Why your baby wakes up every hour and what to do about it

If your baby wakes up every hour — even for part of the night — you’re probably running on fumes and wondering if this is just your new normal. 

The short answer: It depends. Occasional stretches of hourly waking can be developmentally normal, particularly in the newborn stage. It’s also common to see frequent waking in overtired babies (particularly if they are past the newborn stage and have a parent-led sleep association.. But if your baby is waking every hour throughout the whole night, and it’s happening consistently, that may signal an underlying issue worth addressing with your little one’s care team. 

In this article, we’ll walk you through some reasons why your baby may be waking frequently for part of the night and give you tips to support better rest through common sleep challenges. We’ll also give resources to help you identify when it’s best to check in with your pediatrician. 

Why does my baby wake up every hour?

Waking every hour for part of the night may be typical in the newborn stage when sleep is inherently chaotic, but there could be other contributing factors at play, too. Especially for older babies, overtiredness, sleep associations, or developmental changes may be making sleep extra challenging. Let’s look at the most common reasons why your baby might wake frequently.

Overtiredness

It might sound backward, but often have a harder time falling asleep and staying asleep. When a baby stays awake too long — like when they skip a nap — they may become overstimulated and struggle to settle at bedtime and beyond, even though they’re clearly exhausted. 

Signs of overtiredness may include:

• Rubbing eyes or ears

• Arching the back

• Fussiness or crying that escalates quickly

• Trouble settling at naps or bedtime

• The classic “baby losing it at bedtime” meltdown

• “Crashing” — falling asleep in under 5 minutes

Sleep associations

It’s expected that newborns will need help falling asleep. However, if your baby is 3 - 4 months or older and suddenly starts waking every hour between sleep cycles, sleep associations may be a factor. 

These are the habits or conditions your baby has come to rely on for falling asleep, such as feeding, rocking, or being held. There’s nothing wrong with helping your child fall asleep in any of these ways — they’re sweet and sometimes necessary, especially if your baby is under six months old. However, when we continue these habits past the point where it’s developmentally necessary, they can become tricky and lead to inadequate sleep for babies and their parents. 

Here’s the pattern: Your baby (over 3 - 4 months) wakes briefly between sleep cycles (which is expected — adults do this too!), but instead of drifting back to sleep, they fully wake and cry out because the thing that helped them fall asleep initially is missing.

Common sleep associations include:

• Feeding to sleep

• Rocking or bouncing

• Holding or contact naps

• Pacifier use (especially if your baby can’t replace it independently)

If your baby is waking frequently and you’re looking to make a change in the way your baby falls asleep, consider working on. 

Discomfort (e.g., illness, teething, travel)

Even great sleepers may wake up often when something disrupts their routine, such as a cold, a new tooth, or sleeping in an unfamiliar place. These disruptions are usually short-lived, but they may lead to a string of rough nights. Again, these factors could potentially lead to waking every hour for part of the night, but it’s unlikely that your baby would be waking every hour all night long.

Here’s how each one may impact sleep:

• Illness: Upper respiratory infections, congestion, ear infections, or fevers can make it soundly. Keep an eye out for other symptoms, and call your pediatrician if you’re unsure.

• Teething: for some babies more than others. If your baby seems to be waking up every hour and is drooling more, tugging at their ears, or chewing on everything in sight, teething could be at play. If this has been going on for a week or more, though, it’s likely that other factors are contributing.

• Travel: Time zone shifts, new environments, or even changes influenced by family or friends can throw off your baby’s usual sleep routine and schedule. This in turn can lead to disrupted sleep. , try to keep familiar elements in place. Once you’re home, return to your regular sleep cues and schedule consistently to help your baby settle back into their normal rhythm.

Sleep architecture changes

Around 3 - 4 months, babies’ sleep patterns start to mature. They’ll begin having additional cycles of light and deep sleep, similar to how adults sleep. This biological shift (often referred to as the “”) can lead to new sleep challenges because babies may fully wake between sleep cycles if they haven’t learned to fall asleep on their own yet. They’ll often call out for you and need help getting back to sleep, which may look like frequent night wakes — perhaps every hour for part of the night — short naps, and difficulty falling and staying asleep. 

While this phase is a normal part of your child’s sleep development, it can be exhausting! At this age, it’s expected that babies will need some support to fall asleep and that’s OK — you can begin to gently build when you’re ready.

