{"id":24727,"date":"2025-06-19T10:00:13","date_gmt":"2025-06-19T10:00:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.may.app\/?p=24727"},"modified":"2025-07-02T12:09:04","modified_gmt":"2025-07-02T12:09:04","slug":"should-you-wake-a-baby-during-sleep","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.may.app\/en\/blog\/newborn\/should-you-wake-a-baby-during-sleep\/","title":{"rendered":"Should you wake a baby during sleep?"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Waking your baby or letting them sleep<\/strong>: this is a question many new parents ask themselves. How much should you respect your baby\u2019s sleep cycles? Are there situations where it\u2019s better to wake them?<\/span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Should you wake a baby during sleep?<\/strong> Let\u2019s take a closer look.<\/span>\r\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Understanding your baby\u2019s sleep<\/span><\/h2>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A baby\u2019s <strong>sleep<\/strong> is as fascinating as it is full of questions: before addressing the topic of waking, let\u2019s first look at the key points about <strong>an infant\u2019s sleep cycles<\/strong>.<\/span>\r\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Infant sleep cycles<\/span><\/h3>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>A baby\u2019s sleep is very different from that of an adult<\/strong>. At birth, newborns alternate between two main phases:<\/span>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Active sleep (or REM sleep)<\/strong>: your baby moves, makes facial expressions, stretches, makes small noises, sometimes opens their eyes\u2026 but they\u2019re still asleep! This phase accounts for <strong>up to 80% of sleep time between 0 and 3 months<\/strong>.<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Deep sleep<\/strong>: your baby is completely relaxed, with a peaceful face and deep breathing.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>In newborns, a complete sleep cycle lasts 40 to 50 minutes<\/strong>, with a chance of waking up or falling back asleep at the end of each cycle. <strong>From 2 months onwards, sleep structure changes<\/strong>: cycles lengthen and now last <strong>between 60 and 70 minutes<\/strong>. Between <strong>18 months and 3 years<\/strong>, cycles reach <strong>90-120 minutes<\/strong>, becoming <strong>similar to those of adults<\/strong>.<\/span>\r\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sleep needs by age<\/span><\/h3>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sleep time <strong>varies greatly from one child to another<\/strong>. It depends not only on <strong>their age<\/strong> but also on <strong>their own biological clock<\/strong>. Therefore, it\u2019s hard to predict exactly how much sleep each child needs. Nevertheless, here are some <strong>general guidelines<\/strong> based on your baby\u2019s age.<\/span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<table style=\"height: 151px;\" width=\"749\">\r\n<tbody>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td><strong>Baby\u2019s age<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<td><strong>Hours of sleep per 24h<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<td><strong>Number of naps<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">0-3 months<\/span><\/td>\r\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">16 to 20 h<\/span><\/td>\r\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">4 to 6<\/span><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">3-6 months<\/span><\/td>\r\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">14 to 17 h<\/span><\/td>\r\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">3 to 4<\/span><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">6-12 months\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\r\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">13 to 15 h<\/span><\/td>\r\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2 to 3<\/span><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">12-18 months<\/span><\/td>\r\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">12 to 14 h<\/span><\/td>\r\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1 to 2<\/span><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">18 months &#8211; 3 years<\/span><\/td>\r\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">11 to 13 h<\/span><\/td>\r\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1<\/span><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-24208 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.may.app\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/happy-family-life-2025-03-05-23-28-52-utc.webp\" alt=\"Should you wake a baby during sleep? - May App Sant\u00e9\" width=\"1875\" height=\"1250\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.may.app\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/happy-family-life-2025-03-05-23-28-52-utc.webp 1875w, https:\/\/www.may.app\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/happy-family-life-2025-03-05-23-28-52-utc-300x200.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.may.app\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/happy-family-life-2025-03-05-23-28-52-utc-1024x683.webp 1024w, https:\/\/www.may.app\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/happy-family-life-2025-03-05-23-28-52-utc-768x512.webp 768w, https:\/\/www.may.app\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/happy-family-life-2025-03-05-23-28-52-utc-1536x1024.webp 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1875px) 100vw, 1875px\" \/>\r\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When and why to wake a baby?<\/span><\/h2>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In most cases, it\u2019s <strong>not necessary to wake a sleeping baby, unless specifically advised by a doctor<\/strong>.<\/span>\r\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Waking a baby for feeds or meals<\/span><\/h3>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You may <strong>sometimes feel tempted to wake your baby<\/strong> to <strong>offer a feed or a bottle<\/strong>. However, note that a healthy newborn (alert, with <strong>steady weight gain<\/strong>\u2026) <strong>doesn\u2019t need to be woken up to eat<\/strong>. It\u2019s usually <strong>best to wait until they show hunger cues<\/strong> (turning their head, rooting, crying).<\/span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Some special situations<\/strong> may justify waking for feeds, such as:<\/span>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A newborn <strong>under one month<\/strong> who <strong>doesn\u2019t spontaneously demand feeds<\/strong>.<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A <strong>premature or low birth weight baby<\/strong> requiring close medical monitoring.