Why is My 5-Month-Old Baby Waking Up Every 2 Hours at Night?

5 month old baby waking up every 2 hours at night?

You finally get your baby down for the night, crawl into bed, and just as you start to drift off—bam, baby’s awake. Again. And again. AND AGAIN. It feels like clockwork, every two hours, all night long. And let’s be real—falling back to sleep isn’t instant after rocking, bouncing, and pacing the room in a half-asleep state. Instead, you’re wide awake. You’ve tried the Insta hacks, asked for advice from friends and family, and even your pediatrician doesn’t seem to have a solid answer.

Is this just how life is now? Will your baby ever sleep through the night? The good news is—YES, they will sleep again. NO, this doesn’t have to last forever. And most importantly, NO, you haven’t done anything wrong. Let’s dive in and figure this out together.

Why is My 5 Month Old Waking So Much at Night?

There are a few key reasons why your little one is waking so frequently. The best part? Most of them are easy to fix with small adjustments. Here are the most common culprits:

Hunger
Discomfort
Overtiredness/Undertiredness
Sleep environment
New skills and milestones
Difficulty falling asleep independently

Let’s break these down so you can get some much-needed rest.

Hunger - 5 months old baby

At 5 months, most babies don’t need to eat every two hours overnight—unless there’s a medical reason. However, if they aren’t getting enough calories during the day, they may still wake out of habit and hunger. This can quickly turn into a cycle where they eat more at night and less during the day, keeping them stuck in a pattern of frequent wakings.

How to fix it:

Ensure your baby gets 24-32oz of milk (breast or formula) during the day.
Stick to a feeding schedule and wake baby if naps are interfering with feeds.
If your baby is going through a growth spurt, they may truly need extra night feeds—this is temporary and will pass!

Discomfort with a 5 month old baby

Many parents think that introducing solids will magically extend sleep. Unfortunately, sometimes the opposite happens. Your baby’s digestive system is still learning to process food, which can lead to gas, constipation, or tummy troubles.

Teething could also be playing a role. Even though teeth often don’t pop through until 6 months, symptoms can start much earlier. If your baby is drooling excessively and gnawing on everything, teething might be the reason behind their wake-ups.

How to fix it:

Keep an eye on new foods and how they affect digestion.
Offer teething relief (cold washcloths, teething toys, or approved remedies).

Overtiredness & Undertiredness with a 5 month old baby

A 5-month-old needs 12-15 hours of total sleep per day, with about three naps. The tricky part? Too much or too little sleep can cause frequent wake-ups.

Too much daytime sleep? Baby might not be tired enough for night sleep.
Not enough daytime sleep? They’ll be overtired, making it harder to settle.

Ideal wake windows: Your baby can typically stay awake for about 2 hours and 15 minutes before needing another nap.

How to fix it:

Watch for sleepy cues (yawning, rubbing eyes, staring off) and adjust naps accordingly.
Avoid overtiring, which can lead to an adrenaline spike and restless nights.

Sleep Environment for a 5 month old baby

A good sleep setup is crucial. If the room isn’t optimized, even the best sleepers can struggle.

How to fix it:

Make the room dark—like, “can’t see your hand in front of your face” dark. Blackout curtains are a game changer.
Use white noise to drown out household sounds. Place it near noise sources like doors or windows.
Keep the temperature comfortable—not too hot, not too cold.

New Skills & Milestones

At 5 months, your baby is learning so much—rolling, grabbing, babbling. Sometimes, they wake up just to practice their new skills (commitment, right?).

How to fix it:

Give plenty of practice time during the day.
Encourage movement so that by bedtime, they’re ready to rest.

What’s a Realistic Sleep Schedule for a 5-Month-Old?

While every baby is different, here’s a general guide:

Morning wake-up: 6:30-7:30 AM
Nap 1: 8:30-9:30 AM
Nap 2: 12:00-1:00 PM
Nap 3: 3:30-4:30 PM
Bedtime: 6:30-8:00 PM

(Adjust based on your baby’s cues, but remember—later bedtime doesn’t mean later wake-up!)

How Many Night Wakings Are Normal at 5 Months?

It’s completely normal for babies this age to still wake at night. However, most don’t need more than one overnight feed if they’re getting enough daytime calories.

Signs your baby isn’t actually hungry:

Wakes every 2 hours but only snacks before falling asleep.
Wakes shortly after going down for the night.

If your baby is gaining weight well and taking in enough daytime calories, it’s okay to start gently reducing night feeds. Always consult your pediatrician if you’re unsure!

Final Thoughts

If your 5-month-old is waking every 2 hours, there’s a reason—but the good news is, it’s fixable. By tweaking feeding, naps, environment, and sleep habits, you can help your baby (and yourself!) get better rest.

💜 You’ve got this! And if you need extra support, we are here to help. Sweet dreams! ✨😴