Why Does My Baby Wake Up the Moment I Lay Them Down?
Do They Have a Radar or What?
There you are, holding your peacefully sleeping baby, their sweet little cheek smushed against your shoulder like a warm croissant. You tiptoe over to the crib like a ninja in socks, gently bend at the knees (because you read somewhere that’s better for your back), lower them down like you're disarming a bomb...
And then—BAM. Eyes open. Legs kick. Arms flail. WAILS.
It's like your baby is equipped with some kind of NASA-grade pressure sensor, or worse: a sixth sense that detects vibes. Specifically, "I'm no longer being held" vibes.
Does my baby have a built in radar?
My baby wakes up as soon as I lay them down
What’s Going On?!
Well, first of all—you’re not alone. This mysterious baby behavior has baffled parents for centuries. Some say it’s instinctual. Others say it’s just rude.
But here’s what’s likely happening:
Babies love contact. You’re warm, cozy, and safe. That crib? It’s cold, firm, and suspiciously empty.
Their startle reflex (aka Moro reflex) is triggered during the transfer, especially if their head dips even slightly.
Their sleep cycles are super short, and if you lay them down before they hit a deep sleep stage, they’re more likely to pop awake faster than you can say “I finally have time to pee.”
You Are Not a Failure, Just a Human
Parents often think they’re doing something wrong: "Maybe I need to use lavender oil, a white noise machine, and sing a Gregorian chant?"
Nope. This is just babyhood.
The Good News: You Don’t Need to Be a Sleep Ninja Forever
If your baby wakes up the moment you lay them down, it’s because they fell asleep in your arms—which means they need you to complete the sleep cycle.
This is why independent sleep skills matter. When babies learn to fall asleep on their own—at bedtime, in their crib—they can transition between sleep cycles without needing your arms, chest, or very presence in the room.
(Yes, that means you can sit down and eat something that’s not a protein bar. Revolutionary.)
So What Do You Do?
Here’s your cheat sheet:
Work on putting baby down awake, not asleep.
Establish a consistent bedtime routine (nothing fancy—bath, boob/bottle, book, bed).
Wait a minute or two if they fuss. Sometimes they’re just transitioning.
Skip the ninja transfer and teach your baby to fall asleep where they’ll stay asleep.
And if you’re thinking: "Sounds good, but how do I actually do that without both of us crying through the night?"—I’ve got you.
✅ Check out my online baby sleep programs – practical, loving, and no-judgment guides to help your baby (and you!) sleep better.
💤 Whether you're holding a newborn potato or chasing a crawling blur, I've got a step-by-step plan for exactly where you are right now.
