How to Survive Sleep Regression: The Complete Guide for New Parents

What is sleep regression?

Before we talk about what sleep regression is, let’s talk about what it isn’t! There are a few other reasons your baby might suddenly have trouble sleeping.

Your newborn may have an unusual sleep schedule if they’re still dealing with day/night confusion. Traveling and daylight savings time can also both throw a wrench in your baby’s sleep patterns.

If you’re breastfeeding, your baby’s sleep disturbance could even be due to something you ate. And, of course, your little one might have a hard time sleeping when they’re sick.

First, you’ll want to rule out these other causes of poor sleep. Once you have, you can safely assume you’re dealing with sleep regression if your little one was sticking to a good sleep schedule and suddenly has problems falling asleep or staying asleep for naps or nighttime.

Sleep regression usually revolves around developmental milestones when your baby’s body and mind are busy growing and changing!

Exactly when a sleep regression strikes will depend on your particular baby. Generally speaking, little ones can go through a sleep regression at four months, six months, eight to 10 months, one year, 18 months, and two years.

(But don’t let that long list overwhelm you! Your baby probably won’t go through each possible sleep regression.)

Since these regressions are usually associated with developmental milestones, let’s take a closer look at some of the exciting changes your baby will go through that may affect their sleeping habits. 

Sleep regression by age

4 months old

The first sleep regression usually happens at around the four-month mark. 

It’s often one of the most challenging events for parents because it comes somewhat unexpectedly. One minute your little one is sleeping happily, taking longer naps, and you feel like you’ve finally got this parenting thing down.

Then, all of a sudden, your baby starts resisting naps they loved before, and you’re barely hanging in there because you’re not getting much sleep yourself.

While it can be frustrating, try to focus on the positives your little one is experiencing (a growth spurt and lots of physical, cognitive, social, and language development).

It’s also important to note that premature babies will experience sleep regressions (and other milestones) a little later than their peers. But typical four-month milestones include:

• The ability to hold a toy when placed in their hands
  
• Bringing hands to mouth
  
• Making cooing sounds
  
• Turning their head toward the sound of your voice
  
• Smiling

In addition, at around three to four months, babies start producing melatonin, which plays a role in regulating our sleep-wake cycle. This means that your little one will start sleeping in similar patterns to those of an adult (i.e., cycling between light and deep sleep).

With all these exciting developments, it’s no wonder your little one is having trouble sleeping!

6 months old

At four months, babies may start taking shorter naps during the day and longer ones at night. However, this progress usually hits a snag at around the six-month mark. 

At six months old, your little one is experiencing many changes in sleep, activity, and overall development. They are undergoing lots of physical and mental growth and hitting significant milestones.

Six-month milestones include:

• Rolling from tummy to back
  
• Reaching to grab a toy they want
  
• Laughing
  
• Knowing the faces and voices of familiar people

Your little one is becoming more aware of their environment. They’re engaging more with it by hearing, seeing, and touching things. They may also enjoy looking at themselves in the mirror. 

Because of this increased awareness, they may be overstimulated or have a fear of missing out, both of which can create a significant change in their sleeping habits.

8-10 months old

At around eight, nine, and 10 months of a child’s life, they will hit the following milestones:

• Learning to crawl (for most babies)
  
• Making vowel and consonant sounds
  
• Beginning to understand basic words
  
• Making sounds when talked to (i.e., responding)

Your baby will also most likely cut a few teeth during this period.  

They are busy learning and growing so much that they will likely experience shorter naps and, as a result, become more cranky. While shifting schedules and fussy babies can be challenging, remember that this is temporary, and it will soon pass.

12 months old

You may find your child wanting fewer naps at around one year, and they may refuse their second nap of the day altogether. 

When this occurs, it’s easy to assume that your little one is ready for this big transition. However, continue encouraging them to take two naps per day, as most children aren’t ready for just one nap until they are about 15-18 months old.

Twelve-month milestones include:

• Walking while holding on to furniture
  
• Waving “bye-bye”
  
• Calling out “mama” or “dada”
  
• Picking things up using their thumb and pointer finger

At 12 months, the regression period may also be a little less harsh than the previous ones. Again, the main difference will be resisting the day naps.

15-18 months old

A lot of physical, social, language, and cognitive developments occur at this age. 

Fifteen to 18-month milestones include:

• Walking by themselves
  
• Trying to use a spoon
  
• Pointing at something interesting
  
• Copying a parent or guardian while they do chores (e.g., sweeping)

As we mentioned previously, it’s common for 15-month-olds to transition to just one nap per day. However, if your little one is struggling to get adequate rest, you may want to introduce a sleep routine (if you haven’t already) to help with consistency.

