Common Sleep Issues At This Age

Daytime Napping Challenges

Your baby's nap needs are changing quickly at this stage, and it can feel hard to keep up. As they begin to transition from three naps to two – and eventually to one – many parents find their baby fights naps, sleeps only for short bursts, or becomes overtired by the end of the day. Understanding your baby's ideal wake windows and adjusting their nap routine can help, but it often takes time and support to get right.

Trouble Settling at Bedtime and Waking Frequently Overnight

Between 9 and 12 months, many babies experience a spike in separation anxiety as they become more aware of being apart from you. This can make it harder for them to fall asleep independently at bedtime and resettle during the night. You might find your baby is suddenly waking every hour or needing more comfort to drift off again — especially after developmental milestones like crawling or standing.

Needing Help to Fall Asleep

It's very common for older babies and toddlers to rely on feeding, rocking, or cuddling to fall asleep. While these soothing methods are natural and often helpful early on, they can sometimes become sleep associations that make it harder for your child to settle or resettle on their own. This can affect both bedtime and night-time waking.

Early Morning Wake-Ups

Many babies at this age wake up ready to start the day far earlier than you'd like – sometimes before 5am. This can happen when they've had too much or too little daytime sleep, or are going to bed overtired. Becoming more alert and curious about their environment can also contribute to these early starts.

Long Night Wakings

Some babies wake in the night and are then awake for long stretches, often seeming wide-eyed and alert. This can be linked to overtiredness, poor sleep pressure, or needing your help to fall back to sleep. It's particularly common during developmental leaps or when nap transitions aren't yet well established.

Older Babies and Toddlers Waking Frequently for Milk or Night Feeds

It's completely normal for older babies and toddlers to wake during the night and want a feed for comfort or reassurance. This isn't always due to hunger — sometimes, feeding has simply become part of how they settle back to sleep. Night feeds can still be a valuable source of comfort, connection, and nourishment, and there's no need to make changes unless it feels right for you.

If you are ready to explore gentle ways to support your child's sleep — including gradually reducing night feeds — we're here to help, always in a way that respects your feeding choices and supports your whole family's wellbeing.

We Can Help!

Gentle, personalised support to help your baby — and your family — sleep better.

We understand just how tough this stage can be. Whether your baby is resisting naps, waking frequently, struggling with long periods awake in the night, or finding it hard to adapt to big changes like starting nursery, it's exhausting — and often confusing — for the whole family.

At Millpond, we don't believe in quick fixes or one-size-fits-all sleep strategies. Instead, we take time to understand your baby's unique temperament, sleep patterns, and family context. With over 30 years of experience and deep expertise in child development and sleep science, we'll create a personalised, step-by-step plan that's both practical and gentle.

Our approach is designed to help your baby sleep more restfully and independently, while giving you the confidence to make changes in a manageable, supportive way. With our help, your baby can build healthy sleep habits — and your whole family can finally get the sleep you deserve.