Chapter 3 – Night Awakenings

The fact that newborn sleep is predominantly light sleep—easily disrupted, with brief moments of awareness between cycles—is a powerful protective mechanism. Babies are vulnerable: if they find themselves in danger, their safety depends on the intervention of an adult. That’s why natural selection has equipped them with an effective internal alarm system.

So, when they cry in the middle of the night, it’s not out of mischief or defiance, but as an instinct for survival.

In 2003, a research team in Australia (10) conducted an experiment, with all due safety precautions, on ten infants aged between two weeks and six months. Researchers slightly reduced the oxygen supply to babies sleeping either in REM or deep sleep phases. The babies in REM woke up immediately, while those in deep sleep took a few minutes to awaken. Longer periods of light sleep and the ability to wake quickly in response to minimal stimuli are life-saving mechanisms when there’s a risk of suffocation. As months go by and babies gain greater autonomy and awareness of environmental cues, night awakenings become partial—similar to those of adults — and the baby gradually develops the ability to fall back asleep on their own most of the time.

The stimulus that most frequently wakes babies in their early months is hunger. They are small, with tiny stomachs, and need to feed and drink often—even during the night. A newborn’s sleep-wake rhythm is closely tied to their feeding needs.

Breastfed babies need more frequent feedings than those who are formula-fed because breast milk is more easily digested, the stomach empties more quickly, and hunger returns sooner. As a result, breastfed babies typically wake more often at night than bottle-fed ones.

But there’s more: according to some studies (11), breastfed babies also tend to have lighter sleep and wake more easily in response to stimuli than those fed with formula. This may seem like a disadvantage, but it’s quite the opposite: it’s likely one of the reasons why breastfeeding is a protective factor against sleep-related suffocation risks.

On the other hand, breast milk also promotes sleep. Beyond the comforting effect of skin-to-skin contact, a mother’s milk contains higher levels of tryptophan – an amino acid essential for melatonin production—especially in the evening and nighttime hours (12). Once it’s confirmed that the baby doesn’t need anything else, offering the breast during a night awakening is a quick and effective way to help them fall back asleep. Over time, as the baby no longer needs to feed during the night, parents will gradually find other comforting methods to support their return to sleep.

For all these reasons—and more broadly because of infants’ strong need for physical closeness with an adult, especially the mother—there is growing support for co-sleeping during during a baby’s early months. The practice of keeping your baby nearby at night, known scientifically as cosleeping, is widespread across many cultures as it forms part of “proximal care,” the close-contact caregiving system that fosters bonding and ensures the infant’s protection and survival.

However, in recent years, extensive research has shown that cosleeping, can carry tragic consequences due to the risk of suffocation.

“In the same room but not in the same bed”, is the slogan adopted by institutions, research organizations, pediatric associations, and neonatal health experts around the world to promote safe sleep practices.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (13), babies under one year of age should sleep in the same room as their parents—but in their own crib or bassinet. The baby can sense the presence of their parents and sleeps more peacefully, while the parents can respond more promptly when needed.

Furthermore, room sharing supports breastfeeding and allows new mothers to meet their baby’s needs more quickly, reducing stress for both and making it easier for the baby to fall back asleep.

In any case, sleeping close to mom and dad is not a bad habit—it’s a basic need and a true source of well-being. Meeting this need doesn’t hinder the baby’s development of independence. On the contrary, it means forming a strong relationship, understanding the child’s needs, and responding appropriately—helping them feel more secure and self-confident (14).