Logo - The Possums baby and toddler sleep program.Logo - The Possums baby and toddler sleep program.
menu-icon-libraryfull programsmenu-icon-audioaudio program
what is the possums sleep program?building this program from the scienceresearch that shows it workstestimonials from parents
speak to dr pam
login-iconlogin

Welcome back!

Forgot password
sign up
search

Search programs

Sleep Emergency icon

Sleep Emergency


  • Read here first if you're in a newborn sleep emergency
  • Make sure your newborn is exposed to daylight and activity from the same time each morning when you're in a sleep emergency
  • If you're breastfeeding your newborn and in a sleep emergency, consider asking another loving adult to do a shift at night
  • If you are in a sleep emergency and your baby isn't directly breastfeeding, ask another loving adult to take over completely for a couple of nights (at least)
  • Are you in a sleep emergency and lying awake even when your newborn is asleep?

Next article

Sign up now
  • Sleep Emergency
  • S1: Newborn sleep emergency (0-4 weeks)

Are you in a sleep emergency and lying awake even when your newborn is asleep?

Dr Pamela Douglas22nd of Jul 202317th of May 2024

woman tired in bed

These newborn sleep pages are intended to get you started in the first challenging few weeks of life. But this sleep work will be most useful in your family's life if you quickly move on to the comprehensive Possums Baby Sleep Program, starting with The essentials, here! Please see your GP if you have concerns about your own mental or physical health.

When you know (with sinking heart) that your newborn is going to wake again very soon, it’s common to find yourself lying awake, feeling stressed about your desperate need for sleep, which of course makes it very hard to fall asleep.

Or it can simply seem as if your body has lost the habit of sleeping, because you've been woken up so much!

"How on earth am I going to cope tomorrow?" your mind might ask you, over and over. Maybe you notice feelings of dread or bone-deep exhaustion in your body. You might have other unpleasant physical sensations resulting from to your own dialled up sympathetic nervous system, perhaps in your chest or abdomen.

In this situation, which is so common when we have a tiny newborn child, I suggest that you

  • Work steadily through The Possums Baby Sleep Program, starting with The essentials, here. To my mind, this is the most important thing to do, because we need to quickly align your baby's sleep regulators with your own

  • Become a self-compassion ninja – your wakefulness is a normal response to a highly stressful situation

  • Read about managing our exhausted minds in the night

  • Brainstorm about how others might support you.

You might also find it helpful to read 'When you're in a sleep emergency and lying awake even though baby is asleep'.

Recommended resources

The body clock: baby sleep regulator #1

Sleep pressure: baby sleep regulator #2

Make sure your newborn is exposed to daylight and activity from the same time each morning when you're in a sleep emergency

How to change #1 cause of newborn sleep problems: hunger

How to change #2 cause of newborn sleep problems: body clock not in sync with yours yet

When you're in a sleep emergency and lying awake even though baby is asleep.

Finished

share this article

Next up in Baby sleep emergency (0-12 months)

Read here first if you are in a baby sleep emergency

Hand waving for help in sea

It's awful to be so sleep deprived that you've had to come to the sleep emergency articles first! Not only are your days full to overflowing with the physical and emotional demands of caring for a little one (so that paid work, if you're doing it, often feels like a break), but you're not sleeping at night. Sometimes it can seem like your baby never sleeps at all.

Please talk with your local doctor if you think either yourself or your baby might have a medical condition or health problem which is affecting sleep. Babies may have very disrupted sleep if they have…

Keep reading
logo-possums
decoration

About us

AboutCode of ethicsSpeak to Dr Pam

Programs

Browse sleep programsAudio programsGet advice

Help & Support

FAQsContact us

Legal

Privacy policyTerms & conditions

Get sleep tips and Possums updates straight to your inbox

Receive tips, updates, offers and more from Possums. We respect your privacy, and we'll never spam you. Unsubscribe anytime.

Dr Pam logo

© Dr Pamela Douglas 2025

Visit to learn more about the Possums project