Discover why sleep changes are common in babies and learn helpful strategies to navigate sleep regression with ease.
Sometimes, babies’ sleep patterns can change. Where they once slept well, they may start to sleep less, wake more often or find it harder to settle during the night. This is sometimes called a “sleep regression”, although changes in sleep are part of your baby’s normal development.
These periods of change can be ongoing, but they usually last anywhere from a few days to a few weeks.
What are the signs of sleep regression?
1. waking more often at night,
2. having fewer or shorter naps,
3. taking longer to get to sleep.
Many parents say they notice changes in their baby’s sleep at particular stages in the first year.
The most common ages that parents report sleep regression are 4 months, 6 months, 8 months and 12 months. However, no research suggests that all babies undergo sleep regression at exactly these times.
The important thing is to know that it’s normal for babies to have the occasional restless period and that it won’t last forever.
The first common time for sleep regression is around four months. This may be because your baby’s sleeping patterns are starting to become more like ours. When very young babies fall asleep, they go straight into active sleep or rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. Starting from about three months onwards, the REM sleep begins to move to later in the night. If your baby hasn’t yet learned to settle themselves back to sleep, they may wake more often as they move between these stages of sleep.
The next common phase of sleep regression comes at around six months. Around this time, babies begin weaning onto solid foods. It’s also a common time for teething troubles. Some experts question whether sleep disturbances count as a full sleep regression or if babies at this age are just more likely to wake up due to hunger or pain from emerging teeth.
It’s also common for babies around eight or nine months old to wake up more frequently. That’s because it’s around this time that your baby may start to feel their first pangs of separation anxiety, which can disrupt their sleep.
Tips for dealing with sleep regressions:
1) Have a calm, quiet and consistent bedtime routine.
This will help your baby know that it’s nearly time for sleep. Stick to the same routine as much as possible, even if their sleep patterns have changed.
2) Make sure your baby’s comfortable.
Check the room’s temperature and add or take off layers of bedding as needed.
3) Help your baby tell the difference between night and day.
When you’re settling them during the night, ensure lights are dim, talk to them as little as possible and keep things quiet and calm.
4) Check your baby’s getting enough feeds.
As your baby grows, they’ll probably want more of their regular milk during the day, plus solid foods from about six months.
5) Avoid screen time before bed.
The light from phones, tablets and TVs can disrupt your baby’s sleep rhythms and make it harder for them to drop off.
If you would like any further support with sleep regressions, please speak with your child’s key person.
