There’s nothing like having a newborn and watching them sleep. Their little eyes flutter as they dream, or their soft cheeks as they gently breathe… And then they hit a sleep regression. Suddenly, those precious moments aren’t so adorable because not only are you getting less sleep, but your baby or toddler is acting out due to the mental and physical strain that comes with a regression.
The phrase “sleep regression” gets tossed around a lot, and it’s often questioned once you tell anyone that your baby is struggling to get into a deep sleep.
As common as regressions are in babies and toddlers, it’s important to know why they happen, when they transpire, and what to do when they occur to make your child as comfortable as possible.
Editor’s Note: Sleep regression ages and symptoms are generally common based on cognitive development, but that does not necessarily mean every baby experiences the exact feelings or pains at the exact age.
First Things First: What Is A Sleep Regression?
It’s amazing how much a baby changes in their first year. Not only do they physically grow and mature, but they also adapt cognitively. Adapting to life outside the womb can be both hard and rewarding. Every month comes new milestones to conquer, and with those milestones come regressions.
What Causes a Sleep Regression?
According to Taking Cara Babies, a sleep regression is a phase in which children experience temporary sleep disturbances because of developmental and physical growth. The sleep disruption can make bedtime or naps harder, but it does not last long. With each passing month, your baby learns new things, and regressions tend to follow typical ages.
- Teething
- Neurodevelopmental changes
- Sicknesses
- Schedule changes (like traveling)
- Milstones
Does Every Baby Go Through a Regression?
Although sleep regressions are incredibly common around similar ages, not every baby goes through one during the popular time frame. There’s a basic set of milestones doctors look for, and those tend to occur at a specific age, universally. However, while one baby goes through a regression at four months, another may be perfectly pleasant until six months. Every child is different, but a popular timeframe or age remains.
What Are The Hints That Your Baby Is In a Regression?
If you’re curious why your baby has been fussy or not like themselves, they could be going through a sleep regression.
Sleep: The biggest sign that your baby is entering a sleep regression is if their sleep pattern changes. Frequent wake windows, indifferent nap times, taking longer to fall asleep or wake up than usual… All of these signs could mean your baby is in a regression.
Practice Makes Perfect: If you see your baby practicing a new skill, such as rolling, crawling, walking, or clapping, they may be experiencing a regression. Learning new things increases their interest, which could disrupt their sleep patterns because they’re excited about their new skill.
Food: Cluster feeding or an increase in appetite could indicate a physical growth spurt, which may lead to a sleep regression because they’re generally uncomfortable as their bodies change.
Fussy: Overall fussiness may indicate that your little one is going through developmental and physical changes. That fussiness could lead straight into the night, making deep sleep problematic.
Common Ages For Sleep Regressions
Knowing that sleep regressions come in waves and occur during periods of rapid physical or cognitive growth helps you anticipate when to expect one based on common ages.
3 to 4 Months: According to Huckleberry Care, the first major sleep regression for most babies occurs between 3 and 4 months. Around this time, babies’ sleep matures in a way that’s similar to adults’. The change in cycles or stages can cause a baby to wake up seeking comfort.
Certified Pediatric Sleep Consultant Cara Dumapin explained the sleep cycle changes perfectly to support the three-to four-month regression.
“Adult-like sleep stages string together into ‘sleep cycles.” These cycles last 60-120 minutes at night. After each sleep cycle, your baby’s body will come to a light stage of sleep and often slightly awaken. They will check in with their environment, making sure that everything is okay and their surroundings are unchanged.”
6 to 10 Months: While some experts say a sleep regression begins around 6 months, others say it’s closer to 8 or 10 months. Either way, parents will typically see a sleep regression between six and 10 months.
If you believe your baby is experiencing a sleep regression around six months, it could be due to new skills they’ve learned (like rolling over or babbling). Experts at Taking Cara Babies also note more “distracted feedings” around six months. (Distracted feedings are when a baby unlatches to take a look at their surroundings or noises that they have heard.)
Teething is another possible culprit in a sleep regression. Teeth breaking through the gum can be incredibly painful, causing soreness that can disrupt their sleep.
Between eight and 10 months, however, babies can also suffer from separation anxiety from their parents. Babies can be clingier around this time as they realize they’re separate beings from their mom. Fearing being away from their mom, babies may have more frequent wakings.
Between learning new skills, new teeth, and separation anxiety, some babies can go through a hard time during this timeframe.
12 months: Babies learn an infinite amount of skills by the time they’re 12 months.
