Sleep Regressions: When & Why They Happen, and How to Cope

Sleep regression is a normal but often frustrating phase in your baby’s development. Let’s break down what sleep regressions are, when they typically happen, and, most importantly, how to get through them.

Sleep regression is when a baby or toddler who’d previously been sleeping just fine suddenly starts having trouble falling asleep or staying asleep once he gets there.

This unwelcome battle with bedtime can manifest in different ways. You might notice that your baby:

• Wakes up more frequently each night
• Struggles to fall asleep at bedtime
• Takes shorter naps or resists them altogether
• Is increasingly cranky or fussy
• Has significantly different sleep patterns than usual

These periods are usually temporary, lasting an average of 2 to 6 weeks. While it might feel like your baby is intentionally disrupting your sleep, know that these regressions are often linked to significant developmental leaps and changes. Also note that it’s normal for babies through the age of 2 years to still wake up once or twice per night.

What causes sleep regressions?

There’s no one single cause of sleep regression. Instead, several factors can cause your baby’s sleep patterns to get out of whack, including: 1

• Growth spurts: Your baby’s rapid growth may make him extra hungry, leading to him waking up more often at night. 2
• Developmental milestones: Learning to roll over, sit up, crawl, or walk is exciting for your baby, but it can also be disruptive to his sleep.
• Teething: If your baby’s dealing with the pain of teething, his sleep patterns may get disrupted.
• Changes in routine: Starting daycare, traveling, or any other shift in your baby’s regular schedule can also throw off his sleep.
• Separation anxiety: When your baby becomes more aware of his surroundings and begins understanding object permanence—knowing that things still exist even when he can’t see them —separation anxiety can peak. As a result, he may struggle to fall asleep when you’re not around. 3
• Illness: A cold, ear infection, or any other illness could disrupt your baby’s sleep at any time.
• Nap transitions: As your baby grows, he’ll need fewer naps. This can lead to temporary sleep issues if you take a little while to adjust his schedule.

Sleep regressions can happen at any time, but there are certain periods when your baby is more likely to experience them. Here’s a general timeline: 4

• 4 months: Often called the “4-month sleep regression,” this is a significant period in your baby’s sleep cycle development. He’ll start having a REM sleep stage and will begin alternating between deep and light sleep. This means more frequent partial nighttime awakenings. 5
• 6 months: As he becomes more aware of his surroundings at 6 months, he may start waking more at night. 6
• 8 months: Around this time, your baby may be increasingly mobile and begin crawling and pulling himself up. Coupled with separation anxiety and teething, this can make it hard for him to fall asleep. 7
• 12 months: Around your baby’s first birthday, he may have started standing and even taking his first steps. As he’s more physically developed and may be prone to getting overstimulated, his sleep could become temporarily disrupted. 8
• 15–18 months: Toddlers at this stage often test boundaries and act more independently, making bedtime routines challenging. Your baby should also be down to one nap a day by this point, which may make him overtired, which (somewhat paradoxically) can lead to sleep issues. 9

These are just general guidelines, and every baby is different. Your baby’s sleep regression may not strike at these exact times, and he might not even experience a sleep regression at all (in which case, count yourself lucky!)

Sleep regression is exhausting for both you and your baby. Fortunately, there are several strategies you can use to get your baby’s sleep back on track:

Maintain a consistent routine

Consistency is key. A predictable and comforting bedtime routine lets your baby know when it’s time to rest those weary eyes of his. 4 You could run him a bath, read a story, sing a song, or just have some quiet time together before bed.

You’ll also need to make sure the room is dark, quiet, and at a comfortable temperature. You could even use a white noise machine to block out distracting sounds. (Note that the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that all babies sleep in their parents’ rooms until they reach 6 months of age for their safety.)

Watch for sleep cues

If your baby is overtired, he’ll find it much more difficult to get to sleep, so pay attention to any cues that he’s tired. If he’s rubbing his eyes, yawning, or acting particularly fussy, it’s probably time for bed.

Wait before responding

When your baby wakes up in the middle of the night, try waiting a few minutes before rushing in. While it may be tempting to go and calm him, he might be able to soothe himself back to sleep. If he doesn’t fall asleep, you can go and comfort him.

Note that what works for one baby might not work for yours, so it’s best to discuss this plan with your pediatrician first.

Consider sleep training (if appropriate)

If your baby is at least 6 months old and struggling with sleep issues, you can consider sleep training him (if he’s any younger than that, ask your pediatrician first).

Sleep training is when you train your baby to fall and stay asleep by himself. There are a few popular methods for sleep training, such as the: 10

• Cry-it-out method (CIO): “Crying it out” is one of the more controversial sleep-training methods, as it involves putting your baby to bed and not coming back until the morning, no matter how much he cries. (The exception, of course, is if you think he might actually be feeling unwell, and not just struggling with sleep regression.)
• Ferber method: With this method, you put your baby down for bed even if he’s crying. You’ll leave him to cry, checking in on him at set intervals (e.g., every 5,10, or 15 minutes). You then gradually increase the length of each interval as he learns to soothe himself back to sleep.
• Chair method: For this method, put a chair next to your baby’s crib and sit next to him until he falls asleep. If he wakes up, go and sit in the chair until he’s down for the count once again. Move the chair further away from his crib each night until it’s out of the room.
• Fading method: With the fading method, use whatever techniques you normally use to get him to sleep (e.g., rocking, singing, soothing, etc.) and gradually “fade” them out by spending less time doing them.

Ultimately, it’s up to you to decide which sleep training method (if any) to use with your little one, but you can always speak with your doctor if you’re unsure.

Comfort your baby

If your baby is dealing with separation anxiety, give him extra attention during the day, but especially before bedtime. Aside from giving him some much-needed comfort, he may also realize bedtime isn’t as bad as it sounds.

If your baby is teething or sick, make sure he’s as comfortable as possible. You can also ask your pediatrician about pain relief options, although you should avoid over-the-counter teething gels, as these can be harmful to babies. Ask your pediatrician which ones are safe, as well as what other pain relief options you can explore.

Most of the time, you can resolve episodes of sleep regression with a little patience and perseverance. That said, there are times when you should speak with your doctor, such as when:

• You’re concerned about your baby’s sleep patterns or the potential causes behind his sleep issues
• His sleep issues are accompanied by signs of illness, such as fever, nasal discharge, or earache
• Your baby is still having trouble sleeping after 6 weeks of regression, even though you’ve tried various strategies

Just because your baby is struggling to get some shut-eye doesn’t mean there’s anything serious going on. Still, a second opinion from a medical professional is never a bad idea.

Don’t lose sleep (pardon the pun) over sleep regression. As frustrating and exhausting as it can be to deal with the cries of your overactive little alarm clock night after night, this is a normal and temporary part of baby and toddlerhood.

Be patient, be consistent, and, above all, be proactive in asking for professional help when you need it. In time, your baby—and hopefully you, too—will get back to sleeping soundly.