At around 18 months old, your child will probably start throwing tantrums and talking (i.e., babbling) a lot. Teething can also affect their mood as they cut molars.

With so much going on in their tiny bodies, sleep regressions are more likely to occur! 

2 years old 

At this stage, your toddler’s awake time during the day may be longer as they are likely just taking one nap, which can disrupt their previous sleep pattern. 

Two-year milestones include:

• Running
  
• Kicking a ball
  
• Saying at least two words together (i.e., please mommy)
  
• Playing with more than one toy at a time

There are also other exciting developments happening, like transitioning to a bigger bed, learning to use the potty, and learning to feed themselves. 

All of this growth means that your little one is developing into their own unique person! But with each new phase, they are likely to experience sleep regressions throughout the process.

Now that you understand what sleep regression is and how the different developmental milestones may affect your child’s sleeping patterns, let’s discuss some signs to watch for.

Signs your baby is experiencing a sleep regression

1) Less sleep

This first sign is the most common indication of a sleep regression: less sleep! It may seem like a no-brainer, but when you aren’t expecting it, you may not put all the pieces together. 

If you notice your child is sleeping less at nap time and bedtime, they have likely hit a sleep regression. Sometimes, children struggle to stay asleep longer than 20 minutes during these stages. 

As we noted above, if this lasts for more than a few weeks, consult your doctor to rule out any underlying conditions as well.

2) Increased hunger

When your little one experiences growth spurts, this means that lots of physical, mental, language, and emotional developments occur. They are likely to be extra hungry as a result.

Your little one may want more food much more often and seem like they are never full.

3) Increased crankiness

This point on our list shouldn’t come as a surprise. No one’s ever in a good mood when they haven’t had enough sleep! 

Crankiness and overall irritability are common signs of sleep regression because anyone running on low sleep is likely dealing with a lot of emotions.

Surviving a sleep regression means you and your little one getting the rest you both need by helping them learn how to fall asleep and stay asleep on their own.

Here are our best tips for making it through your baby’s sleep regression.

7 tips for surviving sleep regression

1) Maintain healthy sleeping habits.

There are a few steps you can take to promote sound sleep. If you’re already doing these things, continue during a sleep regression. If you aren’t, now is a good time to start.

• Make the room dark at bedtime. Dim the lights or hang blackout curtains if necessary.
  
• Keep their room cool.
  
• Dress your baby in temperature-appropriate pajamas.
  
• Be quiet while your little one is sleeping! Try using white noise in their nursery to drown out other noises.

2) Practice safe sleep.

A night of sound slumber is important, but safety is even more important! In addition to the healthy sleep habits listed above, make sure that you’re doing everything you can to promote safe sleep.

Choose a firm crib mattress.

For safe sleep, your baby’s mattress should be firm, not soft and fluffy. But firm doesn’t have to mean rock hard and uncomfortable.

Newton’s Crib Mattress is the perfect combination of comfy and safe. It’s comfortable enough to allow your little one to “sleep like a baby” but firm enough for safe sleep.

Check the fit of the mattress.

Whether you have a mini crib or a standard-sized crib, double-check to make sure the mattress fits correctly inside the crib. The fit should be snug with no big gaps between the edge of the mattress and the inside of the crib. A large gap can pose a safety risk for your baby.

As a rule, when the mattress is inside the crib, you should not be able to place more than two fingers between it and the crib frame.

Share your room, not your bed.

It’s safest for your baby to share your room (but not your bed!) for the first six months or year of their life.

Instead of letting your baby snooze in bed with you, put their bassinet or cradle in your room so they’re close enough for you to check on them and feed them easily.

Put your baby to sleep on their back.

Your baby will need tummy time during the day to develop their muscles and grow big and strong! But when it’s time to lay them down to sleep, the safest position is on their back, not on their side or their stomach.

Use a breathable mattress.

If your baby rolls onto their stomach while they’re sleeping, a breathable mattress will help reduce the risk of suffocation.

The Newton Crib Mattress allows for breathability because both the mattress and the mattress cover are breathable. Bonus: It also helps regulate your baby's body temperature and reduces dust mites and allergens!

If you already have a crib mattress, consider using Newton’s mattress pad on top of it to add a layer of waterproof, hypoallergenic, and breathable protection.

Keep blankets, pillows, and toys out of the crib.

This sleep safety tip might be especially important if you’re thinking about giving your child a comfort object during a sleep regression.

