6. Why does my child wake every 2 hours overnight?
Frequent night waking mostly occurs due to assisted sleep associations – the conditions your child associates with falling asleep. If your child falls asleep being fed, rocked, or held, they’ll likely need these same conditions to fall back asleep between sleep cycles (which occur roughly every 2 hours). This is particularly common after the 4-month sleep regression when sleep cycles mature.
7. Do I recommend feeding to sleep?
While feeding to sleep is natural and works well for some families, it can become unsustainable if your child needs to feed back to sleep every time they wake between sleep cycles. If you’re happy feeding to sleep and it’s working for your family, there’s no need to change it. However, if you’re finding yourself exhausted from frequent night wakings, you might want to gradually move the feed earlier in the bedtime routine.
8. What is reverse cycling with overnight feeds?
Reverse cycling occurs when children take in most of their calories during the night rather than during the day. This often happens when children are distracted during daytime feeds or they have simply developed a habit of taking multiple feeds overnight. To address this, focus on creating a quiet feeding environment during the day and prioritise full and active feeds during the day in conjunction with an overnight weaning plan.
9. Should you always rely on tired signs?
While tired signs are helpful indicators for young children, they become less reliable as children get older. By around 4 months, some children may not show clear tired signs until they’re overtired. Additionally, children might show tired signs but not be tired enough for a full sleep cycle. I usually use wake windows and a clock-based schedule as my guide from about 4 months on.
10. My child is teething. Should I stop sleep training?
Teething doesn’t necessarily mean you need to stop sleep training. While some children experience discomfort, others aren’t greatly affected. If your child is teething: ● Treat any pain with appropriate medication as advised by your healthcare provider
● Continue with your usual routines where possible
● Offer extra comfort as needed
● Resume normal sleep practices once the acute teething phase passes
Remember, consistency with sleep routines helps provide security during uncomfortable periods like teething. Not only that, but children grow teeth for months on end, so if sleep was always put on hold for teething, better sleep may never be achieved.
Every child is unique, and what works for one family might not work for another. Trust your instincts while maintaining healthy sleep foundations, and don’t hesitate to seek professional support if needed.
About the author
Sally provides advice on the development of good sleep habits and healthy sleep foundations, her approach to sleep is holistic and nurturing with an emphasis on consistency and support.
