Understanding Sleep Regression in Babies

15th February 2024 0 Comments

If you are a new parent, you may have heard the term “sleep regression” used to describe a sudden change in your baby’s sleeping pattern. Although sleep regression is not a scientifically recognised term, it is a common term used to describe a situation where your baby or toddler, who previously slept soundly throughout the night, suddenly starts experiencing sleep disturbances.

This can happen when your child becomes more social and curious about their surroundings, making it difficult for them to settle down at bedtime. For instance, your little one may resist sleep and cry every time you try to put them in their cot. This can be challenging for parents who are struggling to settle their 8-month-old, who was previously happy to sleep through the night, but now cries when they leave the room.

sleep regression

As a parent, you know that your baby grows and develops at an incredible pace, especially during their first year. While some developmental changes can positively impact your child’s sleep, others can make it more challenging. The bright side is that not every baby goes through sleep regression with every milestone, but it’s important to celebrate the new skills as signs of growth and development. Still, this might be a tough time for your little ones as they navigate their ever-changing abilities.

Just like any new skill, it can be difficult and unsettling to master at first. Fortunately, with your support and lots of practice, your baby can learn to master their new abilities.

When does sleep regression occur?

Sleep regression can happen at any developmental stage, with the most common times being at 4, 8, 12, and 18 months when specific changes could impact sleep.

Common signs of sleep regression

Common signs of sleep regression in children may include sudden changes in sleep patterns, such as difficulty falling asleep at bedtime, frequent night awakenings, shorter naps, or overall restless sleep. Toddlers or infants who previously slept through the night may start waking up more frequently, seemingly without reason. They may become fussier during bedtime routines or resist going to sleep altogether.

Additionally, some children may exhibit increased clinginess or separation anxiety during sleep times. These signs often coincide with developmental milestones or changes in routine, indicating a temporary disruption in their sleep patterns. Understanding these signs can help you recognise when your child may be experiencing sleep regression and take appropriate steps to address it.

How long does sleep regression last?

The duration of sleep regression can vary depending on your child and the underlying causes. In general, sleep regression episodes may last anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. Some children may experience shorter regressions that resolve relatively quickly, while others may endure longer periods of disrupted sleep. The duration may also be influenced by factors such as your child’s age, developmental stage and any medical concerns and whether you’re able to implement strategies at this time to address the regression.

While sleep regression can be challenging for both you and your little one, it is usually temporary, and most children eventually return to their previous sleep patterns once the underlying issues are resolved or as they adjust to developmental changes. It may be the time to ask for some extra help from family or friends.

Even though this is a challenging time, try to see this new stage of development as a positive step in your child’s life. Remember, with patience and persistence, you can get through this temporary setback and help your child get back to sleeping soundly.

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Rozanne Hay, UK Representative and Director for Continuing Education IACSC International Association Of Child Sleep consultants
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As a family, we were sleep deprived. The tailored plan for our son made it personal. I am really pleased with what we’ve achieved during the programme and I am thankful to Juliet and Millpond.
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Shurron
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“My husband and I reached out to the Millpond Sleep Clinic when our son was 10 months old. We had spent months in vain trying a variety of sleep training tips that we had picked up online, in a desperate attempt to get our son to sleep for more than 2 hour stretches! Nothing seemed to work. I remember crying whilst breastfeeding for the 5th time one evening, desperately begging my little one to sleep. We felt like we had been failing for a long time, as my circle of mum friends had all got their babies sleeping through so much earlier. I needed to get more sleep, with the return to work looming ever closer.

When we called Millpond, we were quickly introduced to Juliet who immediately took the pressure off us by providing a detailed “plan of action” based on what she had heard about our son’s sleep routine. After just a few nights, we already started to see big sleep improvements, and we worked confidently towards reducing our son’s night wakings and the duration of his night feeds. After a couple of weeks we had gone from 4-5 night wakings to just 1… and a few weeks later, our son started to sleep through! The biggest relief ever.

Throughout the whole process Juliet had been knowledgeable, kind, reassuring and made herself available to answer our questions over email between our sessions. Her experience as a mother herself, and highly trained sleep professional shone through. We can’t thank you enough for helping us through a rough time – and seeing us through to better days (and importantly, nights!!)
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