Dieser Beitrag wurde geschrieben von Katrin Stötter

Sleep problems in babies & toddlers: Understanding the causes and creating peaceful nights with targeted sleep aids

Katrin Stötter

Mother, certified sleep coach and founder of the sleep consulting “Bear-strong Baby Sleep”.

Sleep is a central topic in everyday life with a baby or toddler – not only for the child but also for the parents. Especially in the first months of life, the lack of night sleep can quickly become a burden. Restlessness, lack of sleep, and worries about the child's health occupy many families. But with knowledge, patience, and the right strategies, you can help your child fall asleep and stay asleep better – and thus bring more calm to your nights. For mothers, a child's peaceful sleep often means a noticeable relief as well.

What are common sleep problems in babies and toddlers?

In my counseling services, parents repeatedly report similar falling asleep difficulties, which often relate to falling asleep, napping, or waking up at night:

• Constant night-time sucking
• Falling asleep only with help (nursing, carrying, body contact)
• Long time to fall asleep, often with restlessness or crying
• Frequent night-time waking
• Short daytime naps (30–40 minutes, from the 8th month)
• Longer waking periods during the night
• Waking up well before 6 in the morning
• Naps only possible in a sling, cradle, or pram
• Lying down in bed hardly possible without waking up
• Connecting sleep cycles only with parental support

These challenges are not unusual – and often due to development. Nevertheless, many parents experience the recurring interruptions as a real sleep problem that can greatly affect everyday family life.

Why good sleep is so important

Sleep is not just rest – it is essential for your child's brain development, physical health, and emotional balance. Especially in early childhood, countless developmental steps take place that influence sleep – but also need sleep. A child who sleeps according to their age is often more balanced during the day and can better recover according to their need for sleep.

From when does a stable day-night rhythm develop?

From about the 4th month, your infant begins to develop a day-night sleep pattern. The sleep now becomes more cyclical. It can take until the 6th month for this pattern to become established. During the first year of life, sleep often changes before it becomes more stable.

How you can purposefully support your baby in falling asleep:

  • Sleep environment darken early – not only at night, but also before the midday nap or short naps

  • Establish firm bedtime rituals – rituals provide security and promote falling asleep

  • Sleepwear also use during the day so that your baby can distinguish between waking and sleep phases

  • Pay attention to age-appropriate waking times to avoid overtiredness

  • TIP

    If you are unsure about signs of tiredness, use our sleep need chart. ⬇

The ideal sleeping environment

For a restful sleep, a quiet, darkened, and low-stimulus sleep environment is crucial. Make sure your child takes as many naps as possible in bed – not on the go. This not only supports through-the-night sleep but also emotional steadiness.

How long does it usually take to fall asleep?

Many parents wonder how quickly their child "should" fall asleep. But there is no fixed rule here either:

• Up to 14 months: 15–25 minutes
• From 15 months: 20–30 minutes

If the time to fall asleep is significantly shorter, your child may have been overtired. If it is longer, they might not have been tired enough yet.
🔑 Important: Falling asleep is a learning process. Your baby needs your closeness, structure, and time to settle down. This is completely normal, especially in the first year of life.

Why a bedtime companion is a need

Especially in the evening and at night, falling asleep is stressful for many children – it means separation. Falling asleep support offers closeness, safety, and comfort. It is a basic need of your child – not a "habit" that you need to untrain. Structured days and loving rituals help reduce stress and make falling asleep easier. It is important to remember: every child has their own need for sleep, which changes repeatedly as they grow.

Will your child ever sleep through the night?

A common wish – and at the same time a great misunderstanding. Because through-sleeping usually does not mean eight hours without interruption for babies.
Guidance for nighttime sleep phases:


• Up to 6 months: waking as needed
• 6–7 months: about 2–3 hours
• 8–9 months: about 3–4 hours
• 10–11 months: about 4–5 hours
• From 12 months: up to 6–12 hours

Even in the second or third year of life, there can be phases when your child wakes at night or sleeps more restlessly.

Why babies wake up at night

Babies wake up at night because they are hungry, seek closeness, or are processing new experiences. Teething, health complaints, or an unfavorable sleep environment can also disturb sleep. Stress and sensory overload during the day also negatively affect sleeping through the night.

Nighttime feeding is completely normal in the first 12 months – especially when you consider the enormous brain development and physical growth of your child.

From the 13th month onwards – with normal development and good food intake during the day – you can consider gently reducing nighttime meals. Always pay attention to a bonding-focused approach.

Sleep regression – what is it?

The term sleep regression describes a development-related change in sleep behavior – usually accompanied by restlessness, longer times to fall asleep, or waking up during the night.

Typical times:
Sleep setbacks usually occur during certain stages of growth: The first appears around the 4th or 5th month, when sleep becomes more cyclical. Other common times are the 8th/9th, 11th/12th, around the 18th, as well as the 22nd–24th month. During these phases, sleep habits and needs change greatly – often accompanied by new motor, speech, or thinking development steps. Many parents notice such a phase again in the second year of life.

During these phases, sleep can suddenly become noticeably more restless. Daytime naps or sleep may also be refused.

What helps with a sleep setback?

• Maintain a fixed daily routine and rituals
• Refrain from exciting outings
• Calmness, patience, and loving support
• Relaxing elements such as a foot massage with lavender oil (pure and organic)

Important: This phase will also pass – promised.

When should you visit a children's doctor?

Not every sleep problem is due to development. If you feel that health-related causes such as:

  • Backflow

  • shortened frenulum

  • Allergies

  • Breathing difficulties

  • bodily pains

If this plays a role, you should definitely consult a children's doctor. Complementary approaches such as bone-setting or natural healing can also be helpful.
Because: Care also means having the cause of possible complaints examined in good time.

Where to turn in case of persistent sleep problems?

Many parents report that they do not always feel well advised by medical professionals – especially when it comes to need-oriented children's sleep.

My advice:
Turn to a certified, attachment-focused sleep counseling service that addresses your individual needs. Make sure you feel comfortable with the person – trust is the foundation for successful cooperation.

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In the end: You are doing wonderfully!

If you think about sleep associations, rituals, or waking up at night – please do not be afraid. Habits develop gradually, usually starting from the fifth month. And you may change them – but only if they burden you.

You are the best mother or father for your child. Trust yourself – and your gut feeling. Together you will find your way.

Katrin Stötter
Katrin Stötter is a certified, attachment-focused sleep coach for babies (from 6 months) and toddlers (up to 2.5 / 3 years) and is also a mother herself. She supports parents as a professional, empathetic contact person for questions and challenges related to baby and child sleep.

Mehr Informationen über Katrin Stötter findest du hier.

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