Sleep Regression 3-6-9-12-18 Months: How to Deal With It?
The child grows and faces important changes and novelties. These are the main causes of sleep regression .
It is easy to see it with a negative connotation because it is characterized by disturbances in the child's and the family's rest, but it also represents the positive evolution and maturation of the child.
In this article I want to talk to you about all the phases of sleep regression and give you some advice on how to best manage them and help your baby sleep.
Before starting, I'll leave you some useful information:
- You can also find us on Instagram with the profile @drsilva.com_official
- In the video courses section you will find an in-depth video course on baby sleep in the first 2 years of life.
Sleep Regression: Introduction
If you have come to this article, you have probably heard of or experienced the phases of “ sleep regression ” in newborns. This is a temporary period in which a child, who has previously established a regular sleep pattern, suddenly begins to wake up frequently during the night and has difficulty falling asleep. This change in sleep behavior can occur at several key points in development, often around 4 months, 8-10 months, 12 months, 18 months, and 2 years. Sleep regressions are characterized by frequent nighttime awakenings, difficulty falling back to sleep, and sometimes increased irritability and difficulty resting even during the day.
Regressions are feared periods because unfortunately there is still little and bad information on the topic of sleep. However, thanks to the help of sleep consultant Marika Novaresio we will see what they are and how to best manage them.
Effects on the Child and Parents
For children, sleep regression can be a time of frustration and exhaustion, as their bodies and minds are undergoing significant developmental changes. For parents, these phases can be particularly stressful and tiring, as frequent nighttime awakenings interrupt their sleep, reducing the quality of rest and increasing stress levels.
That's why it's important to understand how to manage them in the best possible ways .
Theories About The Causes of Sleep Regression
There are several theories about the causes of sleep regression , some of the main theories include:
Brain development : This may include the acquisition of new cognitive and motor skills, which may affect the ability to sleep soundly.
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Physical changes : Physical growth and motor development, such as learning to roll over, sit up, or walk, can disrupt your baby’s sleep. These changes require your baby’s body to adapt, which can result in nighttime awakenings.
Emotional stress : Temporary separations from parents, new environments and new experiences can cause anxiety and stress, affecting sleep.
Feeding : Changes in feeding patterns, such as the start of weaning or changes in feeding frequency, can affect your baby's sleep.
Why are they called regressions?
The child has always slept well until that moment and now he seems not to know how to rest anymore. This is the feeling you get in these periods.
Regressions, in fact, are moments in which the baby wakes up more often and has more difficulty falling back asleep. He may start crying, want to be held or constantly latch on to the breast.
Pediatricians and sleep consultants report that regressions occur at importantdevelopmental milestones (Milestones). Therefore, they are often associated with infant growth spurts.
What are the signs of a sleep regression?
Sleep regression can manifest itself in a variety of ways, and recognizing the signs and symptoms is essential to help parents distinguish this phase from other possible sleep issues. Here are the most common characteristics of sleep regressions:
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Frequent night awakenings : During a sleep regression, the child may wake up more often than usual, requiring comfort, feeding, or simply the presence of a parent to get back to sleep.
Difficulty falling asleep: Your baby may show signs of resistance to falling asleep, such as crying, fussing, or requiring more time with their parents before they feel ready to sleep.
Irregular daytime naps : Your child may start skipping daytime naps or taking very short ones.
Increased irritability and sensitivity: Lack of adequate sleep can make the baby more sensitive and irritable, manifesting this with frequent crying.
Greater need for comfort and closeness.
Sleep regression or growth spurt?
Distinguishing between growth spurts and sleep regressions can be difficult, as both are part of normal child development and can present similar symptoms. However, there are some key differences in growth spurts that can help parents distinguish them from sleep regressions:
Increased Hunger : During a growth spurt, your baby may show a significant increase in appetite, whether breastfed or bottle-fed. He or she may ask to eat more frequently and in larger quantities.
Growth Spurt: These periods are often associated with a visible increase in physical growth.
Short-Term : Growth spurts tend to be short-lived, usually lasting only a few days to a week.
Sleep regression or colic?
Even if the baby suffers from colic or gastroesophageal reflux , he or she may wake up several times at night due to pain. So, how to distinguish them from sleep regression:
Inconsolable crying : Colic is characterized by episodes of intense, inconsolable crying and usually peaks in the late afternoon and evening.
Body position : The child may show signs of intestinal distress, such as drawn legs, clenched fists, and a red face.
Duration : Colic usually appears in the first 3 months of life and can last up to 6 months.
In this case, remember that although most of the time parents are told that gas colic is normal and physiological, and that it will pass on its own with time, this is not the case!
The truth is quite different: it is NOT normal for your baby to cry, suffer and feel bad because he has a stomach ache, has difficulty breathing and has a swollen abdomen.
Infant gas colic, like gastroesophageal reflux, is caused by an irritative and inflammatory condition of the intestine that can be PREVENTED (from pregnancy or the first days of life) and/or CURED in the first months of life. In the video course “ how to cure gas colic and gastroesophageal reflux ” I explain what they are, the real causes why they are created and how to cure them effectively.
Sleep regression or teething?
Both sleep regression and teething can cause sleep disturbances in babies, but there are some clues that can help you understand if your little one is preparing for his first teeth:
Excessive drooling.
Swollen and painful gums.
Loss of appetite.
Irritability.
Low fever.
White spots of teeth about to emerge from the gums.
The little one often puts his hands in his mouth.
Strategies for Managing Sleep Regression
Sleep regression can be a difficult time for parents, but it is important to remember that it is a temporary phase and that, with a little patience and the right strategies, it is possible to overcome it. Before we go into detail about each phase of sleep regressions, here are some tips you can adopt to better deal with them:
Establish a bedtime and sleep routine to make falling asleep easier.
Encourage play and stimulate curiosity on demand, especially during the day.
Encourage daytime naps.
Create a sleep-friendly environment for naps, with soft lighting and white noise.
Avoid overloading your child with stimuli before nap time.
Meet your child's emotional needs by avoiding getting upset about night awakenings.
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Offer your child a transitional object, such as a stuffed animal or blanket, to give him or her security.