<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A baby with <strong>significant weight loss<\/strong> or <strong>insufficient weight regain<\/strong>.<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A <strong>specific medical recommendation<\/strong>.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In any case, we recommend <strong>seeking advice from your pediatrician or doctor beforehand<\/strong> to ensure the best option for your baby.<\/span>\r\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Medical situations requiring waking<\/span><\/h3>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Waking a baby <strong>may be recommended in case of illness or upon medical advice<\/strong>. Examples include:<\/span>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A <strong>neonatal jaundice<\/strong> requiring regular feeding.<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A <strong>scheduled medical treatment<\/strong> (e.g., medication at fixed times).<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Certain <strong>metabolic disorders<\/strong> or <strong>chronic conditions<\/strong> where your healthcare professional recommends close monitoring of sleep and wake times.<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Monitoring for <strong>sleep deprivation<\/strong> or <strong>excessive sleepiness<\/strong>.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Again, in such cases, <strong>only a healthcare professional can determine if waking your baby is necessary<\/strong>. Don\u2019t hesitate to seek medical advice.<\/span>\r\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Waking a baby to regulate sleep<\/span><\/h3>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As we\u2019ve seen, for infants and young babies, it\u2019s <strong>generally not recommended to interrupt a nap or a sleep cycle<\/strong> (unless advised otherwise). However, note that <strong>after age 2<\/strong>, <strong>naps that are too long or too late<\/strong> during the day can <strong>disrupt bedtime at night<\/strong>. It may then be helpful to <strong>wake your child if the nap lasts too long<\/strong>, to avoid <strong>bedtime struggles<\/strong>.<\/span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Want to learn more? Feel free to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/app.adjust.com\/1pblulz8\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">download the May app<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, where you&#8217;ll find plenty of resources to support and guide you throughout your journey as a new parent.<\/span>\r\n\r\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-544 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.may.app\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/reveiller_bebe.jpg\" alt=\"Should you wake a baby during sleep? - May App Sant\u00e9\" width=\"1200\" height=\"801\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.may.app\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/reveiller_bebe.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.may.app\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/reveiller_bebe-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.may.app\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/reveiller_bebe-1024x684.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.may.app\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/reveiller_bebe-768x513.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/>\r\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Waking a baby: what impact on development?<\/span><\/h2>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For babies, <strong>sleep is not just a time for rest<\/strong>: it\u2019s a true engine of growth. Indeed, <strong>deep and uninterrupted sleep<\/strong> allows your baby to <strong>secrete essential growth hormones<\/strong>, <strong>consolidate daily learning<\/strong> and <strong>recharge their energy<\/strong>. This is why it\u2019s recommended not to wake your child unless medically indicated.<\/span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Interrupting sleep cycles or naps repeatedly and without reason can <strong>have several impacts on development<\/strong>:<\/span>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Disruption of sleep cycles<\/strong>: waking a baby during active sleep or mid-cycle can make the next sleep onset more difficult.<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Increased sleep disturbances<\/strong>: imposed awakenings can promote sleep disorders like difficulty falling asleep, more frequent <strong>night awakenings<\/strong>, or bedtime anxiety.<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Sleep deprivation<\/strong>: an overall lack of sleep can lead to fatigue, irritability, decreased concentration, and mood disorders during the day.<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Impact on psychomotor development<\/strong>: sleep is key for nervous system maturation, memory consolidation, and <strong>language development<\/strong>. Lack of sleep or frequent awakenings can hinder certain motor or cognitive learning processes.<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Disrupted sense of security<\/strong>: unnatural awakenings can disturb your baby\u2019s confidence in their sleep environment and make falling asleep more stressful.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-24202 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.may.app\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/baby-boy-with-headache-in-bed-2025-03-06-09-11-11-utc.webp\" alt=\"Should you wake a baby during sleep? - May App Sant\u00e9\" width=\"2253\" height=\"1504\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.may.app\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/baby-boy-with-headache-in-bed-2025-03-06-09-11-11-utc.webp 2253w, https:\/\/www.may.app\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/baby-boy-with-headache-in-bed-2025-03-06-09-11-11-utc-300x200.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.may.app\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/baby-boy-with-headache-in-bed-2025-03-06-09-11-11-utc-1024x684.webp 1024w, https:\/\/www.may.app\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/baby-boy-with-headache-in-bed-2025-03-06-09-11-11-utc-768x513.webp 768w, https:\/\/www.may.app\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/baby-boy-with-headache-in-bed-2025-03-06-09-11-11-utc-1536x1025.webp 1536w, https:\/\/www.may.app\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/baby-boy-with-headache-in-bed-2025-03-06-09-11-11-utc-2048x1367.webp 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2253px) 100vw, 2253px\" \/>\r\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Baby sleep: practical tips<\/span><\/h2>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here are some <strong>additional tips<\/strong> about your child\u2019s sleep.