Child Not Sleeping Through the Night – Causes and Solutions for Parents
Waking up at night is part of childhood. But when your child wakes up multiple times every night and calls for you, it becomes a real burden – for the child and for you. The good news: In most cases, there's a clear cause. And a clear solution.
Is waking up at night normal?
Yes – to a certain extent. All people briefly wake up at night, between sleep cycles. Adults usually fall back asleep immediately without noticing it. Toddlers often can't do that yet – they need help falling back asleep.
The University Children's Hospital Zurich notes that 15 to 30 percent of all preschool children have problems sleeping through the night. It becomes medically relevant if the child wakes up more than three times per night and this persists for several weeks.
The most common causes of waking up at night
1. Incorrect sleep association
This is the most common cause. If your child only falls asleep in the evening when you are present – while breastfeeding, rocking, or stroking – then they will need exactly these conditions when they wake up at night. They cannot fall back asleep on their own because they have never learned how.
Solution: Your child needs to learn to fall asleep on their own. This means: The evening ritual ends before your child has fallen asleep. Put them in bed drowsy but still awake.
2. Too much daytime sleep
If your child sleeps too long or too late during the day, their "sleep account" isn't empty enough in the evening. They fall asleep, but not deeply enough to sleep through the night.
Solution: Limit naps (maximum 1.5 hours) and don't let them sleep after 3 PM.
3. Too early or too late bedtime
Too early: The child isn't tired enough yet and sleeps restlessly. Too late: The child is overtired and releases stress hormones – which disrupt deep sleep.
Solution: Adjust bedtime to the child's actual sleep needs. Guideline: The child falls asleep within 15 to 20 minutes.
4. Hunger
For children under 18 months, nocturnal hunger is a common cause. After 18 months, a healthy child is usually able to sleep through the night without a nighttime meal.
Solution: Ensure that dinner was sufficient. For younger children, a small evening meal right before bed can help.
5. Teething or growing pains
Physical discomfort disrupts deep sleep. Teething is common in children between 6 months and 2.5 years. Growing pains typically occur between 3 and 5 years – mostly in the legs, at night.
Solution: Observe whether sleep problems are related to other symptoms. For growing pains, gentle massage of the legs helps.
6. Night terrors or nightmares
Night terrors (Pavor nocturnus) occur 1 to 3 hours after falling asleep: The child screams but is not truly awake and remembers nothing in the morning. Nightmares, on the other hand, occur in the second half of the night – the child is awake, scared, and remembers.
Solution: For night terrors: Do not wake, just ensure safety. For nightmares: Comfort, briefly soothe, then back to bed.
7. Environmental stimuli
Noise, light, warmth – your child reacts more strongly to environmental stimuli than you do. A passing car, light under the door, or a too-warm sleeping environment can be enough to interrupt sleep.
Solution: Keep room temperature at 18 degrees Celsius, darken the room, reduce sources of noise.
What really helps – the step-by-step plan
| Cause | Action | Timeframe |
|---|---|---|
| Incorrect sleep association | Put child in bed awake | 1–2 weeks |
| Too much daytime sleep | Shorten/shift nap | 3–5 days |
| Incorrect bedtime | Adjust time (15-min increments) | 1 week |
| Hunger | Adjust dinner | Immediately |
| Physical discomfort | Consult pediatrician | Depending on cause |
| Environmental stimuli | Optimize room | Immediately |
The sleep environment as an underestimated factor
Children sleep more deeply when they feel completely safe in their bed. A bed with soft padding and organically shaped bed rails gives toddlers a feeling of security – even if they briefly wake up at night. They feel held, turn over, and continue sleeping.
Hard edges, crib bars, or a too-large, empty bed, on the other hand, can make falling back asleep more difficult. The sleep environment is not a minor factor – it is part of the solution.
Frequently asked questions about sleeping through the night
When should a child sleep through the night?
Most children can physiologically sleep through the night from 6 months. However, many only do so regularly at 12 to 18 months. Occasional waking phases are completely normal up to the age of three.
Should I breastfeed my child at night if they wake up?
Under 6 months, nocturnal breastfeeding is normal and necessary. From 6 months, most children can manage without a nighttime meal. If nocturnal breastfeeding has become a sleep association, it is worthwhile to gradually reduce it.
How long can I let my child cry at night?
This is a personal decision. Controlled crying (waiting briefly, then comforting without picking up) is considered safe for children over 6 months according to current research. It is not recommended for children under 6 months.
What to do if nothing helps?
If sleep problems persist for over 4 weeks and affect your child's daytime well-being, we recommend a sleep consultation. The University Children's Hospital Zurich and many mother-father counseling centers in Switzerland offer these services.
The most important things at a glance
Waking up at night almost always has a cause. The most common is incorrect sleep association – your child has never learned to fall asleep on their own. With the right adjustments, most children sleep significantly better within one to two weeks.
Sources: University Children's Hospital Zurich, Center for Sleep Medicine; German Society for Sleep Research and Sleep Medicine (DGSM); Swiss Council for Accident Prevention (BFU); swissmom.ch.
