Ask the expert series: Tips to handle your baby’s night wakings?

Healthhub: https://www.healthhub.sg/programmes/183/parent-hub/baby-toddler/baby-sleep is a useful and reliable resource :)

Sleep regressions are usually be temporary and your baby sleep would return to normal after a period of regression. However, if your baby sleep needs change, you may notice your baby appearing more alert close to bed time and it could indicate that they are ready to have less or shorter naps.

Self-soothing is developmentally appropriate if your baby is above 4 months old. If you do decide on sleep training, the most effective methods are those that involve helping your baby unlearn sleep associations they can’t independently manage (e.g. rocking or feeding) and learn new sleep associations (e.g. routine, or a comfortable blanket) that they can manage.

This depends on your baby’s age. Generally, if your baby is waking up from hunger, he/she should fall back asleep easily after feeding. However if your baby is unable to settle even after feeding, there may be other reasons like physical discomfort, or even normal awakenings as part of their normal sleep cycle.

It is possible for sleep regression to happen during growth spurts. This regression would usually be temporary and are normal part of development. Expect some disruptions, however maintaining a consistent routine, even during the spurts, will be helpful to help your child settle back into a normal routine. Take care!

A cool, dim, and quiet environment can be conducive for your baby’s sleep.

This depends on your baby’s developmental age, sleep needs, and your expected bedtime. Generally. new borns need between 14 to 17 hours of sleep, and older infants (4 - 11 months) need about 12 to 15 hours of sleep a day. This includes daytime naps, especially for newborns as they rarely sleep through the night. If you notice that your baby (above 4 months old), is having difficulties falling sleeping at night, but sleeps well otherwise, you could try encouraging an earlier nap to help your child build sleep pressure for your desired bed time. You could either experiment around to find a napping schedule, or obtain professional help to develop a bedtime fading strategy. Bedtime fading is an evidence-based intervention programme that can be helpful to help your baby build sufficient sleep pressure for nap times.

Depending on whether your baby is awake or asleep, you can comfort your baby as you would comfort him/her when he/she is awake. However it’ll be helpful to place your baby back in his/her crib *before* he/she falls back asleep. If he/she does fall asleep and awaken after you place him/her down, you can try hand settling (i.e. gentle, rhythmic patting) to help your baby feel sleepy, and stop when you notice him/her becoming drowsy.

These periods can be exhausting for parents! Was your child a good sleeper previously? At times, growth spurts, teething, illness, learning of new skills or changing naptimes can lead to sleep regressions. This regression would usually be temporary and are normal part of development. If your child was a good sleeper previously, he/she should sleep well after this period.

This depends on the developmental age of your baby, as younger babies need more frequent feeds. Additionally, if your baby is experiencing discomforts, it can be hard for him/her to return to sleep. If your baby isn’t waking from hunger, is well, and is having difficulties returning to sleep, you can consider sleep training if your baby is above 4 months old. If you do decide on sleep training, there are different methods, and the most effective ones are those that involve helping your baby unlearn sleep associations they can’t independently manage (e.g. rocking or feeding) and learn new sleep associations (e.g. routine, or a comfortable blanket) that they can manage.