- Lifting their head
- Rolling over and sitting up
- Crawling and walking
- Babbling and laughing
- First words
- Facial recognition
- And more
While your baby is growing and learning, they’re still a baby trying to understand their surroundings and speak their mind (with a limited vocabulary to do so). With so many new things to learn, babies can regress at bedtime.
The experts at the Sleep Foundation noted that while many sleepless nights could be because of teething or separation anxiety, sleep regressions could also be because of overstimulation, nightmares, nap transitions, and growth spurts.
Not every one-year-old goes through a sleep regression as their body adapts, but it is common. Thankfully, most leaps or regressions last only about two weeks.
18 Months: In case you thought sleep regressions only occurred in babies, toddlers can also go through sleep regressions as they mature physically, emotionally, and cognitively.
It’s common for 18-month-olds to change their sleep patterns, such as dropping naps or napping only once a day. Skipping or dropping naps can make a toddler fussy for a few weeks while their body adapts to being awake for longer periods.
At 18 months old, they’re experiencing a desire for independence while also wanting to be near mom and dad. They may realize that they like doing things alone and become bolder about reaching their little goals. This can lead to running, jumping, and climbing.
As your toddler matures, they will have small sleep regressions as their little body adjusts to life’s changes.
2 Years Old: Unfortunately, toddlers can still undergo sleep regressions as they approach new milestones. Many 2-year-olds start dropping their daytime nap to sleep soundly through the night. However, children at this age may act out emotionally because they may not be quite ready to skip a nap (although they may feel like they are).
Couple the change in nap with autonomy and a desire for control over their schedule, and the two-year sleep regression can be a hard one for parents to adapt to. The highs and lows are multiplied when their molars break through the gums, causing sore mouths and difficult tantrums.
One of the hardest realizations for parents during these sleep regressions is knowing how badly their child needs a restful night or a deep nap, yet the child refuses because of their cognitive adjustments.
As frustrating or concerning as sleep regressions can be, there are ways to support your baby — no matter the stage.
Need Support? Start Here
Whether your child is going through their first leap or is braving the two-year sleep regression, there are core ways to support your little one. After all, they’re not choosing to regress or cause trouble for mom and dad on purpose. Growing pains, teething, and cognitive changes are all unavoidable occurrences.
Remember, sleep regressions are temporary, and the fussy times won’t last forever.
Sleep
- Start a bedtime routine that includes getting your baby cozy and in a sleepy space.
- Create a cool, dark space for them to sleep.
- A white noise machine drowns out outside noise and allows for deeper sleep.
- Keep changes to nap times in mind when setting a suitable bedtime for their new wake windows.
- Try a sleep sack or swaddle to make them feel cozy and secure at night.
Stay Close
If you’re able, stay close to your baby during the day. Because your baby is going through some pretty important fundamental changes, they may have anxiety about being separated from their primary parent.
- Babywearing
- Spending one-on-one time together
- Encouraging tummy time
- Skin-to-skin
- Breastfeeding or bottle-feeding
Letting down your guard is important during sleep regressions. They need love, physical attention, and support to be relaxed enough to sleep restfully at night.
Practice, Practice, Practice
One of the best ways to help your child sleep soundly during a period of regression is to keep them tired throughout the day.
If they’re practicing a new skill, use your time together during the day to practice those efforts.
- Sign language
- Rolling over, sitting up, crawling, standing up, and walking
- Babbling or talking
- Animal sounds
- Coloring, writing, or painting
- Coordinating activities or sports
Because your child is intrigued and excited by their new skills, it’s best to practice during the daytime as opposed to in their crib or bed at bedtime. Practicing near bedtime could spike adrenaline or excitement, making it hard to go to sleep (or stay in a deep sleep).
When in doubt, think of the basics when it comes to making your baby or toddler tired and comfortable for bedtime.
- Are they well-fed, or did they have milk?
- Do they have a dry diaper?
- Is the room’s temperature nice and cool?
- Are there any physical ailments to take care of (like sore gums)?
- Have you shown them loving support?
- Are they tired from practicing their skills?
While sleep regressions can last a couple of weeks, don’t hesitate to call your child’s physician if their regressions persist, and things like nightmares, pain, and restless nights persist.
There’s no way to prevent a sleep regression, but it’s important to remember that they’re temporary. The sleepless nights are hard for everyone, but they won’t last forever. Comfort your little one and seek professional guidance if you feel they are struggling.
