Sleep Regressions

I’ve been getting a lot of questions recently about sleep regressions. A kiddo is sleeping through the night or taking great naps – and then suddenly, everything changes. A child will start to refuse their nap, or wake up many times during the night, or be up early. Parents have finally gotten a child on a great schedule and routine when out of nowhere, something is different. In most cases, this is a sleep regression. Unfortunately, there are quite a few age-related regressions. The good news is that a regression indicates that your child is growing and developing. A sleep regression usually indicates a shift in their cognitive abilities – their brains are changing. 

There are several common ages where children experience regressions: 4 months, 6 months, 9 months, 12 months, 18 months, and 2 years. Keep in mind that all children are different, so the regressions may appear soon, later, or not at all. The thing with regressions is that because children are developmentally shifting, there is not a lot that you can do. Regressions tend to leave just as quickly as they come. The best advice I can give you is to stay consistent. If you are dealing with a regression, it is not the time to make any changes to a child’s nap or sleep schedule. Try your best not to develop any bad habits.  

I’ll break down each regression in a series of upcoming blog posts, but for now, here is a chart with some general information about each regression and why is might be happening. 

Do you need some help figuring out if your child is experiencing a regression? Or have you developed some sleep habits that you need helping changing? As always - reach out. Email me at nikki@nikkinelsonsleepconsulting.com. It would be an honor to help your family.