03/19/2026
A split night… what does that actually mean? 🌙
It’s when your baby wakes during the night and stays up for a long stretch, usually 1.5 to 3 hours, and is completely awake. This is different from a quick wake for feeding or a diaper change. Some babies are content and playing in the crib, while others are upset but just can’t settle back to sleep and seem ready to start the day 😵💫
So why does this happen?
The most common reason is a mismatch in your baby’s total sleep across a 24 hour period. Simply put, too much daytime sleep can reduce how much sleep your baby needs overnight.
When that balance is off, nighttime sleep can get broken up into two separate stretches instead of one longer, consolidated night.
Most babies need about 12 to 15, sometimes up to 16, hours of sleep in a full day. If your baby is getting 5 or more hours of naps, they may only need 7 to 8 hours overnight. That can show up as long night wakings or early mornings.
A few ways to help:
💡 Try capping naps to build more sleep pressure for nighttime 💤
💡 Look at whether your baby may be ready for a nap transition, which means more awake time and less daytime sleep
💡 Make sure bedtime is appropriate. Too early can sometimes contribute to long night wakings
💡 Aim for a consistent morning wake time, around 7ish, to help regulate the day and build sleep pressure ☀️
If your nights are feeling long and unpredictable, you don’t have to figure this out on your own. I’d love to help you create a plan that actually works for your baby 🤍 Send me a message or book a free discovery call to get started 💬📞