It's no secret that parents lose lots of sleep during their baby's first year (and even beyond). The American Academy of Pediatrics notes that infants don't have regular sleep schedules until about 4 months old, but if you find yourself up often during the night, sometimes for a few weeks at a time, your child may be going through a regression.
Sleep regressions are a particularly difficult part of any child–and parent's–life, often linked with big leaps in development. Read on to learn about sleep regression ages, their causes, and their solutions.
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What Is a Sleep Regression?
A “sleep regression” is when a child struggles with their typical sleep habits, and spends more time awake at night, or during nap time, than usual. Depending on your child, regressions may last a few days, or even a few weeks.
This change in sleep is natural–and there's not much you can do to prevent them. But they also come hand in hand with some major physical and neurological changes for your baby.
Jenelle Ferry, MD, neonatologist and director of feeding, nutrition, and infant development at Pediatrix Medical Group says that these stages are totally normal. “Sleep regression can be disturbing for parents, especially when you've finally gotten to the milestone of the whole household getting a full night of sleep. Although it is distressing, rest assured that sleep regressions are unfortunately both normal and common,” she explains.
So how can parents tell when their child is going through a regression?Suzy Giordano, author of Twelve Hours' Sleep by Twelve Weeks Old, notes that sleep regressions are different than your run of the mill overnight wakeups.
“A sleep regression is when your baby who was otherwise sleeping fairly well starts to struggle. Common signs are multiple wake ups, more frequent wake ups, increased fussiness and crying at bedtime and throughout the night. Regressions can also be seen during your baby's daytime naps,” she explains.
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What Causes Sleep Regressions in Babies?
It can be difficult to understand why your child isn't sleeping well, especially if you've established good sleep habits, like the AAP's suggestions of allowing your baby to sleep on their back, and setting good bedtime routines.
Amy Motroni, pediatric sleep consultant and founder of The Postpartum Party, explains that these sleep disruptions can seemingly come out of nowhere.
“The most common sleep regressions generally occur when your baby is hitting a major development, either physically or cognitively,” she confirms.
Dr. Ferry adds that there are some obvious changes that can signal a sleep regression may be on the horizon. They include:
Growth spurts, triggering overnight “cluster feedings”New developmental milestones (like pulling to stand)Disruptions in routine (such as travel, a new daycare or caregiver)TeethingIllness
“Babies are always learning and growing, and during some particularly intense periods of development babies can get distracted by their new skills and the result is a period of tough sleep,” Motroni adds.
Common Sleep Regressions By Age
Learning to predict a child's sleep regression can help parents prepare for the inevitable overnight wakeups. There are common times for your child to meet milestones, and therefore are associated with sleep regressions.
3-4 Month Sleep Regression
This is a very common sleep regression–and you'll know when you're in it! Research suggests that children develop different sleeping rhythms at this age, going from sleeping with relative frequency even during the day, to a more “adult” sleep cycle.
“At 4 months, the sleep/wake cycle patterns change to a more mature pattern and can result in some nighttime waking,” Dr. Ferry confirms. Additionally, children can be rolling over at this age, and some even begin teething, both of which can impact their sleep.
6 Month Sleep Regression
At around 6 months old, many children are transitioning to include solid food in their diets. Having a full belly and changing digestion can change sleep patterns, Giordano says. She also adds that teething may be a significant challenge at this age.
8-10 Month Sleep Regression
Motor skills are beginning to develop in this age range, says Dr. Ferry.”Your baby is having a lot of brain development and absorbing language at an increasing rate,” she points out, adding that they're also likely learning to crawl and getting new teeth. Separation anxiety also is common around this age, which can lead to sleep challenges.
12 Month Sleep Regression
At 11-12 months old, babies are transitioning from infants to toddlers, which means changes in their nap schedules. This can affect overnight sleep, Dr. Ferry adds.
Also significant around this age is learning to walk. “This can overall affect their sleep, sometimes resulting in an overly tired baby at bedtime who then has some alterations in their nighttime sleeping patterns,” Dr. Ferry confirms.
15 Month Sleep Regression
At around this age, your child may be transitioning to a single nap during the day. Like the 11-12 month sleep regression, nap changes can affect overnight sleep, leading to more wakeups overall.
“At this age, a lot of sleep problems can be related to schedule, and therefore adjustments in nap and bedtimes can be important to continue good sleeping habits and ensure your toddler is getting adequate hours of sleep in a day,” Dr. Ferry says.
It's important to know, however, that not every baby is the same, so sleep regression timing can vary. “Each of these sleep regressions can happen within a range, which is why different babies may hit sleep regressions at different ages,” Motroni says.
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Tips for Coping With Sleep Regressions
Parents might be overwhelmed by the sheer frequency of sleep regressions–and might be desperate for a few tips and tricks to help children rest easier. One of the most important, Giordano says, is laying foundations for independent sleep.
“The absolute best tip I can give parents is to actively teach your baby how to self regulate and how to develop their own self soothing skills. Laying that foundation of independent sleep and self-reliance will ensure that these sleep regressions will be a thing of the past,” she adds.
It's also important to allow your child to become more independent as they age, Motroni adds.
“Make sure that you are giving your baby plenty of time during the day to work on their new skills. Give them tummy time, floor time, and lots of opportunities to practice all the new tricks their body can do.”
Motroni suggests being as consistent as you can, and sticking to an age-appropriate feeding and sleep schedule, because disordered sleep can lead to more severe regressions.
“As parents, getting a disruption in our own sleep can make it even harder to cope with regression. It's important to stick with the bedtime routine and habits that were previously successful in creating good sleep habits for your baby.” Dr. Ferry adds.
Like all ages and stages, sleep regressions do end, and when they do it's important to have good sleep habits for your child to return to.
When to Contact a Health Care Provider
If you feel your child is really struggling with a sleep regression, it's important to reach out to a pediatrician or health care provider. Motroni says parents should trust their instincts if it feels like something is off.
“Check in with a pediatrician if your child seems to be in physical discomfort or if the sleep regression is affecting their appetite, energy, growth, or overall mood,” she explains.
While most sleep regressions come and go without serious issue, any long-lasting changes in your child's demeanor or energy levels should be discussed with a doctor.
Dr. Ferry concurs. Should a sleep regression last more than four weeks, she suggests speaking to a pediatrician or health care provider to rule out any medical issue that could be contributing to your child's sleeplessness.
“If your child is exhibiting symptoms of illness or has regression in any developmental milestones, this is also a good time to call your pediatrician,” Dr. Ferry adds.
But parents should know that sleep regressions are simply a part of raising a child–and that no one stage lasts forever. Soon you'll be catching those zzz's again.
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