they will sleep for longer overnight. When babies stay awake beyond what they can comfortably manage, they may become overtired, making it harder for them to settle and stay asleep.
However, daytime sleep still needs to be balanced. If a baby is consistently having more sleep during the day than they need, they may not have enough sleep pressure to settle easily at bedtime or maintain a consolidated night.
Rather than trying to tire your baby out, look at their overall routine, including the timing and length of their naps, their final awake period and how much sleep they are getting across 24 hours.
Should a 6-month-old sleep through the night without feeding?
Some 6-month-old babies can sleep for long stretches without feeding, while others still need one or more overnight feeds.
A baby’s feeding needs can depend on their growth, milk intake during the day, whether they were born prematurely, their individual development and advice from their healthcare provider.
There is no universal age at which every baby should stop feeding overnight. If you are considering reducing night feeds, it is important to make sure your baby is feeding well during the day and to seek guidance from an appropriate health professional when needed.
Is “sleep begets sleep” true for babies?
Only to a point.
Adequate daytime sleep can prevent overtiredness and support easier settling. However, this does not mean that increasing daytime sleep will always improve nighttime sleep.
Every baby has an individual sleep requirement. Once they have met that requirement, additional daytime sleep may reduce the sleep pressure available for bedtime. This can lead to difficulty falling asleep, long periods awake overnight or a shorter night.
The goal is not to maximise sleep at every opportunity. It is to help your baby get an appropriate amount of sleep, distributed in a way that supports both their naps and nighttime sleep.
Can too much daytime sleep cause night waking?
It can for some babies.
When a baby consistently sleeps for longer than they need during the day, they may:
Take a long time to fall asleep at bedtime
Wake for an extended period overnight
Start their day very early
Have a shorter night overall
Resist or skip a later nap
Night waking can also be caused by hunger, discomfort, illness, development, environmental factors, sleep associations or an age-related change in sleep needs.
Look at the full pattern rather than assuming one long nap is the problem. If the same issue is happening repeatedly, reviewing the baby’s total daytime sleep and routine may help.
Will putting my baby to bed later make them wake later?
Not necessarily.
Many babies continue to wake at their usual time in the morning, even after a later bedtime. This can simply result in a shorter night and a more tired baby the following day.
A later bedtime may be appropriate when a baby has had a late nap, is transitioning between nap schedules or naturally functions better with a later routine. However, it is unlikely to solve early waking on its own.
Early morning waking needs to be considered alongside nap timing, total daytime sleep, the final awake period, bedtime, feeding, the sleep environment and the baby’s natural circadian rhythm.
How can I tell whether my baby is overtired or undertired?
Overtiredness and undertiredness can sometimes look very similar, which is why it can be difficult to determine the cause from one bedtime or nap.
An overtired baby may:
Become upset or unsettled before sleep
Be difficult to calm
Fall asleep quickly but wake shortly afterwards
Wake frequently overnight
Wake early in the morning
An undertired baby may:
Appear calm and content at bedtime
Take a long time to fall asleep
Play, roll or move around in the cot
Wake for a long, happy period overnight
Consistently resist a nap or bedtime
Rather than relying on one sign, look for patterns over several days. The timing of naps, how long your baby takes to settle and the way they behave during night waking can provide more useful information.
Are baby sleeping bags safer than loose blankets?
A correctly fitted, hoodless baby sleeping bag can be used instead of loose blankets and bedding. It can help keep a baby’s face and head uncovered while reducing the likelihood of loose bedding moving around the sleep space.
The sleeping bag should:
Fit securely around the neck and arms
Be the correct size for your baby
Have no hood
Be appropriate for the room temperature
Be used according to the manufacturer’s instructions
Your baby should always be placed on their back in a clear, flat sleep space, with their face and head uncovered. Follow current Australian safer sleep recommendations when setting up your baby’s sleep environment.
Choosing an appropriately rated sleep sac can also make it easier to dress your baby consistently as room temperatures change throughout the year.
Baby sleep is rarely about one single factor
Daytime sleep, feeding, development, routine, sleep pressure and the sleep environment all work together.
Rather than changing several things after one difficult night, look for repeated patterns and consider your baby’s sleep across the entire 24-hour period. Small, targeted changes are usually more helpful than trying to follow rigid rules that may not suit your individual baby.
For more common sleep misconceptions, read 4 Common Baby Sleep Myths Debunked.
For personalised sleep support, visit The Sleepy Little Bubs
