For many parents, a baby’s first cry at birth is the sweetest sound — proof of good health and vitality. But weeks later, when that same baby keeps waking up in the middle of the night, those cries can feel far less endearing. Sleep deprivation quickly takes its toll on new parents who are trying to recover after childbirth.

Yet, there may be an unexpected upside. According to infant health expert Professor Peter Fleming of the University of Bristol, frequent night waking could be linked to higher developmental and intellectual potential.

“There’s a link between very high levels of developmental and intellectual achievement and not sleeping through the night,” Fleming told Buzzfeed. “Human infants are not designed to sleep for long periods. It’s not good for them, and there’s no evidence that a child who sleeps longer is better off.”

Why Babies Don’t Sleep Like Adults

Biologically, babies have different sleep patterns from adults. They often nap during the day and become more wakeful between 6 p.m. and midnight — inconvenient for parents, but evolutionarily sensible.

“From a biological point of view, what the baby is doing is completely normal and sensible,” Fleming explains. “In the evening, both parents are usually around and there are fewer distractions. This gives infants better access to care and protection.”

This pattern doesn’t align with modern lifestyles, but it may have served babies well for thousands of years.

Recommended Sleep Durations Still Matter

While night waking is normal, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) reminds parents that total daily sleep is still essential for healthy development:

• Infants (4–12 months): 12–16 hours (including naps)

• Children (1–2 years): 11–14 hours

• Children (3–5 years): 10–13 hours

• Children (6–12 years): 9–12 hours

Adequate rest supports emotional well-being, attention span, memory, and learning. So while babies may wake frequently, parents should still aim to help them meet overall sleep needs.

The Case for Staying Close to Your Baby

Fleming notes that human infants evolved to be in near-constant contact with their mothers. Historically, babies were carried, breastfed on demand, and slept near parents — practices that supported survival.

“They’re asleep when they need to sleep and awake when they need to be awake, but they’re always with their mother. That closeness facilitates breastfeeding and safety,” he says.

He adds that there’s no reason to view room-sharing or safe co-sleeping as unusual. His own research on Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) in the 1980s helped reduce SIDS rates in the UK by encouraging safe sleep practices, including placing babies on their backs.

However, guidelines vary. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) advises that infants should sleep in the parents’ room but on a separate, safe surface (such as a bassinet or crib), ideally for the first year — at least for the first six months. Parents should keep soft bedding and pillows away from the sleep area to reduce SIDS risk.

Bottom Line

Frequent night waking may frustrate exhausted parents, but it’s typically normal — and might even signal a bright, developmentally advanced baby. Still, ensuring a safe sleep environment and enough total rest remains crucial for a child’s health and parents’ peace of mind.