Babies Wake at Night to Delay the Birth of Younger Siblings, a Study Suggests

Having a baby who wakes and cries at night is familiar to every parent. And one of the common reasons for this is hunger. But it turns out that an empty stomach isn’t the only thing that can push them to this — and no, it’s not dirty diapers or colic. It can actually be the unwillingness to have younger siblings, according to a study.

We at Bright Side were children ourselves once and didn’t let our parents rest at night. But a possible reason for this has opened up our minds and we can’t wait to share it with you.

A baby waking at night

The level of crying and waking at night can vary from baby to baby and it changes with time. And breastfeeding plays a huge role here. According to a study, babies who were breastfed woke at night more often than those who were fed from a bottle. The amount increased even more when paired with a longer duration of nursing.

A mom’s infertility

Breastfeeding, in its turn, causes postpartum infertility that prevents women from getting pregnant. And the more intense the suckling, the longer this infertility lasts. Usually, it lasts up to 6 months but sometimes it takes as long as 2 years.

How it’s connected with siblings

So, let’s summarize all of the above: we have a baby that wakes at night, they cry, and their mom nurses them. This cycle repeats again and again. And as a result, parents can’t have more kids during this period.

Understanding their intentions

Why do babies do this? It’s simply because of evolution. They need their parents to put all their effort into their upbringing. More offspring can influence the baby’s survival so they try to manage it.

How often does your baby wake you up at night? How do you regulate your sleep? Share your hacks with others who are just at the beginning of their parenthood journey.