If your toddler is regularly waking up at night after your new baby arrives, the good news is it is a common phenomenon.
The bad news is that you’ve no way of knowing how long it will last.
Toddlers are often curious and very good at sensing changes in routine and unfamiliar noises.
Your toddler will often wake up because they might be afraid of the new sound, but they also want to know where mommy or daddy is or what’s going on. And if your toddler only wants mommy at night, it will shift your stress levels up a little more!
It’s a common scenario: You bring home your new baby, and suddenly your toddler, who used to sleep through the night, starts waking up in the middle of the night. What’s going on? Why is this happening? And most importantly, what can you do about it?
Toddler Waking Up At Night After New Baby? Here Is My 6 Point Guide
1. Understand why your toddler is waking up at night after your new baby arrives
It is common for toddlers to wake up after a new baby is born. You might be wondering why this is happening, and there are a few reasons why this might be happening.
Your toddler is afraid of the new baby
Your toddler might feel insecure about their role in the family since there are now two babies
Your toddler may have learned too quickly that nighttime is when the fun begins because everyone is awake
Your toddler may have started waking up out of behavioral problems
2. Create a bedtime routine for toddler
One way to help your toddler adjust to the new baby is to create a bedtime routine. This will help them feel more in control and know what to expect. Some tips for creating a bedtime routine:
Start gradually transitioning your toddler to an earlier bedtime a few weeks before the baby is born
Include calming activities such as reading books, singing songs, or using relaxation techniques
Stick to the same routine every night
Make sure you are consistent with the routine every day
Use the new bedtime routine for your toddler to establish new sleep habits
3. Stick to the routine
It can be challenging to stick to a routine when there is so much new happening in the home, but it is essential to maintain some sense of normalcy for your toddler. This means continuing with bedtime rituals, mealtimes, and playtime as much as possible.
It may be challenging to get everything done with a new baby in the house, but it is essential to make time for your toddler.
This will help ensure that your toddler does not feel like they are being ignored or forgotten amid all the changes.
4. Get help from family and friends
One of the best things you can do as a new mom is to get help from family and friends.
They can provide much-needed support and assistance, making all the difference in the world.
Some of the ways that they can help include:
Helping with household tasks so the mom can relax a bit
Watching your toddler so you can take a nap
Bringing over meals so you doesn’t have to cook
Providing emotional support and encouragement
New moms should expect to see their child waking up at night after the new baby arrives for at least a few weeks afterward.
5. Don’t give in to toddler’s demands
When your toddler starts waking up at night after the new baby comes, don’t give in to their demands.
This is a common phenomenon and is usually temporary.
Try to be understanding and firm with them, and eventually, they will go back to sleeping through the night.
If you give in to them, you could build the wrong association in your toddler’s mind!
6. Be patient and consistent with your toddler
It can be challenging to be patient and consistent when your toddler wakes up at night after the new baby comes, but it is essential to stick to a routine.
Be understanding and firm with them, and eventually, they will go back to sleeping through the night.
You may have to deal with a tired toddler. It is entirely understandable for your toddler to be exhausted after waking up at night because of the new baby.
It’s common for toddlers to wake up and come into your room, so let them do it.
The only issue is your new baby will disturb your toddler as they wake up for feeding, so that is something you will need to bear in mind.
What is toddler sleep regression?
Toddler sleep regression is a phase in toddlerhood. One common regression point is when your toddler wakes up at night after bringing home your new baby.
What can you do about a toddler waking up at night?
If your toddler wakes up at night, you should first figure out if they are adjusting or if there is another reason for it.
Here are some common reasons for toddler sleep regression:
New baby
just a phase
New pre-school
Changes in life, or schedule
Additional noises in your home
How long does toddler sleep regression last after a new baby?
Do you want the good news or bad news?
First, let’s start with the bad news.
This can occur several times per year and can also last the whole year.
The good news is that lasting that long is not very common. Your toddler will regain their sleeping pattern much sooner. Some report their toddler is back to normal after a few days, others after a few weeks.
A lot of it depends on how you respond to your toddler’s sleep regression. If you are relaxed and just keep going with their sleep routine, then you are helping them to ‘recover’ much sooner.
Conclusion
It’s normal for a toddler to wake up at night after a new baby joins the family. A bedtime routine can help make this transition smoother, and be patient and consistent with your toddler so they know what to expect.
If your toddler suddenly starts waking up at night after a new baby comes into the family, it’s likely due to normal toddler behavior.
When babies are first born, toddlers typically stay up later at night than they did before the new baby was born.
Don’t worry – by the time your toddler grows out of this, your new baby will be a toddler!
