Why Does My 10 Month Old Wake Every Hour? 5 Common Reasons (and what actually helps)

If your 10 month old is waking every 1-2 hours overnight, you're likely exhausted, frustrated, and wondering what on earth is going on!

You've probably tried everything - you've adjusted wake windows, checked and double checked the sleep environment, moved bedtime earlier, moved bedtime later, followed all the sleep advice online but nothing is making a difference.

The good news is that hourly waking at 10 months is usually a sign of something deeper is going on rather than a sign that your baby simply 'can't sleep.'

Below are some of the most common reasons and what you can do to help.

What 'Normal' Sleep Looks Like at 10 Months

At 10 months, most babies are capable of linking sleep cycles and sleeping for longer stretches overnight. I'd still expect to see a few wakes in there with some quick parental support to resettle or one or two feeds depending on baby.

However, a baby who wakes every 1-2 hours isn't usually waking because they're genuinely hungry each time but instead, there's something preventing them from settling comfortably back to sleep when they naturally stir.

The key is understanding what's causing those frequent disturbances.

1. They're learning huge new skills

10 months is a busy age developmentally.

Many babies are:

• Crawling

• Pulling to stand

• Cruising around furniture

• Learning to climb

• Developing new communication skills

• Processing a rapidly expanding understanding of the world

  
  

During sleep, the brain continues to practice and organise these new skills.

You may notice your baby standing in their cot, crawling around the mattress, or repeatedly practicing movements during the night.

What can help?

Rather than focusing solely on sleep, look at how much opportunity your baby has to practice these skills during the day.

For example:

• Create safe spaces for climbing and cruising

• Allow plenty of floor time

• Practice getting down from standing, not just pulling up

• Practice walking holding hands with caregiver

  
  

Many babies can pull themselves up but don't yet know how to sit back down, leading to overnight frustration when they wake standing and need help. The more confident they become during the day, the less urgent that practice can feel overnight.

2. Sleep needs may be changing

Around 10 months, some babies show signs that their sleep schedule needs adjusting.

I often see babies waking frequently overnight because:

• They're getting too much daytime sleep

• Their wake windows are too short

• Bedtime has gradually become too early for their current sleep needs

  
  

When a baby isn't building enough sleep pressure across the day, overnight sleep can become fragmented.

What can help?

Rather than focusing only on wake windows, look at the bigger picture.

Ask yourself:

• Is bedtime becoming a battle?

• Does my baby seem wide awake during some overnight wakes?

• Are they taking a long time to fall asleep for naps?

These can sometimes indicate that a small schedule adjustment may help. Even adding just 20 minutes to one wake window can occasionally improve overnight sleep significantly.

Of course - we can't always rule out things being the other way round, for example not getting enough daytime sleep, wake windows being too long etc, so it's important to still consider that factor if relevant.

3. Separation anxiety is peaking

Around 8-10 months, many babies develop a much stronger awareness that you exist even when they can't see you. This is wonderful for development but can make nights harder.

A baby who previously settled happily may suddenly become distressed when they realise you're not there.

This can look like:

• Standing and crying immediately upon waking

• Settling quickly when picked up

• Increased clinginess during the day

• Difficulty being left with other caregivers

What can help?

Focus on filling your baby's connection cup during waking hours through:

• 1:1 play

• Physical affection

• Responsive interactions

• Games like peek-a-boo and hide-and-seek

These activities help build trust that people leave and come back. At night, consistency becomes particularly important. Frequent changes in how you respond can sometimes make separation anxiety feel even bigger.

4. They're seeking sensory input

This is something that I LOVE to talk about and include in all my 1:1 work with families, building a specific sensory plan.

Some babies are naturally more sensory-seeking or sensory-sensitive than others.

I frequently work with babies who:

• Crash into furniture during play

• Love rough and tumble games

• Seek lots of movement

• Prefer being tightly cuddled

• Sleep pressed against the side of the cot

These babies may struggle to feel settled if their sensory needs haven't been met throughout the day.

What can help?

Consider whether your baby might benefit from more sensory rich activities before bed, such as:

• Crawling over cushions

• Pushing a laundry basket filled with toys

• Obstacle courses

• Firm massage after bath time

• Using pillows to create pressure

• Copying movements to action songs

• Lots of rocking motion!

  
  

The goal isn't to tire them out but to help their nervous system feel organised and regulated before sleep.

5. They're falling asleep one way and waking up another

This isn't about forcing independence and it's certainly not always the magic cure but, if all the other factors have been checked, then this can be the icing on the cake.

For some babies, falling asleep in very specific conditions that aren't present when they wake between sleep cycles can cause upset and they do look for the same set up to resettle at night.

For example:

• Feeding to sleep

• Rocking to sleep

• Falling asleep in a parent's bed before being transferred

  
  

What can help?

This doesn't mean removing support overnight. Instead, think about introducing small opportunities for your baby to do a little bit more in the settling process.

This could mean:

• Feeding until relaxed rather than fully asleep

• Gradually reducing movement during rocking

• Allowing brief pauses before immediately intervening

  
  

Tiny changes often feel more achievable and sustainable than dramatic ones.

When hourly waking becomes a pattern

If your baby has been waking every hour for several weeks, it's rarely just one thing causing the problem. Most often, I find it's a combination of factors:

• Developmental changes

• Sleep schedule adjustments

• Sensory needs

• Separation anxiety

• Sleep associations

  
  

This is why generic sleep advice often falls short.

Two babies can both wake every hour, yet the reason behind those wakes may be completely different.

The most effective solution comes from understanding your individual child, their temperament, their sensory preferences, their development, and what is happening in their daily routine.

Final thoughts

If your 10 month old is waking every hour, it doesn't mean you've done anything wrong. It also doesn't mean you have to simply wait it out. Frequent waking is your baby's way of communicating that so#86C6E5mething isn't quite working for them right now.

The answer isn't always found in stricter routines or more sleep training. Sometimes it's found in understanding the deeper reasons behind the wakes and making thoughtful, targeted adjustments that support your baby as a whole person.

If you would love more help your baby's sleep, then I'm here to guide you through what actually works for your baby.

👉 Access my free guide for tips on How To Get Your Little One Sleeping Better

👉 If you're ready to take the next step then Book a FREE call to find out how I work

About Natalie Natalie Graham is a certified infant and child sleep consultant for ages 0-5 years, and has also completed a Level 2 Award in Introduction to Neuroscience in Early Years, plus Safer Sleep Training Certificate from the Lullaby Trust. She has helped families across the UK to improve sleep for their little ones using gentle, responsive approaches.