Baby waking shortly after bedtime? 4 possible causes

Guest blog by sleep expert Karen Claes from Van Gaap Naar Slaap

Many parents recognize this: your little one falls asleep peacefully… and half an hour later, you’re back at the bedside. Frustrating, exhausting, and sometimes confusing.

We speak of a false start to the night when your baby wakes again within 45 minutes of falling asleep, or sleeps very restlessly during the first hours of the night.

In this blog, sleep expert Karen shares the four most common causes of false starts — along with practical solutions you can start using right away.

The most common reason for a false start is overtiredness.

When a baby has been awake for too long or has had a nap that’s too short, the body produces cortisol — the stress hormone. This makes it harder to fall asleep and to stay asleep.

👉 A typical sign is waking during the first part of the night.

What can you do?

Start by looking at your baby’s rhythm:

• Make sure the schedule fits your baby’s age

• Pay close attention to sleep cues (such as yawning, rubbing eyes, or fussiness)

• Ensure enough daytime sleep

If your baby wakes up after a short nap but still seems tired, it can help to let them fall back asleep. This can absolutely be in a carrier or stroller if that works better.

💡 A well-rested baby usually sleeps more calmly and deeply in the evening.

The opposite also happens quite often: a baby has not built up enough sleep pressure.

This can happen when:

• your baby sleeps a lot during the day

• the last nap is too close to bedtime

In that case, a baby may fall asleep, but not stay asleep for long.

What can you do?

Look at the situation step by step:

• First, try extending wake time slightly

• If you notice little difference, you can shorten a nap

Do this gradually, for example by waking your baby 15 minutes earlier every few days.

Enough physical activity also matters:

• Make sure your baby has active playtime

• Playing outside helps build extra sleep pressure

💡 Some babies are also ready to drop a nap: around 8–9 months (from 3 to 2 naps) and around 15–18 months (from 2 to 1 nap).

Children quickly get used to the way they fall asleep. For example:

• feeding (breast or bottle)

• rocking

• falling asleep in your arms

That is not a problem in itself, as long as it feels right for you and works well for your family.

However, if your baby needs this help every time — including during the night — it can contribute to false starts or more frequent waking.

What can you do?

Do not make abrupt changes, but introduce new habits gradually. For example:

• humming a soft song

• placing a hand on your baby’s head or chest

• gently stroking or patting

👉 In the meantime, you can continue using your current approach as well.

💡 This way, your baby learns different ways to settle and relax, allowing you to move step by step toward an approach that remains manageable for the whole family.

Sometimes the cause isn’t related to rhythm or behavior, but to physical discomfort.

Possible causes include:

• teething

• cramps or constipation

• illness

• eczema or itching

Just like adults sleep worse when they’re in pain, the same applies to babies and young children.

What can you do?

If you suspect pain or discomfort, it’s best to have this checked by a doctor first.

It’s also completely normal for babies to wake more often during illness or teething. Offering extra closeness and comfort during this phase is absolutely okay.