<\/span>\r\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Creating a sleep-friendly environment<\/span><\/h3>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">An <strong>adapted sleep environment<\/strong> at bedtime helps facilitate your baby\u2019s sleep. Moreover, a <strong>reassuring setting<\/strong> promotes continuous sleep cycles.<\/span>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>A calm and dimly lit room<\/strong>: choose a quiet space with soft lighting, especially at night. An environment that\u2019s too bright or noisy can hinder falling asleep and promote restless sleep.<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Ideal room temperature<\/strong>: keep the <strong>room temperature<\/strong> around 18-20\u00b0C. A room that\u2019s too hot or too cold can disrupt your baby\u2019s sleep cycles.<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>A safe crib<\/strong>: lay your baby on their back, in an appropriate crib, without pillows or blankets. A clear and safe space reduces the risk of waking due to discomfort (and also lowers the risk of suffocation).<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Soothing bedtime rituals<\/strong>: establish a simple and consistent routine (gentle song, cuddle, short story) before each nap or bedtime. This helps your baby understand that sleep time is approaching and supports the transition to sleep.<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Distinguishing day from night<\/strong>: to help regulate your baby\u2019s biological clock, expose them to natural light during the day and dim lighting in the evening. During the day, don\u2019t hesitate to let them nap in a slightly livelier environment, then prioritize calm at night.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What to do during night awakenings?<\/span><\/h3>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For babies, <strong>night awakenings are common<\/strong>. They\u2019re part of normal development and sleep cycles. Here\u2019s how to react:<\/span>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Stay calm and reassuring<\/strong>: when your baby wakes, approach them gently. Speak softly, avoid over-stimulating them (by turning on bright lights or speaking loudly). Prefer to comfort them while they\u2019re still in their bed, gently stroking their face, for example.<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Check their needs<\/strong>: babies may wake for various reasons: hunger, dirty diaper, discomfort, need for comfort&#8230; Check what might be bothering them and try to meet their need.<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Encourage autonomy<\/strong>: if your baby is stirring between sleep cycles but not crying, try waiting a few minutes to give them a chance to fall back asleep on their own.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In most cases, <strong>there\u2019s no need to wake a baby during sleep<\/strong>. However, <strong>certain situations or medical conditions<\/strong> may justify waking. Don\u2019t hesitate to seek advice from your healthcare professional.<\/span>\r\n\r\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-24211 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.may.app\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/yound-daddy-holding-bare-newborn-kid-2025-04-01-13-10-47-utc.webp\" alt=\"Should you wake a baby during sleep? - May App Sant\u00e9\" width=\"1950\" height=\"1301\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.may.app\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/yound-daddy-holding-bare-newborn-kid-2025-04-01-13-10-47-utc.webp 1950w, https:\/\/www.may.app\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/yound-daddy-holding-bare-newborn-kid-2025-04-01-13-10-47-utc-300x200.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.may.app\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/yound-daddy-holding-bare-newborn-kid-2025-04-01-13-10-47-utc-1024x683.webp 1024w, https:\/\/www.may.app\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/yound-daddy-holding-bare-newborn-kid-2025-04-01-13-10-47-utc-768x512.webp 768w, https:\/\/www.may.app\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/yound-daddy-holding-bare-newborn-kid-2025-04-01-13-10-47-utc-1536x1025.webp 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1950px) 100vw, 1950px\" \/>\r\n\r\n**\r\n\r\nPhoto credits: morrowlight | imagesourcecurated | Anna_Om | tan4ikk\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This text was translated from French by an artificial intelligence. The information, advice, and sources it contains comply with French standards and may therefore not apply to your situation. Make sure to complement this reading by visiting the May ES\/UK app and consulting the healthcare professionals who are supporting you.<\/span>\r\n\r\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Waking your baby or letting them sleep: this is a question many new parents ask themselves. How much should you respect your baby\u2019s sleep cycles? Are there situations where it\u2019s better to wake them? Should you wake a baby during sleep? Let\u2019s take a closer look. Understanding your baby\u2019s sleep A baby\u2019s sleep is as [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":23,"featured_media":24206,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[192,197,199],"tags":[152],"class_list":["post-24727","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-newborn","category-baby-6-12-months","category-baby-1-year","tag-baby-sleep"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.may.app\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24727","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.may.app\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.may.app\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.may.app\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/23"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.may.app\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=24727"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.may.app\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24727\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":24729,"href":"https:\/\/www.may.app\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24727\/revisions\/24729"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.may.app\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/24206"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.may.app\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=24727"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.may.app\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=24727"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.may.app\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=24727"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}