Infant Sleep: Commonly Asked Questions
Yes. Babies are born needing co-regulation. Nursing, rocking, holding and responding to cries are all developmentally appropriate ways babies learn safety and regulation. If you want to change how your baby falls asleep, we do so gradually and intentionally, without ever forcing independence before your baby is ready.
Yes. Sleep challenges are often influenced by factors such as:
- Overtiredness or under-tiredness
- Feeding issues
- Growth spurts
- Reflux or discomfort
- Separation awareness
- Developmental leaps
- Overstimulation
- Dysregulation
That is why we do a deep dive into your family, lifestyle, daily routines, and additional factors before discussing sleep.
In most cases, yes. Infant sleep looks different from adult sleep. Frequent waking, short naps, and needing support to fall asleep are biologically normal in the first year and often beyond. My role is to help you understand what is normal for your baby's age and temperament while also improving it in a realistic & holistic way.
Babies are not born with the ability to self-soothe. Regulation is learned through repeated experiences of being supported by a caregiver. When babies are held, fed, rocked, or responded to, their nervous system learns safety and regulation over time. Independent soothing can emerge gradually as the nervous system matures, but it is not something babies need to do in order to sleep well.
Yes. Night waking is biologically normal in infancy. Babies wake to eat, regulate their nervous system, and during developmental changes. Waking does not automatically mean something is wrong or that sleep habits need fixing. The focus is on how we can make the night wakings more manageable for your family.
Newborn sleep is highly irregular. Newborns sleep in short stretches around the clock, often waking every 1-3 hours to feed.
There is no need to follow a rigid schedule or set intervals between feedings. Doctors often advise in the early weeks to wake baby up to eat if it has been 3 hours since the start of the previous feed. Consult a lactation professional for additional feeding support.
Day and night are not differentiated at first, and frequent waking is protective and developmentally appropriate.
Sleep regressions are temporary periods of disrupted sleep that often align with developmental growth, such as learning new skills or changes in awareness. During these times, babies may wake more often or resist sleep. These phases are not permanent and do not mean sleep is broken or needs strict intervention.
Signs of overtiredness can include increased fussiness, difficulty settling, short sleep stretches, early morning waking, or frequent night waking. An overtired baby may appear wired rather than sleepy. Learning your baby's individual cues and responding early helps support smoother settling and more restorative sleep.
Sleep associations are simply the conditions under which a baby falls asleep. Many associations, such as feeding or rocking, are biologically normal or supportive. The only time we need to change or swap a sleep association is if it becomes unsustainable for your family.
Even adults have sleep associations, such as a warm shower or a heavy blanket; and having them does not ruin sleep, but rather supports it.
If sleep feels confusing, overwhelming, or unsustainable, that is a valid reason to seek support. You do not need to wait until things feel extreme. Support can be helpful if you want reassurance about what is normal, guidance tailored to your baby, or help making changes that align with your values.
If you're looking for personalized guidance, you can learn more about my sleep support options and book a consultation on the Holistic Sleep Coaching page.