Sleep Regressions

AGES FOR THE FIRST 2 YEARS

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 Sleep
Regressions
4 months sleep regression
The four-month PROgression (that can happen anywhere
between 3-5 months) is when your baby' sleeping patterns
change. They stop sleeping like a newborn and they start
sleeping like we do as adults.

There is a permanent shift developmentally in your baby’s

brain where they develop more defined sleep cycles like we
experience as adults. Now your baby has to cycle through
and transition between sleep stages.

If they have relied on sleep props (eg. rocking, feeding,

patting, etc) and are unable to do this on their own, it is at
this point that parents experience more frequent wakes
overnight and short naps during the day. Sleep changes
5-7 months significantly when your baby has the ability to self-settle.

During this age is approximately when babies

start to learn how to sit. They will be thrilled
with themselves when practicing their skill in
their crib. This too shall pass but lots of
practice time will help during the day.

There is also a growth spurt around the 6-

month mark. Appetites can increase so it is
important to meet the calorie needs for your
baby offering extra feedings and starting solid
foods.

Teething can start around this age. For some

babies, it can be just a little annoying however
for others it can be incredibly painful.
Teething symptoms typically last only 3-4
days prior to a tooth cutting through and 2-3
days after and it is not something that
contrary to popular belief lasts for weeks or
months at a time.

7-9 months
With the huge developmental changes at this age, both
mental and physical, another regression is very common.

There's simply a lot more going on! Whether it be crawling,

or new language skills, there are many more distractions and
it's easy for your baby to practice these newfound skills
which disrupt their sleep.

This regression generally passes on its own and many

experts believe that unless they are genuinely upset, you
should just leave them to practice. Self-settling infants will
go back to sleep when they’re ready.

Unfortunately, if they’re not self-settling at this time you

may need to use this as another opportunity to practice that
skill too. Be careful not to reintroduce sleep associations like
rocking or feeding to get them back to sleep. Lots of
practice during the day will help your baby transition with
these newly developed skills.

The 3 to 2 nap transition commonly happens sometime

between 6-8 months which can also disrupt sleep during
this time.

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 Sleep
Regressions
9-10 months
Separation anxiety during this age can start to peak. Extra
one on one time with lots of cuddles, loving and attention
before bed can really help your baby get through this stage
where they appear extra clingy. You may even need to
extend your bedtime routine a little longer to allow lots of
wind down time for your baby.

Standing is another physical developmental milestone that

can happen during this stage. Many babies will want to show
you how clever they are standing in their crib! Babies can
also make quite the game when they stand and they are put
down by their parents. Many babies want to practice this
over and over until it is mastered so plenty of practice
during the day will help them master this faster. This too
shall pass!

11-12 months
You may find you have a little chatterbox on
your hands around this stage when their
language development progresses. They may
happily chat away to themselves in their crib
which can keep them awake for longer.

At 12 months, there is also commonly another

regression with tremendous physical
development as they are learning to walk and
climb. As per the other developmental
changes, this too will pass however there will
be a lot of practice needed for your baby.

Try to avoid starting any new habits and

continue to have a plan to get your baby to
fall asleep independently. Maintaining good
sleeping habits can really help get through
these transitions vs. making them worse.

18 months
18 months – these babies are now becoming toddlers and
the majority of children have most likely made the difficult
transition to 1 nap (commonly occurring sometime between
12-18 months of age). If the nap transition is done too soon,
it can result in either an early morning wake and/or nap
refusals. This can come on quickly and for seemingly no
reason. Signs of this regression can be frequent night wakes
and experiencing period of wakefulness in the night.

Unlike when your baby went through earlier regressions

around 4 months and 8 months, by this age, with their
heightened sense of independence and more advanced
motor skills, the 18-month sleep regression can require a
little more diplomacy and creativity than was necessary in
the past.

Your 18-month-old has started another round of growth

and development, and coupled with separation anxiety and
language development, the result can be disrupted sleep.

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 Sleep
Regressions
2 year old sleep regression
Your 2-year-old may have previously been sleeping well but
suddenly they are starting to fight sleep at bedtime, waking
up multiple times throughout the night, or waking up early in
the morning. Like other sleep regressions, there are
multiple things going on that may be impacting your
toddler’s sleep:
There are further developmental changes in their
physical abilities, language skills, and social abilities
They can go through a stage of clinginess experiencing
separation anxiety
They can be overtired, especially if they are starting to
resist a nap during the day and showing signs of wanting
to drop their nap altogether
There is an increased desire for independence
2-year-old molars can be quite painful for some
toddlers
May develop a fear of the dark

Consistency is always so important with infant sleep, but the older your child becomes, it is even more
important to maintain consistency with your little one’s sleep to help ensure they get the sleep they need.
Please know that all babies are different and some are more impacted than others. But hopefully, this has
given you a guide for what may be coming up.

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