Sleep Regressions
Here it is, everyone, your one stop shop for everything you need to know about sleep regressions. Parents are often worried about these dreaded sleep regressions and often wanna know everything abut them and what they can do to get through and even prevent them.
So today I’ll answer it all. What are regressions? Are they real? Are they something to worry about? How can I prevent them? How can I deal with them? Will my baby have a regression? And so on…
Let’s start with the basics of what even is a sleep regression…
What is a sleep regression?
The term “sleep regression” is used to describe the periods of time when your baby who otherwise slept through the night suddenly begins to have uncharacteristically frequent night wakings, and may even have napping issues.
Sleep regressions are a sign of developmental progression, a growth spurt of sorts, a crucial time of growth for your little one physically and mentally. They often happen when your baby’s brain and body are busy learning new skills. When their brain is focusing on physical, mental, social, or emotional growth…sleep can be impacted.
You may have noticed that your little one is now waking more in the night, taking shorter naps, or fighting bedtime. We call this a sleep regression.
When to expect sleep regressions to happen:
Sleep regressions typically happen at around these ages:
4 months:
Also commonly known as the 'Four month sleep regression' - the most dreaded of them all. This regression can happen anywhere from 3-5 months and is usually caused by baby's changing sleep cycles and huge developmental leaps. You can learn more about the 4 month sleep regression here.8-10 months:
Another common regression typically associated with babies experiencing separation anxiety, becoming a lot more aware of their surroundings, more mobile and learning a lot of new skills, like sitting, standing, etc...12 months:
This can be a tough one for parents, as this regression is usually associated with big bouts of separation anxiety. Your baby is also learning a lot of new things, becoming more verbal, more aware, possibly in need of a schedule shift and also maybe dealing with big transitions like starting daycare.18 months:
Your 18 month old is making major physical, cognitive, and emotional strides. They’re developing a much greater awareness of their ability to make decisions, and they’re gaining a new understanding of cause and effect. They may also experience some separation anxiety.24 months:
The 2 year ols sleep regression can be rough! They are going through huge developmental changes. Your toddler may start adamantly refusing naps and bedtime. Their sleep needs are changing and they may be going through lots of transitions and experiencing separation anxiety.
Signs of a sleep regression
Your baby, who used to nap well, is now cat napping or refusing naps altogether.
Your child starts crying every time they’re put down and experiencing separation anxiety.
Your little one is standing or sitting in the crib during nap time - and practicing new skills.
Your baby is now fussy and clingy all the time and will not allow you to put them down, especially for sleep.
Your little one is suddenly waking multiple times at night when they were previously sleeping well.
Your baby is not only waking up but crying and refusing to go back to sleep
Your infant or toddler begins experiencing very early morning wakings and will not go back to sleep.
Your baby who used to have positive sleep associations with sleep seems to have made some negative associations
Your baby is suddenly very clingy and experiencing separation anxiety
Your baby may be going through a growth spurt and have an increased appetite. Hunger can disrupt sleep as well.
How long do they last for?
A sleep regression can last anywhere from a few days to a few weeks, depending on how you deal with it. Every baby is different and experiences sleep regressions differently and with different severity, so make sure to learn how to deal with it properly so you can get through it quickly and smoothly.
Do all babies have sleep regressions?
No, not every baby will experience a sleep regression. In fact, I find that babies who are sleep trained, rarely have sleep regressions and if they do, they’re not as severe and much easier to fix than for babies who are not independent sleepers.
How to deal with sleep regressions
A schedule shift may be in order.
It’s crucial to pay attention to changing sleep needs. As babies get older, their sleep needs change, which means so will their wake windows and naps and possibly even bedtime. Make sure that your little one has appropriate wake windows for their age, as This will help them have enough sleep pressure- not too much and not too little - to fall asleep and stay asleep
Keep everything as normal as possible.
The more you stick to their usual routine, the less thrown off they will be and the quicker they will get through the regression. There is no need to throw all of the rules out the window.
Sounds simple, right? But believe it or not, most parents who are dealing with a sleep regression believe that our babies need a whole lot more than they really do in order to survive and get through it…but in reality, they don’t need as much as they think.What they really need is a semblance of normalcy, they need their routine, their usual day to day. They’re going through enough changes as it is during a regression, whether it be a growth spurt, separation anxiety, transitional changes, learning new skills…and we don’t want to throw a wrench in it by adding even more change than necessary, we want them to feel safe and secure and know that they have their routine to rely on.
Practice new skills during awake time.
Practice new skills during the day. This is important. Working on new physical and cognitive skills during awake time makes them less exciting when it’s time to sleep and less likely that they’ll practice in the crib.
Whether your baby started rolling, sitting, standing, crawling or walking, encourage your little one to practice and master their new skills during the day. Sit on the floor with them, show them how to get from sitting to standing, rolling back and forth, etc…Help them do it, too, and spend a few minutes during each awake time.Focus on good quality awake time
Babies and toddlers need a good amount of quality awake time. Those activities include things that allow them to use their brain and their bodies. Try and do more activities outside as well. You wanna help stimulate them and help get them active. Mental and physical activities will improve your child’s sleep overall.Make sure you are paying attention to their sleep needs:
Pay attention to changing sleep needs - your baby likely needs a schedule shift, larger wake windows or a different nap or bedtime. Make sure to build proper sleep pressure for your child so they can fall asleep and stay asleep. Most babies and toddlers do best with a bedtime between 6-8 pm, so make sure you are getting the right bedtime for your baby, this is crucial for good sleep.Understand the changes happening in your baby’s brain.
Sleep regressions will happen. Sleep disturbances will happen...inevitably...But are you prepared to handle them? Educating yourself and understanding what's going on with your child developmentally is key to supporting and helping them move through it a lot quicker. With that knowledge, you'll be well-equipped to handle and even prevent any future sleep regressions.Maintain healthy sleep habits.
Remain consistent with your their routine and with your approach to sleep, as this will help them sail through a sleep regression a lot more quickly. Sleep regressions can last 1-2 weeks, but letting go of healthy sleep habits during this time can lead to ongoing struggles.They need you to help them maintain great sleep habits so they can get back on track easier, they need extra TLC, your attention to their schedule to make sure we are getting the timing right, and extra hug, more food if they’re hungry. They do not need you to take all of their amazing sleep habits and throw them to the wolves.
So if your baby is refusing sleep at bedtime or waking in middle of the night screaming and not going back to sleep, it’s best to help your child in their own room, keep them in their crib, don’t take take them out and bring them to your bed, or start rocking them in a stroller in the hallway or offering to sleep in the bed with them because chances are it’s not what they want or need and they probably won’t sleep that well anyway.
Offer more comfort and support.
During a sleep regression, your baby may be feeling exceptionally frustrated, anxious, extra tired and may be having separation anxiety. It’s ok to give your little one extra hugs and kisses or a few extra minutes to snuggle at bedtime. This will not create any bad habits, it will only help your child feel more safe and secure during this time.
How to prevent sleep regressions
Staying in-tuned to your child’s sleep needs, paying attention to their wake windows and maintaining a great schedule for them with optimal sleep and consistency in their routine can significantly reduce the blow of sleep regressions and prevent them altogether. Babies who are great independent sleepers and who have a reliable optimal schedule rarely have sleep regressions and if they do they are usually quite minimal and easy to fix.
Remember that this will pass.
Take a deep breath, guys. Sleep regressions are temporary bouts of sleep disturbances and they will not last forever. Your child is going through a growth spurt, developmental and physical and this can cause some TEMPORARY sleep disturbances. Be patient, try to keep their schedule as normal as possible and it will pass.
