How a New Baby Can Affect Your Toddler’s Sleep (And How to Protect It)

Supporting Toddler Sleep When a New Sibling Arrives | Parenting Collective

First of all, congratulations. You’ve either just welcomed a new baby, or you’re about to. And not only that, you’ve done the hard work of helping your older child develop independent sleep skills, sleep through the night, and take solid daytime naps. That is no small achievement.

So it’s completely natural to worry:
“Is this new baby going to undo all of our toddler’s great sleep?”

And while I don’t often give definitive answers in child sleep, in this case, the honest answer is:
👉 Yes — there will likely be some disruption.

That doesn’t mean sleep is doomed. It just means preparation matters.

Why a New Baby Can Disrupt Toddler Sleep

There are two main reasons a new sibling often affects toddler sleep.

1. Night-Time Noise from the Newborn

Newborns wake frequently for feeds and they make noise doing it. Crying, grunting, feeding sounds, and movement can all disturb a toddler’s sleep, especially in the early weeks.

What helps:

• Have your toddler sleep in their own room if possible

• Position bedrooms as far apart as you can

• Use white or brown noise (I prefer brown noise)

• Keep sound levels under 60 dBA and place the machine between the cot/bed and the door

Noise management alone can significantly protect toddler night sleep.

2. Jealousy and Emotional Adjustment

Even the most confident, securely attached toddler will feel the shift when a newborn arrives. Suddenly, attention that once belonged solely to them is shared and that can show up as sleep regression.

Common toddler sleep behaviours after a new baby arrives include:

• More requests for cuddles at bedtime

• Asking to go back into the cot

• Wanting to sleep in your bed

• Increased clinginess or neediness during the bedtime routine

This is developmentally normal but how it’s handled makes all the difference.

Why Toddler Sleep Regresses After a New Baby

Often, it’s not the toddler driving the change it’s the parents (understandably).

Parental guilt is powerful. When time and energy are stretched thin, parents often try to compensate at bedtime:

• Extra stories

• Longer cuddles

• Staying in the room

• Letting boundaries slide

And while this comes from love, it can unintentionally disrupt toddler sleep independence.

Why Consistent Bedtime Boundaries Matter More Than Ever

Toddlers test boundaries not because they want them removed but because they want to know they’re still there.

Consistent routines and limits tell your child:

• “You are safe”

• “Things are predictable”

• “Mum and Dad are still in charge”

When boundaries shift, toddlers can feel unsettled and that often leads to more sleep disruption, not less.

How to Protect Toddler Sleep When a New Baby Arrives

Keep Bedtime Exactly the Same

As tempting as it is to soften everything, bedtime is where consistency matters most.

Keep:

• The same bedtime

• The same bedtime routine

• The same number of stories

• The same sleep environment

This stability helps your toddler feel secure during a big life change.

Add Connection During the Day (Not at Night)

Instead of adding connection at bedtime, intentionally add it during the day.

Aim for:

• 20–30 minutes of dedicated 1:1 time

• No phone, no baby, no distractions

• Let your toddler choose the activity

This “you and me” time is incredibly powerful in reassuring your child that they still matter deeply.

Be Mindful of Language

Try not to use the baby as the reason you can’t meet your toddler’s needs.

Instead of:

“I can’t, I’m feeding the baby.”

Try:

“I’ll help you in just a moment, let’s think of something fun while we wait.”

This small shift reduces resentment and protects emotional security.

Final Thoughts: Supporting Sleep Through Big Changes

You are not a bad parent for holding boundaries, you are a loving one.

By keeping sleep routines predictable, offering connection during the day and trusting that your toddler can handle big feelings, you’re helping them stay secure, rested, and emotionally regulated, even as their world expands.

Big transitions don’t need big disruptions, just calm, confident leadership 

Much Love

Donna

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