Why Your Baby Wakes Every 2 Hours (And What to Do About It)

Baby waking every 2 hours can be exhausting, but it’s also very common, especially in the early months. Understanding why your baby wakes so often can help you find gentle ways to support better sleep.

Why Does This Happen?

• Hunger: Newborns have tiny stomachs and need frequent feeds, especially in the first few months. If your baby is older but still waking to feed, they may be doing it out of habit rather than hunger.

  
  

• Sleep Cycles: Babies have short sleep cycles (about 45-60 minutes). If they haven’t learned to link sleep cycles, they may wake fully between them and need help getting back to sleep.

  
  

• Discomfort & Development: Teething, illness, reflux, developmental milestones or being too hot or cold can disrupt sleep.

  
  

• Sleep Associations: If your baby relies on feeding, rocking, or being held to fall asleep, they may need the same help every time they wake.

What Can You Do?

• Look at Feeding Needs: If your baby is under 6 months, frequent feeds are normal. If they’re older and still waking often, gradually reducing night feeds may help if this is something you want to do (remember for breastfed babies especially we still expect feeds overnight until they are at least 9 months old, some even older).

  
  

• Encourage Self-Settling: Helping your baby learn to fall asleep without relying on feeding or rocking can make it easier for them to resettle between sleep cycles. Try a gentle approach which uses more hands-on settling or you can explore out of room approaches if this works for you and baby.

  
  

• Create a Sleep-Friendly Environment: A dark room, white noise, and a consistent nap time or bedtime routine can help your baby sleep longer stretches.

  Check for Discomfort – Ensure your baby is dressed appropriately for the temperature, and if teething or reflux is an issue, speak to your GP or health visitor for support.

Remember: Frequent waking won’t last forever! With time and gentle sleep foundations, your baby will gradually start sleeping for longer stretches. If you need help, I’d love to support you!