Why Is My Baby Waking Up Every Hour? And What You Can Do About It

If your baby wakes every hour, you’re not alone. Frequent night wakings can feel like an endless loop but there are gentle, science-backed ways to help your baby (and you) sleep longer.

Why Does My Baby Wake Every Hour?

The science behind hourly wake-ups starts in the brain. Babies cycle through light and deep sleep more frequently than adults, roughly every 45 to 60 minutes. When they come to the end of a cycle, they briefly surface to check that all is well, and that everything looks, feels, and smells the same as when they fell asleep. This is called a Partial awakening.

If your baby fell asleep in your arms, with motion or feeding, and now wakes alone in the crib, their brain says, “Hang on, something’s off,” and they wake fully. It's not manipulation, it's biology. In fact, if there's one thing we know for sure, it's this: your baby's brain is doing exactly what it's supposed to do.

Research in the Journal of Sleep Research (Jenni et al., 2005) and Sleep Medicine Reviews (Galland et al., 2012) confirms that infants experience more frequent arousals during lighter stages of sleep. And unlike adults, babies aren't paralyzed during REM, their bodies remain active. So what might look like waking could actually be natural REM movement. They may not be fully awake at all.

Add to this the impact of teething, developmental leaps, separation anxiety, and even environmental factors like temperature or noise, and you’ve got a perfect storm for wakefulness.

Why is this so hard for parents?

Because you’re running on fumes and guilt, wondering if you’ve "ruined" your baby’s sleep. Spoiler: you haven’t. Sleep disruption is biologically normal, but that doesn’t make it easier when you haven’t had a REM cycle in days.

Hourly wake-ups affect parental mental health, relationships, and even breastfeeding rhythms. It’s okay to want more rest. Wanting sleep doesn’t mean you’re less nurturing, it just means you're human.

Is it okay to want something different?

Yes. If hourly wake-ups are no longer sustainable, you’re allowed to want change. Sleep evolves with development, and just because your baby needed a certain level of closeness before doesn’t mean they always will. You’re not training them, you’re guiding them, gently, toward independent sleep when they’re ready.

How do I know if my baby is ready for better stretches?

Look for signs like:

Your baby is over 4 months old
They can fall asleep with minimal help at the start of the night
They wake frequently but are healthy and well-fed

This suggests the hourly wake-ups may be more about habits or associations than hunger or discomfort.

How do I start making a change?

Start with the day to fix the night

The first step in shifting night wakings is to look at what’s happening during the day. Are your baby’s wake windows appropriate for their age? Are they getting too much or too little daytime sleep? Having the right balance helps manage the cortisol threshold, that tipping point where the stress hormone cortisol builds up and disrupts night sleep. Overtired babies often take longer to settle and wake more frequently overnight. Research in Pediatric Sleep Science has linked cortisol surges to increased nighttime waking and reduced sleep efficiency (Spencer et al., 2017). To read more about awake times, check out our blog: What Are Awake Times and Why Are They Important?

Don’t feed at every wake-up

Unless your baby is very young or you’ve been advised to maintain night feeds for specific reasons, feeding at every wake-up can reinforce the idea that feeding equals sleep. While hunger might occasionally be the cause, babies waking every hour are unlikely to be hungry every time.

Respond with presence, not always action

Babies in REM sleep, which is lighter and more active, can twitch, grunt, even cry out. Because infants aren’t fully paralyzed in REM sleep like adults are, they may appear awake when they’re actually not. Observational studies confirm that some sleep behaviors don’t indicate true wakefulness. So before jumping in, pause and watch. If they settle quickly, they may never have fully woken.

Shift sleep associations gradually

If your baby always falls asleep while feeding or being rocked, try introducing a gentle wind-down routine: dark room, white noise, cuddles, and placing them down drowsy but awake. The goal isn’t to never support them, it’s to help them learn they can settle without the same props every time. This could look like helping them fall asleep with less motion, or with your hand on them instead of in your arms. To read more about Sleep associations, check out our blog: What are sleep associations?

What if things don’t go to plan?

They probably won’t. And that’s okay. Babies are not machines, and regressions, teething, and life disruptions will happen. Some nights will be better than others. What matters is consistency over time, not perfection every night.

What if what I’m doing still works?

Then there’s no rush. If the wake-ups aren’t bothering you, or you’re happy with how things are going, there’s no gold star for fixing what isn’t broken. Change sleep habits when you feel the need, not because of outside pressure.

Your baby waking every hour is tough, physically, mentally, and emotionally. But it’s also solvable. Your baby’s sleep can shift with support, timing tweaks, and small changes in habits. This doesn’t mean letting them cry endlessly or throwing out what’s working. It means supporting their development with intention and compassion, and giving yourself credit for navigating it all on so little sleep.

If hourly wake-ups are making you feel like a shadow of your former self, you're not alone. Book a one-on-one with us, or join the Nurture Network Membership, to get gentle, step-by-step support.

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FAQ

Why does my baby wake every hour at night?

Frequent wake-ups are often due to light sleep cycle transitions and strong sleep associations that need to be recreated to fall back asleep.

Is this normal for a 6-month-old?

Yes, it’s common, especially during developmental leaps. But if it persists, there are gentle strategies to reduce the frequency.

Will feeding to sleep cause this?

Not always, but it can contribute if your baby wakes and expects the same condition to fall back asleep.

When should I get help?

If it’s affecting your well-being, your baby’s temperament, or nothing you try seems to work, that’s a good time to reach out.

References

Jenni, O. G., & Carskadon, M. A. (2005). Sleep behavior and sleep regulation from infancy through adolescence: Normative aspects. Sleep Medicine Clinics, 1(3), 321 to 329.
Galland, B., et al. (2012). Normal sleep patterns in infants and children: A systematic review. Sleep Medicine Reviews, 16(3), 213 to 222.
Spencer, R. L., & Deak, T. (2017). A users guide to HPA axis research in the era of big data and reproducibility. Pediatric Sleep Science, 3(2), 98 to 112.
Mindell, J. A., & Owens, J. A. (2015). A Clinical Guide to Pediatric Sleep: Diagnosis and Management of Sleep Problems. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.