If you’ve been told your baby needs to learn to “self-soothe” or that letting them “cry it out” will teach them to sleep better, you’re not alone—and you’re definitely not hearing the full story. While sleep training may promise quick results, it comes at a serious cost to your baby’s developing nervous system. The truth is, it doesn’t teach your child how to sleep—it teaches them to stop asking for help.
The Myth of Self-Soothing
Newborns don’t have the neurological wiring to understand time, patience, or self-regulation. Their frontal lobe—the part of the brain responsible for reasoning and logic—aren’t developed yet. A baby isn’t capable of manipulating a parent or thinking outside of their immediate needs. They either feel safe and comforted… or they don’t.
What Normal Newborn Sleep Actually Looks Like
Here’s what most new parents don’t hear: waking during the night is normal! In fact, for breastfed babies, it’s essential. Their tiny stomachs and close connection to mom’s body require frequent feeding and contact. Even the clinical definition of “sleeping through the night” only means a 5-7 hour stretch—not an uninterrupted 10-12 hours like parents are hoping for.
Sleep regressions around 4 and 8 months are also normal. As babies become more aware of their surroundings, they need help stringing sleep cycles together. This often looks like waking every 45-90 minutes and needing a familiar, calming presence to fall back asleep. Don’t think of it as a regression—it’s a part of normal development.
When Sleep Struggles Are a Sign of Something More
Not all night wakings are created equal. There’s a difference between a baby who wakes, feeds, and falls back asleep—versus one who is inconsolable for hours. If your baby is screaming, struggling to latch, dealing with reflux or constipation, or can’t be soothed easily, it’s a red flag that something deeper is going on.
Often, the root lies in the nervous system—especially from stress or tension related to pregnancy or birth. C-sections, inductions, forceps or vacuum deliveries, or prolonged labor can all contribute to misalignments and stress in their upper neck, which houses the brainstem and vagus nerve. These areas regulate sleep, digestion, and a newborn’s ability to relax.
Pediatric chiropractic care that gently addresses this tension can be a game-changer for babies struggling with sleep, feeding, and overall regulation! Instead of hoping the child eventually grows out of these concerns, correcting the cause of their stress will not only help them sleep better now, it will help them avoid future issues!
What About Co-Sleeping?
Done safely, co-sleeping can be an incredibly effective and biologically normal way to support newborn sleep. It allows for close contact, easier breastfeeding, and more synchronized sleep rhythms between mom and baby. In most parts of the world, co-sleeping is the norm—and always has been.
Final Thoughts for Tired Parents
This season is hard—but it doesn’t last forever. If your baby is simply waking to eat and for comfort, you’re not doing anything wrong. And if you sense something more is going on, trust your gut and don’t just ignore it.
At Thrive Chiropractic, we specialize in helping babies regulate naturally by identifying and correcting nervous system stress early on. If your little one is struggling with sleep, digestion, or constant fussiness, don’t wait. Let’s find the cause so you and your baby can truly thrive!
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