Important notice to customers — product packaging changesLearn More

NEW FOOD PACKAGING IN STORE NOW

From August 2018, customers will notice our rebranded food packaging start to appear on shelf in all major stockists.

  • CURRENT Packaging
  • new Packaging

We are excited to announce our new packaging will start to appear on shelf from August 2018. This transition to new packaging will occur over a number of months. During this time there will be a mix of current and new packaging on shelf.

There are no major changes to these products, in some instances there is a small name change or slight recipe improvement, see below for the full details.

Products purchased via the website will be delivered to customers in our old packaging until the end of October. From November, products ordered from the website will be delivered in the new packaging.

Please note, our Infant Formula packaging will not be rebranded until later in 2019.

For any questions, connect with our team of accredited practising Dietitians on +61 3 6332 9200

Product name changes

  • Cereal Name Changes
  • CURRENT Packaging Organic Baby Rice
  • NEW Packaging Organic Rice with Prebiotic (GOS) Note: Our Baby Rice recipe has been upgraded to now include GOS Prebiotic
  • CURRENT Packaging Organic Vanilla Rice Custard
  • NEW Packaging Organic Milk & Vanilla Baby Rice
  • CURRENT Packaging Organic Apple & Cinnamon Porridge
  • NEW Packaging Organic Apple & Cinnamon Baby Porridge
  • Ready To Serve Name Changes
  • CURRENT Packaging Organic Banana, Pear & Mango
  • New Packaging Organic Banana, Pear, Apple & Mango
  • CURRENT Packaging Organic Mango, Blueberry & Apple
  • New Packaging Organic Blueberry, Mango & Apple
  • CURRENT Packaging Organic Peach & Apple
  • New Packaging Organic Grape, Apple & Peach
  • CURRENT Packaging Organic Pumpkin & Tomato Risotto
  • New Packaging Organic Pumpkin, Sweet Potato & Tomato
  • CURRENT Packaging Organic Broccoli, Beef & Brown Rice
  • New Packaging Organic Beef & Vegetables
  • Note: We have also upgraded some of our RTS recipes to remove added sugars and to remove some of the more complex ingredients that are not required for young children such as Tamari.
  • RUSKS NAME CHANGES
  • CURRENT Packaging Organic Milk Rusks Toothiepegs
  • New Packaging Organic Milk Rusks
Home/Nutrition & Recipes/Articles/How to Get Your Newborn Back to Sleep In the Middle of the Night

How to Get Your Newborn Back to Sleep In the Middle of the Night

Before you panic into thinking you will never again experience more than two hours of sleep again, take a breath and relax for a moment. Babies, especially newborns, wake regularly, but with the right approach, this can be minimised. At the very least your baby can learn to drift back to sleep without your help. Read on to explore the many reasons why babies wake up during the night and how you can help your baby go back to sleep.

Why do babies wake in the middle of the night?

Should my baby be sleeping all throughout the night?

This is a common question among many mothers, especially when they find that their newborn is waking up throughout the night and struggling to go back to sleep. The truth is, there is no real ‘normal’ sleep habit when it comes to babies. Every baby is different with some sleeping all the way through the night and others frequently waking up. You may have experienced your baby sleeping throughout the night previously and now find that they’re waking up at unusual times. Whatever your baby’s sleep habits are, the majority of babies have disturbed sleep at around 4-5 months old and continue to do so for months after.

If you and your baby enjoy your nighttime feedings, then there is no reason to worry. Babies who wake up and nurse often require a feed or just want time with you. If the amount of times your baby wakes to feed isn’t a major problem for you then there’s no real reason to change anything. Quite often, your baby will begin to sleep longer stretches of time as they continue to develop. While disturbed sleep patterns among babies are common, there are some cases where a baby waking up frequently could signal a problem.

Common causes of disturbed sleep patterns in babies

If you find that your baby isn’t resettling to sleep after waking up to feed, or your baby has changed their sleep habits, then it could indicate a problem. In many cases, unsettled babies are just experiencing normal physical sensations such as growing pains or indigestion, while in other cases not falling back asleep could be a sign of illness. Many common causes of disturbed sleep or unsettled babies include:

1. Change in their normal routine

A sleep association is basically any action or thing that aids your baby in falling asleep. Missing sleep associations can be a reason why a baby finds it hard to settle during the night. If your baby has always been fed during the night but is put to sleep without being fed, they may cry and fuss because they have now learned that they need this in order to settle back to sleep. Many babies have also been conditioned to fall asleep while sucking on a pacifier or bottle. If your baby accidentally spits their pacifier out or hasn’t been given something to suck on as they sleep they will often wake up and make a fuss.

A change in sleeping environment can also cause the baby to become unsettled during the night. If you’ve recently moved your baby from your bedroom or bed to their own room or cot, they may be confused and often unable to fall back asleep. A change like this can take time to adjust to.

