is your baby waking out of hunger or habit

Parenthood is a beautiful journey filled with joy, but it can also be incredibly tiring, especially when your baby’s night wakings become a recurring challenge. Sometimes it can be hard to tell if your baby is waking out of hunger or habit at 2 am.

We often hear about the elusive goal of getting babies to “sleep through the night,” but did you know that even adults experience night wakings? These awakenings are a natural part of our sleep cycles.

In this blog post, we’ll explore the delicate balance between hunger and habit as potential causes of your baby’s night wakings. We’ll provide you with essential tips to help you understand and address this issue, and for more in-depth guidance, be sure to check out our 4-24 months baby sleep course on mastering your baby’s sleep.

understanding baby sleep cycles

To unravel the mystery of your baby’s night wakings, it’s crucial to understand sleep cycles. Initially, newborns have only two sleep cycles.

However, around 3-4 months, they experience a significant shift, adding two more sleep cycles to their sleep. It’s completely normal for babies to wake between these cycles. The key to helping them sleep through the night lies in their ability to fall back asleep independently and connect these cycles.

is your baby waking out of hunger or habit?

If your baby can independently fall asleep but still wakes up crying during the night, it’s a clear sign that they need something. The question is, what do they need?

Distinguishing between comfort feeding and genuine hunger can be challenging. Here’s how to tell the difference:

Hunger: A hungry baby actively feeds, takes a full feeding, and is typically easy to lay back down in their crib afterward.

Comfort Feeding: Comfort feeding involves suckling at the breast or bottle, similar to using a pacifier, or nursing or feeding briefly. Babies who comfort feed may be difficult to transfer back to the crib as they need to continue to suckle to stay asleep. If your baby relies on nursing or bottle feeding to fall asleep you may find more difficulty settling them for sleep without nursing whether it’s at bedtime or overnight.

hunger related wake ups

For babies under 4 to 6 months or those who are underweight, nighttime feedings may still be necessary. Sleep training doesn’t mean you have to eliminate these essential feeds. Most babies with independent sleep skills naturally drop night feeds when they’re ready, as they don’t rely on them solely to fall back asleep. However, the timing varies from baby to baby. Some may sleep 6-8 hours without a night feed as early as 3-4 months, while others may continue nighttime feeds closer to 6 months. It all depends on your specific baby.

To determine if your baby is waking due to hunger, consider the duration of their longest sleep stretch. If they’ve slept for 5+ hours but now wake every 2 hours, it’s likely not hunger-related, and other soothing methods can be employed.

habit related wake ups

Babies quickly adapt to the sleep associations they’re introduced to. If your baby has always relied on being fed, rocked, or held to fall asleep, they may continue to need these associations when they wake during the night.

As babies grow and go through developmental milestones or sleep regressions, new sleep disturbances can emerge. In these instances, you might resort to offering a feeding, rocking, or a pacifier to help them get back to sleep. While these strategies may work temporarily, they can lead to long-lasting habits that persist beyond the initial cause.

The good news is that you have the power to choose which habits or sleep skills you introduce to your baby. You can decide when to introduce them and how you react to night wakings.

4 signs your baby is waking out of habit

Waking frequently throughout the night: After the newborn period your baby can sleep at least one long stretch overnight before needing a feed. Many babies are able to sleep through the night without a feed between 4 to 6 months of age. If your baby is waking every 1-2 hours they are likely waking out of habit. As tired parents, when your baby is waking often and seeking comfort, one of the quickest way to soothe them is through feeding. This habit can lead to multiple night feedings and subsequently reduced daytime appetite.

Falling asleep quickly upon offering a feed: If your baby is falling asleep almost immediately or within a minute or two of offering a feed and NOT taking a full feed they are waking out of habit and the comfort of suckling back to sleep. I recommend removing feeding to sleep starting at bedtime. The Well Rested course takes you through this process step by step.

They do not fall asleep easily after a feed: If your baby is hungry overnight they should settle back to sleep quickly and easily after taking a full feed. If your baby is taking a long time to fall back asleep or needs a lot of extra comfort after a feed they are waking out of habit and not hunger.

They wake up at the SAME time no matter what happens the day before: Whether they eat 20 oz or 40 oz or they take great naps or crappy naps they ALWAYS wake up at the same time!

addressing night wakings

When your baby’s night wakings are causing exhaustion, here are some steps to help both you and your baby get back on track:

1. Early Bedtime: Ensure your baby isn’t overtired by keeping their bedtime early. During the adjustment period, consider moving bedtime even earlier than usual.
2. Regular Naps: If your baby is overtired, make sure they get the naps they need, even if that means using strategies like contact naps or car rides. Napping well during the day can improve nighttime sleep.
3. Watch Wake Windows: Pay attention to your baby’s wake windows to prevent overtiredness and understand their cues, whether they’re tired or hungry.
4. Establish a Consistent Routine: Consistency in bedtime and nap routines has been shown to help babies sleep longer and better. Look into a science-backed routine for optimal results.

conclusion

Understanding whether your baby’s night wakings are due to hunger or habit is essential for both your baby’s well-being and your sanity. While deciphering your baby’s needs can be overwhelming, remember that consistency is key. If you’re struggling to tackle night wakings, consider exploring our detailed sleep course for step-by-step guidance. With patience and the right approach, you can help your baby master the art of sleeping through the night, giving both of you the rest you deserve.

Need sleep support?

If multiple night wake ups and feeds or distracted daytime feeds are the norm…I have a class for you! The 4-24 Month Well Rested Collection will walk you step-by-step through a completely customizable sleep training experience. In just a few weeks, your baby will be getting 11-12 hours of independent night sleep, AND you’ll have a plan to navigate any future regressions or bumps in your journey. I’ll also help you set up a daytime routine and nap schedule that fits your family’s lifestyle and values. And you’ll get age-specific guidance to meet your baby right where he or she is developmentally at every stage from now until your baby turns 2.

I also offer 1:1 personalized sleep coaching to families including newborn support and sleep training plans starting at 4 months of age! I have multiple options that can help you get your baby’s sleep back on track!