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Sleep

My 5–6 month old used to sleep longer but now wakes every 1–2 hours at night. Is this normal?

Frequent night waking around 4–6 months is very common due to regressions, growth spurts, and milestones. Routines and realistic expectations help many moms cope.

💡Quick Answer

  • •4–6 month regressions and frequent wakes are very common
  • •Keep bedtime routine consistent (same cues each night)
  • •Check for teething, milestones, hunger, or temperature changes
  • •Try settling with the lowest effort first (pat/shush/hold)
  • •Focus on overall trend across 1–2 weeks, not one bad night

⚠️ Caution:If baby’s feeding drops sharply, wet diapers reduce, fever occurs, or waking is paired with illness symptoms, check with your pediatrician.

🤔What Parents Worry About

Parents feel panicked when baby ‘used to sleep’ and suddenly wakes every 1–2 hours. Moms share this often happens during regressions and settles—consistency and realistic expectations help more than strict methods.

Community Answers from Moms(3)

Here's what moms in our community shared based on their own experience.

  1. 1

    One mom shared that around 6 months their baby went from longer stretches to waking every hour again due to a sleep regression.

  2. 2

    Keeping age-appropriate wake windows and a calm, consistent bedtime routine seemed to improve sleep for some families, even if not perfect every night.

  3. 3

    Many moms say it helps to accept that there will be better and worse phases and that regressions are a normal part of development.

About These Answers

The information shared on this page comes from real experiences of mothers in our community. While we strive to provide helpful insights, this content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult with your pediatrician, healthcare provider, or other qualified medical professional for any questions regarding your child's health or development.

Last reviewed: January 12, 2026

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My 5–6 month old used to sleep longer but now wakes every 1–2 hours at night. Is this normal? | Real Mom Answers | Mom Insider