Why Your Baby Wakes Up Every Hour at Night (P.S. it’s not something you did)
It’s 3:08 AM, you’ve just rocked your baby back to sleep again, you crawl back into bed, and — another cry pierces the monitor. If your baby wakes up every hour at night, you’re probably wondering….
Is something wrong?
Am I doing this sleep thing all wrong?
Why is my baby not like other babies?
Take a deep breath, tired parent. The answer might surprise you.
Some babies simply wake more because of who they are, not what you're doing. At Tired Baby Sleep, I work with families of very wakeful babies every day — babies who don’t follow the “sleep through the night by 6 months” rule, and who seem allergic to long stretches of sleep.
And here’s what I know, after parenting 2 children like this and working with over 1000. Your baby's temperament can deeply impact their sleep patterns.
Let’s explore the science, the story, and the gentle solutions that can help.
The Truth About Baby Temperament and Night Waking’s
Temperament is your baby’s natural disposition — the way they experience the world, process stimulation, and respond to changes. Just like some adults are sensitive to noise or crave routine, babies come with their own built-in wiring.
This wiring affects how your baby sleeps. Some temperaments are simply more prone to:
Lighter, more fragmented sleep
Increased night waking
Difficulty with self-soothing (especially in the first year)
Heightened sensitivity to separation from YOU
That means if your baby wakes up every hour at night, they may not be “broken” — they may just be deeply attuned, sensitive, or intense.
Meet Noah, a Very Wakeful Baby
Noah’s parents came to me when he was 12 months old. He had never slept more than 90 minutes at a time — ever. He needed to be rocked, held, or nursed back to sleep every single time. His parents were running on fumes and riddled with guilt. “Everyone else’s baby is sleeping through,” they told me. “What are we doing wrong?”
But within minutes of speaking to them, I could tell: Noah wasn’t broken — he was beautifully sensitive. He was alert, deeply attached to his parents, and easily overstimulated. A textbook “high-needs temperament.” And that affected everything about his sleep.
Through gentle changes, nervous system support, and slow, responsive coaching, Noah went from waking hourly to waking just once per night. No crying-it-out. No ignoring his needs. Just honouring who he was — and helping him feel safe.
Top 5 Signs Your Baby May Have a Wakeful Temperament
Not all babies are wired for 8-hour stretches by 6 months (and despite what all the mum influencers and sleep trainers tell you on Instagram and TikTok, that’s not the norm for many).
Here are some signs your baby may have a temperament that makes sleep trickier:
Very alert from birth — They noticed everything from day one.
Startles easily — Every noise, every shift, every creaky floorboard wakes them.
Needs close contact to sleep — Like body-to-body contact, all night long.
Has intense reactions — Crying escalates quickly and is hard to soothe.
Short naps + frequent night wakes — Sleep never seems deep or settled.
Sound familiar? You're not imagining it — and you’re not alone.
FAQ: Is It My Fault That My Baby Wakes Up Every Hour?
Short answer: absolutely not.
Here’s the thing — your baby’s sleep is not a direct reflection of your parenting.
Even if you:
Follow wake windows
Do a calming bedtime routine
Avoid overstimulation
Feed responsively
Use all the “right” tools...
Your baby may still wake often. That’s because sleep isn’t only about strategy — it’s about biology and temperament, too.
At Tired Baby Sleep, I want you to feel confident knowing this: You didn’t cause the wakes. But there are gentle, respectful ways to support them to sleep much better.
Why Do Some Babies Sleep Less Than Others?
It comes down to a mix of:
Neurology: Some babies' nervous systems are simply more reactive. They wake easily and struggle to return to sleep.
Separation sensitivity: Wakeful babies often crave closeness and reassurance throughout the night.
Sleep cycle transitions: Some babies take longer to learn how to connect sleep cycles. For wakeful babies, this is especially true.
Feeding needs or gut discomfort: Wakeful babies may also be more sensitive to internal discomfort (like gas or reflux).
Developmental leaps: These babies often process developmental changes more intensely, which impacts sleep.
Gentle Ways to Support Your Wakeful Baby's Sleep
If your baby wakes up every hour at night, here are a few ideas that I use in my coaching practice to help very wakeful babies rest better:
1. Tune into temperament, not just timing
Instead of trying to “fix” sleep with a rigid schedule, work with your baby’s rhythm and cues. Sensitive babies need slower transitions and lots of calming support before sleep.
2. Soothing starts early
Begin winding down way before bedtime. Use dim lighting, low stimulation, and skin-to-skin contact throughout the late afternoon and early evening, to fill up their connection bucket, ready for the big time of separation… Bedtime!
3. Remembering change is harder for these babies
These babies will always find changing how they fall asleep, how you respond, or where you sleep harder. Adjusting your mindset to prepare for this taking longer, and needing a more gradual responsive approach to change.
4. Responsive, not reactive
It’s okay to respond. You’re not “creating bad habits” — you’re creating security. Over time, consistent responsiveness actually helps reduce stress around sleep.
5. Ask for help
If you're not sleeping more than 1–2 hour stretches, you need support, too. Even if your baby’s sleep is biologically normal, that doesn’t mean it’s sustainable for you.
What’s Your Baby’s Sleep Personality?
If you had to describe your baby in three words, what would they be?
Curious? Intense? Observant? Cuddly? Demanding?
Often, the exact personality traits that make babies wake more are also what make them deeply connected, emotionally intelligent, and wonderful little humans.
So here's the real question: What would it feel like to stop blaming yourself — and start working with who your baby is, instead of fighting against it?
You’re Not Failing. You’re Parenting a Wakeful Baby.
Let’s reframe the narrative.
Your baby isn’t broken. You aren’t spoiling them. And you’re not doing it wrong.
You’re raising a uniquely wired little human — and their sleep journey will look different. That’s okay.
And if you’re ready to get more rest, feel more confident, and be truly supported, we’re here to help.
💛 Need Help With Your Baby’s Sleep?
At Tired Baby Sleep, we specialise in gentle baby sleep coaching for very wakeful babies — no cry-it-out, no shame, and no one-size-fits-all plans. If your baby wakes up every hour at night, we’ll help you understand why and guide you toward more peaceful nights — together.
👉 Click here to book a free discovery call
📩 Or DM me on Instagram or TikTok [@tiredbabysleep] with the word “HELP”
You deserve sleep, too.
