My baby wakes at the slightest noise

Despite your best efforts your baby wakes at the slightest noise.

What can you do?

Generally we often inadvertently make the common mistake of ensuring that our little baby is placed to sleep and during their sleep we keep things quiet.

Some babies can be particularly sensitive to noises, lights, and other sensory stimulation.

If you start making sure everything is still and quiet for a baby to sleep then you will/may find that they will wake if there is the slightest noise.

This is particularly common if they have fallen asleep when you are not at home (i.e. on holidays, at the shops, etc).

You can rest easy and go about your daily tasks and life.

Babies do not need quiet to sleep.

Imagine if during pregnancy a baby required some quiet time in order for them to rest/sleep to grow and develop.

There would be many pregnant women exhausted and many a baby born tired and cranky!

• You usually find that babies sleep quite well with a little background noise. It means for you that you don’t have to go about tip toeing while they are asleep. If you have a light sleeper then try to slowly introduce small amounts of noise into the sleep environment. This will help to acclimatize them to cope with sleeping with some noise.
• Develop a sleep routine. Yes a bedtime routine is recommended but you can also establish a sleep routine for during the day which will assist a baby in learning the signs for rest and sleep. This can include the routine of feed, play, cuddle, book, bed.
• Snuggle your baby. Holding your baby can help to shield your baby from the stimulation and potential sensory overload. It can provide a sense of clam for your baby.
• Swaddle your baby. This can prevents you baby from becoming startled which is a newborn reflex that causes their arms and legs to flail. This may be another cause of their wakening.
• Be aware of their sleep cues. Placing a baby to sleep before they are over tired will assist in a more settled and longer sleep.
• If your baby wakes allow them time to resettle. They may fall back to sleep on their own.