Why Your Baby Wakes Up Crying at Night (And How to Help Them Sleep Soundly)
Lacy Hess • May 19, 2025
Why your baby wakes up crying—and how to fix it.
Imagine this:
you fall asleep on the couch and then wake up hours later in your bed—with no memory of how you got there. Confusing, right?
Now think about how your baby feels when they peacefully fall asleep in your arms or in your bed... and then wake up alone in a crib, in a room they aren’t very familiar with.
Of course they’re going to cry. Wouldn’t you?
Why Babies Wake Up Crying in the Night
Night wakings are completely normal—even for adults! But for babies, those middle-of-the-night wake-ups can feel especially unsettling when they realize they’re no longer in the place they fell asleep. If your little one has been falling asleep with your help (feeding, rocking, bouncing), they expect to wake up with you there. When they don’t, they naturally cry out for comfort and reassurance.
Crying is their most effective form of communication, so they use it to tell you something’s wrong. In this case? “Where am I, and where did you go?”
The Solution: Teaching Your Baby to Fall Asleep on Their Own
The key to avoiding this confusion is teaching your baby how to fall asleep independently—in the same sleep space you want them to stay in all night. This not only helps reduce night wakings but also sets the foundation for healthy, long-term sleep habits.
Start by making the sleep environment familiar.
Spend time in your baby’s room during the day, let them play in their crib, and ensure their sleep space is calm and consistent.
Then, focus on putting your baby down calm and awake—not fully asleep. This gives them the chance to fall asleep on their own, without relying on you to do it for them.
How to Start Sleep Training Gently
There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to sleep training, and it doesn’t have to mean letting your baby cry it out. You can choose a method that aligns with your parenting style and your baby’s temperament, such as:
- Gradual fading of support (like slowly reducing how much you rock or pat them to sleep)
- Intermittent check-ins (where you offer brief reassurance but allow them space to self-settle)
Whichever method you choose, consistency is absolutely key. Practice, practice, practice—because the more opportunities your baby has to fall asleep on their own, the more confident and capable they’ll become.
What NOT to Do: Avoid Sending Mixed Signals
One of the most common pitfalls in sleep training is giving up too soon or reverting to old sleep associations. It’s tempting to rock or feed your baby back to sleep when things feel tough—but this sends mixed messages and can make things even harder down the road.
Babies are smart. If they learn that crying hard enough will eventually bring back their old sleep routine, they’ll keep crying until it works. This creates even more frustration for everyone involved—and makes restarting the process more difficult.
So if you’re going to commit to helping your baby fall asleep independently, stick with it. Even when it’s hard. Even when you’re tired. The payoff is worth it—a well-rested baby and a well-rested you.
Need Help Getting There? That’s What I’m Here For!
If you’ve tried sleep training before but didn’t see results—or if you’re convinced your baby is the one exception that just can’t sleep through the night—I want you to know: you’re not alone, and help is available.
I offer virtual 1:1 sleep coaching
for parents ready to bring sleep back to their home. Whether you need just one week of guidance or prefer ongoing support over two or three weeks, I have package options to fit your family’s needs.
🎉 Bonus: I offer a FREE
30-minute consultation so we can talk about your sleep goals, what’s not working, and how we can turn things around together.
👉 Book your free consult today!
Want More Baby Sleep Tips?
If you’re not ready for 1:1 coaching but still want to improve your child’s sleep, make sure you subscribe to my weekly newsletter. You’ll get sleep tips, new blog posts, and special offers delivered straight to your inbox—everything you need to help your little one sleep better.
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