Sleep Regression Solutions

Baby Sleep Regressions

Baby Sleep Regressions are real and I prefer to call them a normal developmental leaps! Your baby is finally sleeping through the night. Life is great. You think you have got this! Then all of a sudden the dreaded 4-month sleep regression hits. The first thing you need to understand, no matter how exhausted and frustrated you are feeling, baby sleep regressions are a normal developmental process. Commonly baby sleep regressions happen at 4 months, 8 months, 12 months, 18 months and 2 years. The age does vary slightly depending on your child’s developmental progress.

The 4 month sleep regression is one of the toughest sleep challenges that many mothers and babies face. This is because your baby’s sleeping patterns are becoming more like an adult’s, cycling between light sleep and deep sleep. These regressions are really just our babies' sleep needs changing and parents are not prepared for these changes, this leads to your baby becoming overtired. You know by now that an overtired baby will wake frequently at night, will fight or refuse naps – this is a baby sleep regression.

What and why Sleep Regressions happen

Babies’ sleep patterns change to a more adult-like pattern, meaning they don’t drift into a deep sleep anymore.
Your baby’s brain is becoming more alert and they are now becoming more engaged with the environment around them.
It often coincides with developmental milestones, like learning to rolling over, crawling, walking and talking.
Suddenly they may have multiple night wake ups and less day naps or complete nap refusals.
Sleep regressions typically last anywhere from two to four weeks.
Sleep regressions are common but not every baby will have sleep regressions.

If you feel your babies sleep regression is not resolving and is becoming more of a problem, that is the time to reach out for a baby sleep consultant to get you through this tough time.