{"id":2031,"date":"2024-08-07T10:29:00","date_gmt":"2024-08-07T00:29:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/littlebellies.com\/au\/?p=2031"},"modified":"2024-08-07T10:29:06","modified_gmt":"2024-08-07T00:29:06","slug":"your-sleep-guide-sleep-regressions-by-age","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/littlebellies.com\/au\/learn-play\/your-sleep-guide-sleep-regressions-by-age\/","title":{"rendered":"Your Sleep Guide: Sleep Regressions by Age"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By: Dahlia Rimmon<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once you\u2019ve survived the newborn phase and your baby starts sleeping through the night (fingers crossed!), it might feel like you\u2019ve finally got this parenting thing figured out. But just when you\u2019re about to celebrate your newfound evening freedom, your baby hits a new milestone and their sleep goes haywire, leaving you feeling frustrated, confused, and exhausted. Welcome to sleep regressions – a normal part of baby development, even if you\u2019ve completed formal sleep training.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Every baby experiences sleep regressions, and they\u2019re just a normal part of growing up, especially in that first year. Since sleep regressions can be pretty challenging (and a bit maddening!), we\u2019re sharing everything you need to know to better tackle them, set up healthy sleep routines, and hopefully catch a few more zzz\u2019s yourself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>What is a sleep regression?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Sleep regressions are periods of time when your baby struggles with their normal sleep routine, whether it\u2019s staying asleep or falling asleep in the first place. During a sleep regression, your baby may refuse nap time, have frequent middle-of-the-night wake ups, or wake up at the crack of dawn. Some babies are really fussy and restless in their crib, while others switch off between happily cooing to themselves and crying. Either way, sleep regressions can be frustrating and confusing, especially for new parents who are trying to figure out why their baby won\u2019t stay asleep.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During your baby\u2019s first year, you can expect a few sleep regressions. They usually pop up around the 4-month, 6-month, 8-month, and 12-month marks. Some babies also experience sleep regressions after their first birthday, around 15 months, 18 months, and 24 months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>Causes of sleep regressions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If your baby normally sleeps well through the night, spotting a sleep regression can be pretty straightforward. You’ll notice signs like irritability and crying at bedtime, trouble falling asleep, waking up multiple times throughout the night, resisting naps, or a combination of a few. However, if your baby already struggles with sleep, it can be harder to tell if they\u2019re experiencing a sleep regression or just having general sleep problems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most sleep regressions are triggered by one or more of the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n