Why Your Baby Hates Sleep: Real Reasons & Tips for Exhausted New Parents
Your Baby Hates Sleep (And Other Fun Parenting Surprises)
Ah, sleep. That magical, mythical thing you took for granted before having a baby. You used to drift off peacefully, no interruptions, no tiny dictator waking you up demanding snacks at 3 AM.
And then? You became a parent. And suddenly, you realise babies hate sleep.
If you're wondering why your precious bundle of joy fights bedtime like it's a personal attack, you're not alone. Here’s why your baby seems allergic to sleep—and some (realistic) ways to cope.
1. Your Baby Didn't Get the "Humans Need Sleep" Memo
Babies are born with zero understanding of what sleep is or why they need it.
✔ They don’t know the difference between day and night. ✔ They think catnapping for 20 minutes is the same as a full night’s rest. ✔ They truly believe the best time to party is 2 AM.
What to do: Help their tiny body clocks adjust by keeping days bright, nights dark, and sticking to a loose routine.
2. Sleep Regressions Are a Thing (And They Will Break You)
Just when you think you've cracked the baby sleep code, BAM—sleep regression.
✔ 4 months? Regression. ✔ 6 months? Regression. ✔ 12 months? Regression. ✔ Basically, anytime you start feeling hopeful? Regression.
What to do: Brace yourself. It’s temporary (even though it feels like it lasts forever). Stay consistent, and know you’re not alone in this sleepless chaos.
3. Babies Have No Chill When They're Overtired
Logically, you’d think the more tired a baby is, the easier they’ll sleep. WRONG.
✔ Babies don’t “crash” when they’re overtired—they become wired, hyper, and dramatically upset. ✔ The more exhausted they are, the harder they fight sleep. ✔ It’s like dealing with a tiny, angry, jet-lagged CEO who refuses to take a break.
What to do: Watch for early sleep cues—rubbing eyes, staring blankly, fussing. Catch them before they hit meltdown mode.
4. The "Why Are You Crying?" Mystery Hour
Around bedtime, babies under six months can go from peaceful to utterly outraged in a matter of seconds.
✔ They've been fed. ✔ They've been changed. ✔ You've done the wind-down routine. ✔ And yet—cue dramatic wailing.
What to do: Stay calm, stick to your evening rhythm (even if it's very loose), and know that sometimes babies just need a bit of extra cuddling or a change of scenery before settling. It’s not you—it’s just baby logic (which makes absolutely no sense)
5. Your Baby's Sleep Environment Matters (More Than You Think)
Imagine trying to sleep in a room full of flashing lights and background noise. Welcome to a baby’s world.
✔ Too much stimulation? No sleep. ✔ Too quiet? Also no sleep. ✔ Temperature slightly off? They will let you know.
What to do: ✔ Use blackout curtains to keep the room dark. ✔ Try white noise to block out background sounds. ✔ Make sure the room is cool but cosy.
6. Some Babies Are Just Terrible Sleepers (Sorry, But It’s True)
Look, some babies just sleep like tiny angels. They drift off, snooze for hours, and give their parents a full night’s rest.
Your baby? Not one of them.
What to do: Accept it. Some babies are just wired differently. It’s tough, but it won’t last forever (even though it feels like it).
7. You Will Do Weird, Desperate Things to Get Them to Sleep
There will come a time when you find yourself: ✔ Driving around at midnight just to get them to sleep. ✔ Bouncing on a yoga ball like a maniac. ✔ Whispering lullabies while pacing the living room in the dark. ✔ Googling “Can babies actually survive without sleep?” at 4 AM.
What to do: Do what works. There’s no shame in survival mode.
8. It Will Get Better (I Promise)
It won’t always be this hard. One day, your baby will sleep through the night.
✔ You’ll have an evening to yourself. ✔ You’ll wake up feeling semi-human. ✔ You might even miss those midnight snuggles. (Okay, maybe not all of them.)
Until then, hang in there. You’re doing an amazing job—even if you can’t remember the last time you slept for more than three hours straight.
Final Thoughts
Parenting is tough, but you’re not alone in this sleep-deprived madness. Loved this? Then don’t miss the blog about all the things they conveniently forget to tell you about newborns—like how your tea’s now decorative and your toilet breaks are never solo
And if you ever need photographic evidence of just how adorable (and exhausting) this stage is? Well, I know a great newborn & family photographer who captures the magic of these early days—even the sleepless ones. 😉
