Surviving a Sleep Regression

You think your baby has gotten sleeping at night down, and then the sleep regression comes. Sleep regression means baby is waking up again, and you are too. The good news is that it is just a phase that typically lasts 2 to 6 weeks and it will pass. 

  Sleep regression comes in many forms. It could be waking up at night more often than they once were, fighting sleep, and shorter naps resulting in extreme crankiness. Sleep regressions don’t usually have an exact cause, but they are likely to occur at 4 months old, 9 months old, or over 18 months old. They also appear with milestones. So, when baby learns to crawl or walk, beware of a sleep regression. 

The number one thing about sleep regression is to remember that it is just temporary! Baby will return to their normal schedule one day (hopefully sooner rather than later). 

  Be flexible and try to keep your routine as consistent as you can. You may have to adjust your sleep schedule and routines during a sleep regression to make up for the loss of sleep at night. If you need to, add more naps earlier in the day to avoid an overtired baby. Trying to maintain your routine is important because when baby is ready to resume their normal sleeping routine, they will transition back easier. So, keep those baths before bed, storytimes, or whatever your calming technique is. 

Create a calming sleep environment. Sleep regression may require you to pull out all the stops to find something effective. 

If nothing is working for baby, try a white noise machine like oursound soother or calming light likeLumiPets to help baby sleep easier. 

  Comfort baby when they cry but don’t over comfort them. We all want to comfort our crying babies but be careful not to develop bad habits or revert back to ones that you’ve already been able to break! Limit your contact with baby and put them back in their soothing sleep environment to let them know that it is time to sleep. 

  Sleep regressions could occur during growth spurts. Growth spurts can make babies hungry! If your baby is waking up because they are hungry, feed them what they need. It is hard work growing big and strong! 

  Talk to other moms that have survived sleep regressions and find out what worked for them! Of course, all babies are different. To discover what works for your baby, try all the options. Just remember, this is a phase and it will pass!