Social media bombards us with parenting "hacks", some great and some, not so much...
Can waiting for 100 seconds really help our babies sleep better?
Why do babies wake up in the middle of the night? Should parents be concerned or is this normal?
When looking at babies and their night wakings, we need to consider them in two separate categories. Babies 0-16 weeks and babies 4 months and older.
0-16 weeks, your baby does not have a functioning body clock and their sleep cycles have yet to mature. They will also wake frequently for night feeds and discomfort and need lots of support to fall asleep and return to sleep - multiple night wakings are completely normal.
4 months plus, your baby’s body clock begins to develop rapidly, and their sleep cycles mature like an adults. Babies may still wake for night feedings, though nighttime hunger should gradually decrease as the baby’s metabolism begins to regulate at 4 months and beyond and their weight gain stabilizes. As sleep cycles mature, baby is now able to start consolidating their nighttime
sleep and gradually take longer stretches.
Babies 4 months plus and adults alike both wake ever so slightly in-between sleep cycles (roughly every 1.5-2 hours) to check their sleep environment. This primal habit lingers from days in the cave and doesn’t really serve us anymore, though we all still experience these very brief wake-ups throughout the night and they are usually so brief, we don’t remember them at all!
If a baby falls asleep one way (in arms or being fed) and wakes up another (alone, in their crib), they will wake fully at this stage and call out for you to reinstate their sleep environment on a loop. So if you notice your baby waking up every 1.5-2 hours, this is why!
What is the 100 second sleep rule?
Thoughts on the 100-second rule, is this something parents should try?
How as a parent do you know when to intervene? Will the sound of the baby's cry indicate something is truly wrong?
Will this rule works for every baby or does it depend?
Should parents give this method a shot, and why?
So what can we do to improve night wakings for your baby?
Why do babies wake up in the middle of the night, should parents be concerned or is
this normal?
When looking at babies and their night wakings, we need to consider them in two separate
categories: babies 0-16 weeks and babies 4 months and older.
0-16 weeks, your baby does not have a functioning body clock and their sleep cycles have yet to mature. They will also wake frequently for night feeds and discomfort and need lots of support to fall asleep and return to sleep - multiple night wakings are completely normal.
4 months plus, your baby’s body clock begins to develop rapidly, and their sleep cycles mature like adults. Babies may still wake for night feedings, though nighttime hunger should gradually decrease as the baby’s metabolism begins to regulate at 4 months and beyond and their weight gain stabilizes. As sleep cycles mature, baby is now able to start consolidating their nighttime sleep and gradually take longer stretches.
Babies 4 months plus and adults alike both wake ever so slightly in-between sleep cycles
(roughly every 1.5-2 hours) to check their sleep environment. This primal habit lingers from days in the cave and doesn’t really serve us anymore. Though we all still experience these very brief wake-ups throughout the night and they are usually so brief, we don’t remember them at all!
If a baby falls asleep one way (in arms or being fed) and wakes up another (alone, in their crib), they will wake fully at this stage and call out for you to reinstate their sleep environment on a loop. So if you notice your baby waking up every 1.5-2 hours, this is why!
If parents are looking for a way to reduce night wakings and respond to their baby in a way that is supportive, consistent, and conducive to longer stretches of nighttime sleep over time, the 100 second rule is a great option!
What is the 100 second sleep method?
The viral Tik-Tok post by "The Baby Dream Coach", advised parents that when your baby wakes, wait for 100 seconds before responding to them.
Thoughts on the 100-second rule, is this something parents should try?
If parents are looking for a way to reduce night wakings and respond to their baby in a way that is supportive, consistent, and conducive to longer stretches of nighttime sleep over time, the 100 second rule is a great option!
If however parents are happy with the frequency of nighttime wakings and find this pause to be stressful for both baby and themselves, it simply isn’t worth it, and the way in which you respond to your baby should be an entirely personal choice.
How as a parent do you know when to intervene? Will the sound of the baby's cry
indicate something is truly wrong?
The most important thing to remember is that babies have only two ways of communicating - crying and babbling! Video monitors are massively helpful here, and we can usually read from our baby’s expression or how they are moving in the crib as to what they might be experiencing.
If a baby has a true need, such as hunger, they are too hot or cold or they’re feeling unwell, their cries will escalate and they are very unlikely to settle without your support.
If your baby is simply babbling or chatting to themselves, they are happy, content, and relaxed; and will likely return to sleep before you know it - leave them to it! If your baby is crying, pay attention to how they are crying.
Are they at a 10? Full lung screams and taking no pause? Then they’re really upset and have a need that needs to be met asap. Is your baby whining, growling, crying intermittently, rubbing their head or ears, kicking their legs or turning their head side to side? They’re likely overtired, annoyed to be awake and are trying to settle down and return to sleep. Taking a pause here will be helpful to see if they are just about to fall asleep or, need some support to get there.
If a baby has a true need, such as hunger, they are too hot or cold or they’re feeling unwell, their cries will escalate and they are very unlikely to settle without your support
Does this rule works for every baby or does it depend?
Every baby is unique, and especially if they may have health concerns in the mix such as
digestive issues or they’re feeling unwell, this rule will not be helpful. If your baby is 4 months plus with no health concerns and your primary care physician has given you the green light that they are ready for longer stretches of sleep, this method could work well to help your baby return to sleep peacefully with time.
Should parents give this method and shot?
The parent's goals have to play a big part here and If parents are hoping for longer stretches of nighttime sleep but they are having a hard time knowing when to respond or how to be consistent, this method provides structure, consistency and reduced stress with just a short interval before responding to your baby if necessary. They could even return to sleep before you reach 100!
Parents are the expert on their own baby and if waiting even 10 seconds would be too stressful for you, don’t even go there! If you are perfectly happy with the frequency of night wakings, respond to your baby as quickly and as often as your instincts tell you to.
So what can we do to improve night wakings for your baby?
Keep your environment conducive to both your baby’s and your sleep. If you need to tend to your baby in the middle of the night, keep stimulation to a minimum so that baby can easily return to sleep and to symbolize it’s sleepy-time, not playtime. Keep all lights off, leave your phone at your bedside and if you need a light source, use a red or orange night light to help boost sleep hormones and allow you to see around you.
White or yellow light from lamps or your phone will suppress your sleep hormones and boost adrenaline and cortisol levels which will make it difficult to fall back to sleep!
The best way to support a peaceful night's sleep is to make sure baby takes on plenty of
calories throughout the day, has a good balance of adequate naps and daytime activity, and if you’re looking to improve nighttime wakings, start with bedtime! When and how baby falls asleep at bedtime will set the tone for the rest of the night, so if sleeping peacefully in their crib until morning is the goal, work on supporting your baby to sleep at bedtime while they are laying in their crib and you are sitting with them crib-side with the lights out. Offer as much support as they need with the touch of your hand and shushing, and stay with them for as long as you need to; with time, they will get there. A baby that can fall asleep while laying in their crib will stay asleep for longer throughout the night!