In this post, you'll learn:
Is your once "good" sleeper now waking constantly? This may be a sleep regression, though I will warn you, I hate that phrase. Let's break it down.
What is a sleep regression?
This is a common term for when your baby's sleep suddenly changes and they start waking more in the night, taking shorter naps, fighting bedtime, and maybe refusing sleep all together.
It's common for this to happen when your baby has learned a new skill, such as rolling, sitting, standing, walking, babbling, finding their hands, etc. This can also happen during big life changes: birth of a sibling, starting school, moving, parental separation, and so on. Basically, what is happening is your baby's brain is racing with development, whether physical, mental, social, or emotional.
As your baby gets older, their sleep needs change and often we don't know to make those changes until we see the sleep disruptions. This is exactly why I hate the term "sleep regressions" because sleep isn't regressing at all. It's just changing, and we have to adapt with that change.
There is an entire section in my eBook, Crib Confidence Code, and my custom sleep plans dedicated to teaching you how to change with your baby before it becomes a major "regression." In fact, when my clients follow these guidelines, they don't experience regressions at all!
What are common ages for sleep regressions?
This will vary from baby to baby, but they are most commonly seen at:
4-months due to the biological shift in how your baby's brain processes sleep and forms sleep cycles. This is not one that simply passes without actively making changes in how they are falling asleep.
6-8 months due to changing sleep + wake needs (dropping from 3-2 naps).
12-months due to big changes in expectations, such as changing rooms at daycare, stopping nursing and switching from bottles to cups.
14-18 months due to transitioning to more awake time and a one-nap schedule.
Notice all of these boil down to changing needs? This is a PROgression, not a regression. See why I hate the phrase? These changes mean they are growing!
How long do sleep regressions last?
When you have a solid sleep foundation and are educated on what is happening biologically for your baby, you're able to make adjustments in their sleep needs so the changes can happen quickly, as in a matter of days to a week or two.
However, if you introduce unsustainable solutions in order to "get through it" you will be disappointed to see that it can last months or more, turning into a long-term problem.
What are the signs of a sleep regression?
While every baby will show different signs of changing sleep needs, here are some common signs you may notice:
Starts waking early
Refusing naps (including standing and crying in the crib)
Starts to cry when you go into their room for sleep
Waking multiple times in the night
Waking for long periods in the night
Short naps
Fussy and wants to sleep when held
Always go with your mom gut and make sure an illness isn't going on before assuming it is a regression.
How to get through a sleep regression if it happens
First, rule out any illness. I would hate for you to miss something because we assumed something else.
Assuming your baby is healthy, refer to their age-appropriate sleep averages. It may be time to increase wake windows and decrease total day sleep. Remember, babies need a certain amount of sleep in a 24-hour period and if we aren't decreasing day sleep, they'll just take from night sleep instead.
Once that is done, your baby should start sleeping much better. If they are still struggling, make sure you have a plan to support them that still is reinforcing independent sleep. Remember, bringing them into bed with you to "get through it" is not a solution (unless you love co-sleeping...no judgement here!).
If it isn't sustainable for you, it isn't a helpful response to these sleep changes.
Stay consistent with your response and continue fostering a solid sleep foundation and within days to a couple of weeks, this regression will be gone, and you will be back to that restorative sleep you were previously enjoying.
Ready for sleep?
If you're overwhelmed with the information, or just not sure how to get started, there are resources to help. I'm going to help you get there and make it as easy as possible so you can thrive in motherhood and your baby can be happy, healthy, and ditch the cycle of being cranky + overtired.
Select the style that fits your family best:
This 60-page eBook teaches you everything you need to know about setting a foundation to make sleep teaching easiest on your baby, responding in a supportive way that promotes independence, and maintaining these new skills.
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