When Baby Sleep Feels Impossible: What Helps (and What Doesn’t)

If you’re reading this in the middle of the night, eyes blurry, heart pounding with frustration and guilt - you’re not alone.

When your baby just won’t sleep, or wakes again for the tenth time, it can feel like something must be wrong. And in that moment, the advice from books, family, or the internet can feel not just unhelpful - but truly frustrating.

So let’s pause, breathe, and reset. Here’s what actually helps when baby sleep feels impossible… and what often doesn’t.

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❌ What Doesn’t Usually Help

1. “Just let them cry it out.”

You may hear this a lot, especially from older generations or social media “sleep trainers.”

But for many parents, leaving a baby to cry alone feels wrong - and can cause more stress than sleep.

If it doesn’t align with your instincts, you don’t have to do it.

2. Endlessly Googling at 3am

We’ve all been there: frantically searching “how to get 7-month-old to sleep” or “is 45-minute nap normal???”

The overload of conflicting advice only adds to the overwhelm.

Information without a plan just increases decision fatigue.

3. Believing It’s Your Fault

This one is the most harmful.

You’re doing your best. Your baby’s sleep (or lack of it) is not a reflection of your worth, love, or effort.

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✅ What Does Help

1. Understanding What’s Normal (And What’s Not)

So much of the panic comes from not knowing what’s developmentally expected.

For example, did you know:

• Waking every 2–4 hours is biologically normal for many babies under 6 months?

• Short naps are common as sleep cycles develop?

When you know what’s typical, you can stop fighting your baby’s biology - and start working with it.

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2. Creating a Sleep-Conducive Environment

You don’t need fancy gadgets - but a few small tweaks can make a big difference:

• A dark room (blackout blinds are a game-changer)

• White or pink noise to mimic the womb

• Consistent wind-down routines (even just 5 minutes)

Think calm, dim, predictable. That’s your baby’s happy place for sleep.

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3. Responsive, Gentle Sleep Strategies

There are ways to support better sleep without abandoning your baby or doing anything that feels harsh. These include:

• Responsive settling techniques

• Adjusting naps and sleep pressure

• Tweaking routines based on baby’s cues

These are the strategies I use every day with families in my 1:1 sleep support.

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4. Getting Personalised Help

Sometimes, you just need someone to say:

“You’re not imagining it. You’re not broken. Let me help.”

That’s what I offer in my sleep consultations - compassionate, personalised support tailored to your baby and your family.

If you feel like you’ve tried everything and nothing’s working, I’d love to help.

→ Explore my one-to-one sleep support

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💬 Final Thought

If baby sleep feels impossible right now, please know this: You are not failing. This is hard because it is hard - not because you’re doing something wrong.

And there are ways through. You don’t have to wait until you hit rock bottom, or cry in the kitchen at 2am again.

I’m here when you’re ready.