Hunger

frequently at night, especially if they’re in the middle of a growth spurt and cluster feeding marathon. However, even newborns will typically sleep for longer than an hour at a time, at least some of the night. 

If your newborn seems to be waking constantly overnight, they may be . Capping daytime naps to about 2 hours each can help ensure they’re getting enough calories during the day, while also supporting longer, more consolidated sleep stretches at night. 

Is it normal for a baby to wake up every hour?

If your baby is waking up every hour, it’s understandable to wonder: Is this just part of the baby sleep ride or is something else going on? Waking frequently for part of the night can be common at certain ages and times, but waking hourly around the clock may be a sign that something is off.

Here’s a guide to help you determine what’s within the range of normal and what might need a closer look.

What’s usually normal 

Waking often for part of the night can be part of typical infant sleep if:

• Your baby is a newborn (0 - 2 months): Very young babies need to feed frequently, especially overnight. However, even newborns typically get at least some longer stretches of sleep in a 24-hour period.

• They’re cluster feeding: Some babies will wake more often during growth spurts to feed in shorter bursts. This usually doesn’t last all night, every night, though. It’s most common in the evenings.

• Their sleep architecture has changed (around 3 - 4 months): A maturing of sleep patterns occurs around this age (the so-called “4 month sleep regression”). This change can lead to more frequent wake-ups as your baby may call out if they need help getting back to sleep between sleep cycles.

• Their routine has changed: Travel, illness, teething, or disruptions in schedules can increase night wakings.

Signs that something might be off 

If your baby is waking every hour all night long with no longer stretches of restful sleep, it’s time to check in with your child’s healthcare provider. While frequent wakings can be normal in certain stages, round-the-clock disruptions may signal something else, like reflux, feeding difficulties, or another medical concern.

Hourly wakings all night are not just “something to push through.” Your pediatrician can help rule out underlying issues, assess growth and feeding, and guide you toward the next best steps. And if everything checks out health-wise, they may recommend supportive strategies to help your baby get more rest.

Here are some general guidelines for when to check in about frequent night wakings:

• Your baby seems uncomfortable or in pain during the night

• Your baby is struggling to gain weight []

• You notice signs of reflux (frequent spit-up, arching, coughing during feeds) []

• Sleep habits change suddenly and you’ve ruled out hunger, schedule issues and sleep associations

• Something feels off. You know your baby best — trust your instincts! 

What to do if your baby wakes up every hour

If your baby is waking up every hour for part of the night (and you’ve ruled out any medical issues or red flags), here are some ways to help improve sleep for them and the whole family.  

Ensure they’re following an age-appropriate sleep schedule

Overtired babies often sleep worse, not better. For younger babies, focus on sleepy cues (e.g., yawning, zoning out, or rubbing eyes) and age-appropriate (the amount of time your baby can comfortably stay awake between naps). For babies older than 6 months (but most commonly around 8 - 9 months), lean into a more predictable , which can help regulate your baby’s circadian rhythm and prevent overtiredness before bed.

Focus on independent sleep skills

It’s expected that newborns will need to wake frequently overnight to eat and often need your help to fall asleep. However, if your baby is over 3 - 4 months and continues to rely on feeding, rocking, or bouncing to drift off at bedtime, they may struggle to fall back asleep when they naturally wake between sleep cycles overnight. Starting around this age, little ones are getting closer to being developmentally ready to fall asleep on their own — but it doesn’t happen overnight (and not without some support). 

Teaching your baby to fall asleep in the same conditions they’ll wake up in — like in their own sleep space — can reduce the need for you to step in every hour (or so). 

Tips to encourage independent sleep:

• Start by putting your baby down drowsy but awake at bedtime

• Practice crib naps during the day

• Choose a soothing routine that’s consistent each night (bath, story, lullaby, lights out)

• Offer comfort in other ways if they fuss (soft shushing, patting, or simply being nearby)

• Set expectations: Independent sleep is a skill, and your baby is still learning

Optimize their sleep environment

While no sound machine or blackout curtain can guarantee sleep (unfortunately), creating a consistent, calming sleep space can help set the stage. It’s less about perfection and more about removing avoidable disruptions, so your baby has the best chance of staying asleep between cycles.

Tips to try:

• Keep the room dark with blackout curtains or shades

• Use consistently 

• Make sure the is cool and comfortable 

• Dress your baby in

Even with the ideal setup, your baby may still wake frequently. But a cozy, predictable environment can help set them up for success so they (ideally) settle back to sleep on their own.

