Should You Ever Wake a Sleeping Baby? (Yes — and Here’s Why)
“Never wake a sleeping baby…”
You’ve probably heard this age-old advice from a well-meaning relative, in a parenting Facebook group, or even whispered to yourself while doing all the housework as quick as you can or catching up on your favorite tv show. 😅
But here’s the truth: sometimes, you actually should wake a sleeping baby — and doing so can be a smart move for your little one’s overall sleep and development.
Let’s talk about the why, the when, and the how of waking a baby (on purpose!).
Why Would You Wake a Sleeping Baby?
While sleep is important, timing and rhythm matter too. Here are a few reasons why waking your baby might be exactly what they need:
1. To Protect Nighttime Sleep
When naps run too long (especially in the late afternoon), it can lead to:
Bedtime resistance
Night wakings
Early morning wakeups
Waking your baby from an extra-long nap helps preserve their sleep pressure (the biological drive to fall asleep) and keeps their nighttime sleep more solid.
2. To Stay on Track with Feedings
For newborns and younger infants, sleep and feeding are tightly connected. We want to wake baby if it has been more than 3-4 hours (depending on age) since he or she has last eaten. This is to help baby maximize daytime ounces and reduce the number of ounces/feedings needed overnight. Babies need a certain amount of ounces during 24 hours, and we want to wake them from long naps to help ensure they are working towards getting all their needed ounces during daytime hours to help lengthen nighttime sleep.
3. To Help Set Their Internal Clock
Babies are born without a developed circadian rhythm (aka internal body clock). If your baby is sleeping longer stretches during the day than at night, or seems to have their days and nights flipped, gently waking them at certain times can help shift their rhythm toward more nighttime sleep. This is more common in newborns, but I have seen it in older babies too!
4. To Create More Predictability
If your goal is to help your baby develop a more predictable routine, strategically waking them at the same time each morning and capping naps at certain lengths can help set consistent wake windows — which makes planning the day a whole lot easier for you both.
So When Shouldn’t You Wake Them?
Of course, there are times to let your little one snooze away:
When they’re recovering from illness or vaccinations
During growth spurts
If you’ve had a particularly rough sleep night and they’re catching up
Use your best judgment and know that one long nap isn’t going to throw everything off — but consistent timing is key over time.
The Bottom Line?
Waking your baby doesn’t make you a bad parent — it makes you a smart one. 😉
You know your baby best, and with the right strategy, waking at the right times can actually help them (and you) get better rest.
Need help with wake windows, nap caps, or building a predictable routine?
That is what I am here for! Email me today, and sleep better soon! Check out my services here!