Many parents are told that frequent night waking is “normal” and that they just need to accept it—but this simply isn’t true. While some wakings through the night are biologically normal, excessive or frequent wake-ups (especially every 2 hours or less) are a sign that something is disrupting a child’s ability to complete sleep cycles properly. Understanding how sleep cycles work and what interruptions mean is the key to helping your child achieve biologically healthy sleep patterns.
Understanding Sleep Cycles at Night
Both babies and adults experience sleep cycles, which consist of different stages of sleep. At 4 months of age, babies progress through the 4 month sleep regression, which is marked by the development of their night sleep cycles. At night, a child’s sleep cycle typically lasts between 2-4 hours. These cycles include:
Light sleep (Stage 1 & 2) – The transition into sleep, where the body relaxes but can still be easily woken.
Deep sleep (Stage 3 & 4) – The most restorative stages, where growth, immune function, and brain development occur.
REM sleep (Stage 5) – A lighter sleep stage where dreaming happens and the brain processes information.
With biologically normal sleep, children should complete a full sleep cycles and wake briefly between cycles, quickly resettling back into another full cycle. Multiple sleep cycles should occur throughout the duration of the night.
What’s Biologically Normal vs. What’s Not
A biologically normal sleep pattern includes:
✔️ Sleep cycles at least 2 hours, leading into 4 hours as each child grows
✔️ The ability to settle back to sleep after waking between cycles, after genuine physical needs have been met
✔️ Some night waking in younger infants (especially for feeds in the early months), but
progressively improving sleep consolidation with age
Frequent waking that is not biologically normal includes:
❌ Waking more frequently than 2 hourly, either consistently or sporadically
❌ Waking fully and needing prolonged settling each time.
❌ Seeming tired despite getting “enough” sleep in total hours
❌ Difficulty transitioning from one sleep cycle to the next.
❌ Requiring a high level of assistance to return to sleep
Along with sleep patterns which are not biologically normal, overall sleep presentations which are indicative of not biological normal sleep should also be considered. You can find more on this topic here: Biologically Normal vs Not Normal Sleep
Why Frequent Night Wakes Happen
If your child is waking up every two hours or less during the night, it's crucial to determine the cause rather than simply assuming it's typical behavior. Many general resources and sleep experts might attribute this to factors like sleep associations, the sleep environment, or sleep pressure. However, you may discover that despite trying various methods, nothing alleviates those frequent night awakenings. In 99% of the cases I encounter, I can pinpoint the cause of these persistent awakenings as an Underlying Issue.
These underlying problems are often not immediately apparent and can be challenging to detect, as they extend beyond the basic elements of sleep hygiene. They are usually physiological, neuromusculoskeletal, nutritional, anatomical, or medical in nature, and identifying them often requires a comprehensive screening. This includes exploring the entire pregnancy and labor experience, as well as examining past and current sleep patterns and wakefulness presentations.
How to Support Healthy Sleep
If your child is waking up frequently at night and this has become a persistent issue, addressing potential disruptions is the crucial first step toward resolving ongoing sleep challenges in the long run.
Sadly, relying solely on sleep training or making minor adjustments to the sleep environment often won't yield the lasting results you desire. These methods tend to be temporary, with sleep patterns typically reverting to their previous difficulties within three months.
Final Thoughts
It’s time to change the narrative—excessively frequent night wakings are not something parents just have to deal with. Understanding what’s biologically normal and recognising when sleep is disrupted can empower you to make the changes needed for healthier, more restful nights. Identifying the root cause of frequent wake-ups is the first step toward supporting better sleep for your child (and yourself!).
I offer this during my 1:1 consultations so if this is something you'd like to delve into and know more about, I am always available to chat. Start with a free 15 minute Discovery Call:
Shereen xx
I'm Shereen Nielsen, a certified Sleep Consultant specialising in infants and children from birth to 15 years old. With over eight years of experience, I've assisted over 4500 families in achieving better sleep. Additionally, I serve as a lecturer and mentor, guiding aspiring sleep consultants on their path to certification through my internationally recognised online Sleep Consultant Course.
Phone: +61419820474
Email: hello@shereennielsen.com
Website: www.shereennielsen.com
Facebook: @shereennielsen.sleepconsultant
Instagram: @shereennielsen_sleepconsultant
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