Don’t rush in

When your baby cries out at night, it’s natural to spring into action. However, sometimes rushing in quickly can disrupt their sleep. Babies may when they briefly wake between sleep cycles. Giving them a minute to settle on their own can help you figure out whether they truly need support or were just shifting in their sleep.

This doesn’t mean ignoring your baby or leaving them to cry if they’re upset or hungry. It simply means pausing before intervening. Some babies will fuss for 30 seconds and drift off again. Others may need a gentle pat, a shush, or a quick check-in to soothe them back to sleep.

Trust your instincts — you know your baby best. But a brief pause at night might be the first step toward longer stretches of sleep.

Seek personalized help with Huckleberry 

If you’re feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure what’s realistic for your baby’s age and stage, you don’t have to figure it out alone. Tools like customized, step-by-step Sleep Plans offer expert guidance tailored to your baby’s unique sleep needs and your parenting preferences. Whether you’re dealing with frequent wakeups, short naps, or sleep regressions, having a clear plan can put your mind (and baby!) at ease. 

Evaluate hunger

While hunger isn’t usually the reason babies wake every hour, it can still play a role — especially if your baby isn’t getting enough to eat during the day. A baby who isn’t eating as much during the day may wake more often overnight to meet their nutritional needs.

Newborns need to wake up to feed, and cluster feeding (especially in the evenings) is a developmentally healthy practice during those early weeks. However, even then, we expect some sleep stretches to be longer than an hour within 24 hours.

If your baby is waking hourly and you’re concerned about feeding, consider:

• Are they feeding adequately and producing 6+ wet diapers (after the first week) per 24 hours?

• Are they gaining weight appropriately and following their growth curve?

• Do they seem satisfied after feeding or always hungry again soon after?

Hourly waking all night long may signal an underlying feeding issue, like, in rare cases, growth faltering (formerly called "failure to thrive") []. Your pediatrician can help assess whether hunger might be contributing to disrupted sleep and how to get things back on track.

Consider a bedtime routine

A consistent won’t magically stop overnight wake-ups, but it can help your baby fall asleep more easily at the start of the night, which sets the tone for well-timed and better overall sleep. 

Routines cue your baby’s brain that it’s time to wind down, helping make the transition to sleep smoother (and sometimes faster). Try keeping it short and predictable, such as: a warm bath before pajamas, feeding, storytime, and a lullaby before lights out. Repeat your routine in the same order each night to build a sense of familiarity and comfort.

While a bedtime routine may not directly prevent hourly wakings, it can support healthy sleep habits and help your baby fall asleep at a time that matches their natural rhythm.

Baby waking up by age

The frequency of your baby’s nighttime wakings can depend significantly on their age, feeding needs, and developmental stage. While some night wakings are expected, particularly for younger babies, waking every hour isn’t typical at any age and may be a sign that something’s off.

Here’s a quick breakdown of what’s usually normal, what might be causing those wake-ups, and when to check in with your pediatrician.

When to call a doctor

Frequent night wakings can be frustrating, but they’re not always a cause for concern. That said, if your baby is waking every hour around the clock or seems unusually uncomfortable, check in with your pediatrician. Trust your instincts — if something feels off, don’t wait.

Call your child’s healthcare provider if:

• Your baby isn’t sleeping for longer than 1 hour at any point in a 24-hour period

• They’re refusing to eat [], have trouble staying awake to feed, or you have other feeding concerns []

• Their sleep habits change suddenly without explanation

• They seem uncomfortable at night (arching their back, stiffening, or inconsolable crying)

• They have signs of reflux or GERD (frequent spit-up, gagging, coughing, arching) []

• They’re not gaining weight as expected []

Even if none of these red flags apply, it’s always OK to ask for help. Your baby’s doctor can offer reassurance, rule out underlying medical causes, and help you figure out what’s developmentally appropriate for your child.

Takeaway

• Some night wakings are expected, especially for newborns, but waking hourly around the clock is not typical and may signal an underlying issue. 

• Look at your baby’s age and sleep patterns holistically. Short sleep cycles, hunger, sleep associations, and developmental changes can all play a role in frequent night wakings.

• You can support improved sleep with age-appropriate strategies like adjusting wake windows, encouraging independent sleep skills (after around 3 - 4 months old), and keeping the sleep environment calm and consistent.

• Talk to your pediatrician if something feels off. Waking hourly all night, ongoing discomfort, poor weight gain, or big sleep changes that don’t improve are all reasons to check in.