Does Your Child Wake 20-60 Minutes After Going to Bed?
Does your child wake an hour or less after going to bed?
If you answered yes to the above question, you could be dealing with what we call 'false starts'. This can be really frustrating to deal with! A false start is when your little one wakes around 20-60 minutes after going to bed for the night.
Whilst for some it might only be an occasional occurrence, for others it can happen night after night, leaving you feeling at a loss as to what to do. Some children may appear tired and ready for bed, which is why it can be so confusing when they are suddenly wide awake within an hour.
So, why do they happen?
1. Bedtime might be too early?
I would always say to first look at your little ones' daytime naps - are they too long or late in the day? If so, they might not have built up enough 'sleep pressure' (drive to sleep, built up over the day).
For some, pushing bedtime out even by 15 minutes can be enough to fix this. By checking the nap length and timing, you are also ensuring the right balance of day/night sleep.
2. Do they have a sleep crutch?
For some babies, how they fall asleep can impact how long they stay asleep. If your child is reliant on something you do to help them fall asleep (feeding, rocking, patting etc.), when they enter a lighter state of sleep, or wake after a sleep cycle, then they will need that same thing (you) to help them back to sleep. If you think this could be the case, it might be the right time to work on their ability to self-settle. If you feel a bit overwhelmed as to where to begin, do reach out and set up a free call so I can help you.
3. Could they be overtired?
For some, overtiredness can be the reason they have a 'false start'. On the days your little one doesn't nap as well as usual, or has their nap interrupted or cut short, you may notice they wake not long after going to bed, and can have quite a disrupted night's sleep. On these days, earlier to bed could help - you cn put a little one to bed up to an our early if they are really tied without it having an impact on wake up times. If there is a chance of overtiredness being an ongoing concern, take another look at their nap lengths/ times and work towards an optimum routine for your little one.
4. Could they be overstimulated at bedtime?
A lot of little ones need a chance to wind down before bedtime, because some overstimulation before bedtime can lead to more disrupted nights. It is worth having a think about your bedtime routine to ensure you are giving your little one a good chance to wind down with the same steps before bed - routine is so important for good sleep habits.
5. Could something be disturbing them?
Is there anything in your baby's sleeping environment that could disturb them? It could be as simple as their dummy falling out, white noise stopping, or lights going on in the hallway, etc. also ensuring the temperature is getting too hot or cold and waking them.
I hope these tips are helpful and don't forget, If you want more support for your child's sleep, you can book a free consultation with me. I can guide you on all things about sleep, such as how to approach setting up a good routine, how to overcome any sleep challenges and ultimately help you get the sleep you need to thrive.
Keri x