It is tiresome to experience the baby waking every 2 hours. Nights feel long. Sleep feels broken. Some parents begin to question whether something was the matter or the baby needed to sleep more.
In case that is what you think, you are not the only one. The wakefulness of a baby every 2 hours is one of the most common queries which parents search for. To a large extent, it is a natural early sleep development.
This article describes the reason why and what it can mean in a simple manner.
Is It Normal for a Baby to Wake Every 2 Hours
Yes, it is very common.
This is because many babies wake up every two hours particularly during the newborn age and early infancy. Their bodies are yet to develop. The nervous system is still developing. Waking up frequently does not necessarily imply that one is not sleeping well.
Babies are made to wake frequently. They wake to eat. They wake for comfort. They wake to feel safe. This is part of normal development.
If your newborn is waking very often, this guide on newborn not sleeping and understanding the causes may help explain what is happening during the earliest weeks.
How Baby Sleep Cycles Work
The sleep of babies is not the same thing as the sleep of adults.
Adults move through long sleep cycles.Babies have reduced sleep cycles. The average length of a baby sleep cycle is forty or sixty minutes. Babies tend to wake up after every cycle.
There are babies who relax to sleep independently. Others wake fully and need support. The baby awakening after every two hours is possibly the indicator of a child waking up between the sleep cycles.
This is normal among infants.
Common Reasons Babies Wake Every 2 Hours
Often, there is more than a single reason.
Hunger is one of the most prevalent causes. Babies have small stomachs. Milk is digested quickly. Normal feeding after every two hours may be common among young babies.
Light sleep also plays a role. Infants spend longer in light sleep as compared to adults. This will simplify their sleep response to noises, movement or temperature.
Sleep can also be changed as a result of development. Night waking may be enhanced as a result of growth spurts, the acquisition of new abilities, and the development of the brain.
Babies tend to awaken due to the desire to be near. When they are held, fed or soothed, they feel safe.
Baby Waking Every 2 Hours by Age
Age can influence sleep, but there is a wide range of what is normal.
Babies usually have their sleep lasting every two hours or even at shorter intervals. This is expected and healthy.
When babies develop, they start sleeping longer periods. Some keep on waking frequently for several months.
Older babies may wake more often during periods of change. This can include developmental shifts sometimes called sleep regression. If your baby’s sleep suddenly changes, this article on understanding sleep regression and how to cope with it may be helpful.
Hunger vs Habit. Understanding the Difference
Common questions that many parents ask themselves are whether frequent waking is a result of hunger or habit.
In young babies, hunger is usually a real need. Feeding supports growth and comfort.
Babies may also become night wakers more due to being comforted than because they are hungry. This does not imply that responding is incorrect. Babies have a valid need for comfort.
Sometimes it is not that easy to distinguish the difference. Observing indicators of your baby as they evolve could be helpful as a response guide.
How Frequent Waking Affects Parents
Broken sleep is hard.
Parents could be tired, emotional or overwhelmed. Others fear that he or she is up to something bad. The sentiments are quite universal.
Night care takes energy. It is okay to admit it feels difficult. Rest when you can. Accept help if it is available. Supporting yourself matters too.
Gentle Ways Parents Can Support Night Sleep
There are gentle steps that may support night sleep over time.
A calm evening environment can help. Lower lights and quieter activity may signal that night is approaching.
Even a basic bedtime routine can be of no harm. Babies may be reassured with the same steps repeated every night to make them feel safe and relaxed.
Showing patience and care to your baby also helps in building your trust. Changes often happen slowly. There is no need to rush.
A Real Life Example
Sara noticed her baby woke every two hours, every night. She felt tired and worried. She tried changing feeding times and bedtimes.
Over time, Sara focused on understanding her baby’s sleep instead of fixing it. She learned that short sleep cycles were normal at this age. She adjusted her expectations.
The nights did not change right away, but Sara felt calmer. That made the nights easier to handle.
Sometimes understanding brings relief before sleep improves.
Key Things to Remember
- Baby waking every 2 hours is common.
- It often reflects normal sleep cycles.
- Hunger, comfort, and development all play a role.
- Sleep usually changes gradually over time.
- Frequent waking does not mean you are doing something wrong.
Conclusion
Having the baby wake up every 2 hours may be exhausting and overwhelming. In many cases, it is a normal part of both sleeping and growing up of babies. Babies wake up to eat to feel safe and to pass through sleeping cycles.
With time, growth, and gentle care, sleep often changes. Always be nice to yourself until that time. Even when you are on the worst nights, you are satisfying the needs of your baby.
