Handling Sleep Regressions
Handling sleep regressions can be really challenging. Especially if you had a previously GOOD sleeper who has turned into a not-so-good sleeper. Many parents report that they are now “doing anything we can to survive.”
Understandable!
These regressions are often brought on by developmental growth and your child practicing their developmental milestones. However, the frequent night waking, the short naps, the inconsistency in every aspect of your baby’s sleep…sometimes these periods of development bring on a plethora of new sleep props that can be detrimental to your child’s previous sleep routine.
The BEST way to handle sleep regressions is to have a plan.
The most common times of developmental growth occur around 4 months, 8-10 months, 18-24 months, and 3 years. This isn’t to say that your child is ONLY developing during those times. In fact, your child is constantly learning, growing, and developing. Those times listed as just significant periods of time where your child will often practice new skills they’ve learned.
Let’s break it down slightly:
4 Months: This is when rolling generally happens. Babies will roll in their crib and get “stuck” which causes many frequent wakings. This is also a time in your baby’s life when they are capable of self-soothing. This means that putting them into their bassinet or their crib ASLEEP isn’t going to work anymore. Or, if it does work, it’s short-lived. Bringing on short-naps forever.
8-10 Months: This is when most babies start to master crawling and pulling up to stand. These 2 things can really impact sleep because your baby may be really tired, but instead of sleeping…they just crawl around their crib or stand for no reason.
18-24 Months: There is often a HUGE language surge around this age. You might find that your baby is starting to refuse nap-time and instead of sleeping, they’re making noise with their mouths. Singing, talking, blabbering, maybe even a little crying.
3 Years: Lots of change is happening around this age. Either your child has just stopped napping, or their nap is super short. You may have transitioned to a big bed from the crib, and this has proven to be a lot harder than you originally thought. (If you want to have a seamless crib-to-bed transition, be sure to check out my mini-course). There is often fears that start to bubble up as well (monsters, fear of the dark, etc.).
Having a plan of action is the best way you can handle these regressions.
But, what does that look like?
Have a SOLID bedtime routine that doesn’t change night-to-night.
When your child wakes unexpectedly, prepare what you’re going to do. Have they fed recently? Did they have enough awake time before this nap? Are you expecting them to do something they’ve never done before?
BE CONSISTENT. Consistency and sleep training are best friends. The more consistent you are, the more consistent your baby will be.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help.
While sleep regressions can feel all-encompassing, you’re not the only parents to go through them. Every parent has experienced some weirdness around their child’s sleep that they can’t quite figure out. That’s why my job even exists!
Sleep regressions shouldn’t last weeks on end, so if your baby has been in a ‘regression’ for over 2 weeks, it’s time to figure something out. My Baby Sleep Course is for children in the 6-17 month age range and it teaches you exactly what you need to know to get your baby to go back to sleeping through the night AND take great day-time naps.
Regressions can totally throw a wrench in your sleep plans, but they’re not forever and you CAN do something about it.
Bailey
