Navigating Sleep Regressions
Before we dig into the top sleep regressions and how to deal with sleep when they are here, let us take a moment to understand what sleep regressions are and why they happen.
A sleep regression is a shift in a baby’s normal sleep patterns, due to cognitive, physical, and/or emotional development. In other words, it is a sort of developmental progression. Your baby is learning something new, so there are a lot of operations happening in their tiny brain. Neurons in the brain talk to one another, allowing your little one to do something new, such as: rolling, talking, or even seeing the world in a new sequence.
Most of your baby’s growth happens when they are asleep. Because babies are so excited to master their new skills that they are currently learning, you may notice they are waking up in the middle of the night more often. Your baby wants to practice these skills ALL THE TIME, even when they should be sleeping! Some examples of the skills they are/will be learning are sitting down, crawling, walking, or just babbling in the air when learning how to talk.
It may be a tough time to have sleep disrupted, but it is always good to remember that this disruption is temporary, and means that your baby is just growing and learning something new.
Now, let’s learn more about each of these regressions and what is happening so you can guide your child through them!
4 Months-Sleep Regression:
What is happening?
Sleep becomes more adult-like: 4 cycles versus 2 cycles. The sleep cycle is fully developed now (about 45 minutes) and some babies will start waking up in between sleep cycles.
This is when your baby's circadian rhythms become fully in place so you can switch to a more clock-based schedule (instead of fully depending on wake windows). These rhythms are regulated by the Suprachiasmatic Nucleus, our master clock. Light is the most important stimulus that helps synchronize this master clock with the environment. Daytime (light) cues us to stay awake where nighttime (darkness) cues us to sleep.
The body is now fully aware of the difference between day and night. Night sleep is fully established, however naps can take up to 6 months to fully come together.
Your baby could be learning new physical skills, such as rolling.
They are becoming more aware of their surroundings and may wake up as soon as you move her/him to the crib (if they fall asleep somewhere other than their crib).
What to do about it?
This is the time that you can explore sleep training support, as your baby is developmentally ready for long stretches of sleep. Sleep training can help your baby learn to fall asleep independently in their crib and continue sleeping without fully awakening. Now, if your baby wakes up in between sleep cycles, he/she will be able to still continue to sleep easily in the same place without any confusion.
About sleep training: 4 months is the earliest you can do any “official” sleep training based on EDD (expected due date), however, for families that are feeling a little anxious around the sleep training process, I would recommend waiting until 5-6 months.
Do an early bedtime as much as needed: the early bedtime will come with a lot of deep sleep, which is proven to be the most restorative. This helps the body stay rested and grow.
Stay consistent and avoid introducing new sleep habits if your baby was already sleeping independently.
Maintain your sleep routine: this is a cue for your baby’s brain that it is time for sleep.
Start moving slowly from using wake windows to a fixed schedule for naps and night sleep.
Make sure to give your child enough tummy time to practice during the day to master the rolling skill.
8 Months Sleep Regression (6-8 months):
What is happening here?
Many developmental milestones are being practiced and mastered during this time; crawling, pulling up, or showing first signs of walking (cruising).
Connections are being made between cognitive and language development. There is so much going on in these little brains that it makes it very difficult for them to sleep!
Your baby will transition from 3 to 2 naps around this time.
They may experience some separation anxiety; babies start to realize that when an object disappears, it still exists.
What to do about it?
If you decide to do sleep training during this phase, it might be worth exploring more involved methods, especially if they are showing signs of separation anxiety. Using training methods where you leave the room, may exasperate their anxiety and make it more difficult for them.
You may need to do some re-adjustment to the sleep schedule to accommodate 2 naps rather than 3 naps; also early bedtime might be needed until the baby settles into the new schedule.
Keep practicing during the day what the baby is trying to learn, whether it's physical or cognitive skills.
Play a lot of peekaboo during the day and practice leaving the baby with other caregivers to help the baby’s brain during separation anxiety.
12 Months Sleep Regression (10-14 months):
What is happening here?
Your child may skip naps and/or just take one nap. Their tired zone is also reached more quickly.
Milestones during this stage: Another wave of separation anxiety, language burst, cruising or walking!
Your child starts to see the world in a different way - they start learning new sequences of events.
What to do about it?
Keep up on nap times and utilize the early bedtimes!
Stay consistent on how you are responding.
Practice those developmental skills during the day!
18 Months Sleep Regression:
What is happening here?
A large language burst and again some separation anxiety.
Children start gaining a sense of independence around this time!
Your child will still need a nap and an earlier bedtime, but may not want one - Lots of “FOMO”: Fear Of Missing Out.
What to do about it?
This is one of the most difficult times. Some discipline and limit setting may need to be set!
Make sure to stay consistent and in control of their routine and sleep patterns.
If your child is content when they wake up in their crib, it is okay to leave them in there for a longer amount of time. This will give them extra time to figure out how to fall back asleep independently. You never know, they may even fall right back asleep!
Just remember: These difficult times will eventually pass!
24 Months Sleep Regression:
What is happening here?
This regression is largely due to language development.
If your child is potty trained, you may see a regression with toileting as well, or with just toileting and not sleep.
They may continue to fight the nap again (nap strike).
More emotional and mental development, leading to resisting sleep at bedtime and nap time.
You may hear the word “no” more frequently: “No, I don’t want to go to bed” or “No, not sleepy.”
What to do about it?
Stay consistent with your response!
Make sure you have a bedtime routine. Routines are super important at this stage. They help toddlers stay calm by knowing what to expect.
Keep offering that nap!
Final Reminder:
Regressions happen even to the best sleepers. They are all part of a child's development, and as difficult as it can be during these moments, sleep regressions aka progressions are a good thing! It means your child is physically and cognitively developing. You will want to do your best to protect sleep during these times as this is what your child needs the most to grow and learn each new skill.
Hi! I’m Jessie. Your Infant & Toddler Sleep Consultant! Click Below To Learn More.
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