In case you are seeking high-quality design products that embrace the process of rest and relaxation, visit Baby Deep Sleep. Our products are created with safety, softness, and parent peace of mind in focus.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it normal for babies to wake every 2 hours?
Yes. This becomes very frequent and more so in young babies.
Why does my baby wake so often at night?
Common reasons are short sleep cycles, hunger and the need to be comfortable.
When do babies sleep longer stretches?
This varies widely. Many babies change gradually as they grow.
Does feeding cause frequent night waking?
Feeding often meets real needs, especially in early months.
Is frequent waking a sleep problem?
In most cases, no. It is part of normal development.
How long are baby sleep cycles?
Sleep cycles of babies are less than the sleep cycles of adults.
Let customers speak for us
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Made it possible to put the baby down in the baby nest! Before baby could just sleep on me.
We had extreme problems with our 3rd child's sleep. After 3 months, we were at our wit's end and tried just about everything. He never slept for more than 45 minutes at a time and not by himself. It improved with the weighted sleeping swaddle. Now he is 5 months old and sleeps well for several hours.
Our daughter is 17 months old and she has a regular wake-up schedule around 9 PM, 11 PM, 2 AM, 4 AM, and 5:30 AM, usually staying awake between 5:30 AM and 6:30 AM.
She frequently wakes up during the night, feeling upset, tossing and turning, and wanting to breastfeed. She gets upset if she doesn't get to breastfeed and prefers to sleep on us while we have to stand up and rock her back to sleep. She usually sleeps in my bed.
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We noticed a significant improvement just on the first night. In fact, I don't feel utterly exhausted this morning and don't have that pressing need to take a nap during the day, which I usually do. I'm feeling enthusiastic about the upcoming nights and hoping to get a full night's sleep without interruptions, so I can regain some normalcy in my life. I can't imagine what we would have done if we hadn't found this weighted sleeping bag.
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About 4 months ago, we entered a nightmare period. Our little boy, who had been sleeping through the night and was generally happy, suddenly started waking up multiple times during the night, inconsolable. Initially, we attributed it to a cold, but even after he recovered, the night disturbances continued. About 2 months later, he was diagnosed with asthma, which seemed like a valid reason for his nighttime awakenings. However, despite responding well to asthma medication and having no issues during the daytime, the nights remained a pure ordeal. He would wake up incredibly anxious and screaming, and we often found ourselves staying up for hours trying to soothe him back to sleep. We tried everything and came across something called 'Night Terrors,' which seemed to describe his symptoms perfectly – an anxious nightmare from which he couldn't wake up, likely triggered by his illness.
I am a trained occupational therapist, and I understand the importance of sensory stimuli for many individuals. So, we began researching products related to weighted blankets/bags. That's when we discovered this sleeping bag.
We received it a week ago, and now, he puts it on when he has his nighttime bottle, creating a positive association. And I must say, it's been a tremendous success. He has slept for a full 11 hours every night for the past 7 nights. Our boy is now extremely happy and well-rested, and so are his parents
Our son used to wake up in the middle of the night and struggle to fall back asleep, sometimes staying awake for 2-3 hours. When we read a lot about weighted pajamas, we decided to give them a try. We noticed results almost immediately. He started falling asleep faster and sleeping more peacefully. Instead of having 2-4 wakeful nights a week, it reduced to just one. Now that he has moved in with his big sister, he sleeps through the entire night, and we still use the weighted pajamas because we're afraid to try without them.
We purchased the Baby Deepsleep for our son a couple of months ago. It worked very well in terms of his daytime naps, but it was challenging to determine if it helped at night since our son continued to wake up as frequently as before. Nevertheless, it's a nice product, and I can certainly recommend it to everyone I know to give it a try
When my daughter turned 4 months old, her sleep gradually started to deteriorate. By the time she was 7-8 months old, it had become so bad that going to bed seemed pointless. She would wake up crying 1-2 times every hour throughout the night, and sometimes even more frequently during the early hours of the night. It was absolute torture.
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We purchased a weighted bag for our 13-month-old daughter, who hasn't had significant sleep issues. She used to wake up 3 times at night for breastfeeding. After using the weighted bag for 14 days, we've seen a noticeable improvement. She has at least halved the number of awakenings where she needs assistance to fall back asleep 🤪.
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Our baby becomes noticeably calmer as soon as we put on the sleeping bag.
I was recommended one for babies aged 8 months and older, with a minimum weight of 10 kg. However, it turned out to be too big for our child, so I am selling mine to buy a smaller one.