2. Teething

Teething typically occurs at around 6 months of age and can be enough to wake and keep your baby awake. If you can see the tooth cutting through the gum then your baby may need some pain relief or teething gel.

3. Developmental advancements

Changes in your baby’s development can create shifts and changes to their sleeping habits. Babies brains can be very active at night, especially if they are learning new skills and practising them throughout the night. If your baby is otherwise healthy and eventually resettles, this could be just a sign of a growth milestone.

4. Illness or allergy

Common illnesses such as a cold or tummy bug can affect sleeping habits. Your baby may also be experiencing allergies such as eczema or nappy rash. Illnesses can occur as well as medical conditions like ear infections, reflux and worms. If you have covered all options trying to resettle your baby, then a visit to your family doctor is a good idea particularly if you discover signs of illness such as diarrhoea, vomiting or weeping in the eyes, nose or ears.

5. Good sleepers & bad sleepers

Some babies are just better sleepers than others. A lot of this has to do with how the baby is hardwired, while habit also plays a role. It’s important to create the best sleeping habits for your baby by being consistent from one night to the next.

Even if your baby’s sleep habits vary a lot, it doesn’t always indicate a problem. However, if you notice your baby doing the following consistently over a period of 3 months (particularly if your baby is older than 6 months), it’s a good idea to visit your family doctor to rule out any possible underlying health concerns. Lookout to see if your baby:

  • Consistently wakes up more than three times a night
  • Consistently takes longer than 30 minutes to settle
  • Has difficulties with sleeping and settling, and is causing you distress

How to handle an unsettled baby during the night

1. Wait

The first step in getting your baby to fall back to sleep is to wait a few moments before going to their aid. Listen on the baby monitor and if the whimpering starts to become more frantic, go to their side before it becomes a full-on wail. Timing is key here – if you’re too early you will teach them that you’ll come running the moment you hear a noise but if you leave it too late, their cries will have stimulated them into an official awake mode.

When going to your baby, refrain from turning on the light and try not to make eye contact. Place your hand on their tummy and try patting them back to sleep without talking, singing or any other sound. If your baby quiets, wait a few minutes before sneaking back out of the room.

2. Consider the sleep aid

As already highlighted, one of the most common reasons why babies call out to their parents in the night is because of a pacifier. Yes, pacifiers may help when putting baby to sleep, but if they lose it during the night they don’t possess the fine motor skills to put it back in. If this is becoming a problem you may need to consider saying goodbye to the pacifier.

3. Play with white noise

Some babies sleep so gently that the slightest sound will wake them. If this is the case, you may wish to play white noise sounds which act to mask sudden sounds and help cue sleep. Incorporating this as part of your baby’s sleep routine can take some of the pressure off you to soothe.

4. Keep soothing time short

If you must pick up your baby for soothing, keep it short and sweet or you may confuse them into thinking it’s playtime. It’s important to highlight when it is and isn’t appropriate for play, and walking away from play instead of interacting with your child is one way to do this.

5. Assist the sibling instead

Not running to your baby at night is difficult when their cries risk waking a sibling, but running to them can enforce bad habits. Consider preparing the sibling in advance by explaining “they’re just learning to sleep at night”, and instead of trying to quieten baby when they wake, try soothing the sibling back to sleep instead.

6. Maximise baby’s nursing during the day and during night wakings

You can try encouraging baby to nurse more often during the day (e.g. every 2 hours instead of every 3) to help wean them off nighttime feedings and wakings. Also, nursing baby right before you go to bed (even if baby is already in bed) can be a good way to maximise your sleep during the night. It’s also a good idea to try settling your baby before they become overtired. When a baby is overtired it usually makes them fuss more and makes it harder for them to resettle back to sleep.

There are a number of reasons why your baby may be having difficulties falling back asleep during the night. In many cases, it’s a completely normal process and has a lot to do with behavioural or physical changes as well as individual habits. If your baby is waking during the night, try the above tips and slowly ease them back to sleep. If you find that you have exhausted all options and your baby still isn’t sleeping, then it’s helpful to visit your doctor to rule out any illness or health problems and provide a plan of action.

Stress less and ensure your baby has a pure start to life with organic nutrition. Take a look at our full range of products at Bellamy’s Organic — we offer baby formula, ready-to-serve baby food, snacks and more.

About the author

Important Notice to Parents and Guardians

  • Breast milk is the best for babies. The World Health Organisation recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life. Unnecessary introduction of bottle feeding or other food and drinks will have a negative impact on breastfeeding. After six months of age, infants should receive age-appropriate foods while breastfeeding continues for up to two years of age or beyond. Consult your doctor before deciding to use infant formula or if you have difficulty breastfeeding.
  • The content on this website is intended as general information for Singaporean residents only and should not be used as a substitute for medical care and advice from your healthcare practitioner. According to recommendations from the Singapore Health Promotion Board, solid food should be given to babies only after 6 months.