To provide your little one with the safest possible rest, you’ll need to keep all toys, pillows, blankets, and crib bumpers out of the crib until your baby is a year old! Use only a tight-fitting fitted sheet on the mattress.

Give your baby a pacifier at bedtime.

According to The American Academy of Pediatrics, allowing your baby to use a pacifier while they snooze is another way to promote safe sleep. Just be sure the paci doesn’t have a strap attached, which could be a safety hazard.

If you’re breastfeeding, wait until your newborn has gotten the hang of nursing (around a month) to offer a bedtime binky. Giving your infant a pacifier too soon could lead to nipple confusion.

3) Stick to your routine.

It’s never too early (or too late!) to create a pre-naptime and pre-bedtime routine. If you already have one, keep it up during a sleep regression.

This consistency will help your baby realize that it’s time to wind down and sleep.

If you don’t have a sleepy-time routine, decide what works for your family and stick to it. It may be a bath, putting pajamas on, reading a book, singing a song, and then giving them a bedtime kiss.

4) Respond to your baby’s sleep cues.

Sleep cues are like a green light on the road to a good night’s sleep!

Is your little one rubbing their eyes? Are they staring off into space or losing interest in their toys? Are they yawning more often or moving a bit more slowly? These are sleep cues, or signs that it’s time to start the bedtime routine before they become overtired.

An overtired baby actually has a harder time falling asleep because their body is producing a stress hormone that keeps them energized and awake. So, don’t wait for your little one to start crying before you put them to bed.

Stick to a regular sleep schedule, and watch for their sleep cues as a way to know when they’re sleepy and ready for bed.

5) Put your baby in bed when they’re sleepy.

In many ways, laying your baby down when they’re sleepy but awake is the secret to long-term success. Why? Because it teaches them the extremely important skill of falling asleep on their own!

If they always fall asleep in your arms, they’ll be confused when they wake up alone at night. By letting them drift off on their own in their own safe space, they learn how to fall back asleep by themselves if they wake up between sleep cycles.

6) Consider sleep training.

If the regression is more difficult than you expected, consider trying sleep training once they’re through the worst of it. This is the process of helping your baby learn to self-soothe.

While it may not be for every family, one of the nice things about sleep training is that there isn’t just one right way to do it. You can choose a gentle approach or something more structured. The key is to find a method that feels right for you and your little one.

Plus, helping them learn how to self-soothe now can make future sleep regression much easier to handle!

It’s important to note that most experts recommend not starting a sleep training method in the middle of a sleep regression. Instead, wait until your baby is through the regression, or start sleep training now to prepare for the inevitable sleep regressions to come.

7) Take care of yourself.

Yes, sleep regression is hard on everyone, but you can’t be the best parent you can be if you’re running on empty all the time. Don’t be afraid to ask for help!

Let a friend or family member watch your little one for an hour or so while you take a nap. They’ll be just as happy spending time with your baby as you’ll be catching up on your sleep, and your baby will learn to be comfortable around others. It really is a win-win for everyone!

Survive and thrive during sleep regression!

At the end of the day, a sleep regression is just a short chapter in your parenting journey. Yes, it feels long when you’re awake after midnight trying to get your baby to go back to sleep, but remember: This too shall pass!

Keep in mind that your baby isn’t doing this on purpose. They’re simply busy growing into their amazing self. Give them extra love and snuggles, stay consistent with their sleep routine, and ensure that they stay safe on a breathable Newton mattress.

Soon enough, your baby will be sleeping well again, quiet nights will return, and the sleep regression will be nothing but a memory. Sweet dreams!

Frequently asked questions

Should I change my baby’s schedule during a regression?

It can be tempting to change your baby’s schedule during a sleep regression, but it’s best to stick to the bedtime routine you built before the regression started.

That said, you may need to adjust their wake windows slightly, but you want to keep things as consistent as possible so that your baby’s circadian rhythms don’t get out of whack.

For example, if your baby is learning to crawl, they might need an extra 15 minutes of quiet time before bed to allow their brain and body to relax and wind down.

Just remember: Consistency is key. Even if your baby isn’t sleeping as well as they did before, a familiar and regular routine tells their body that it’s time to settle down and get ready for sleep.

Can a dream feed help my baby sleep longer?

It can! A dream feed is when you gently feed your baby right before you go to bed (usually between 10 PM and midnight) without fully waking them up.

During a sleep regression, your baby may wake up hungry because their brain is working overtime thinking about the new skill they’re learning. A dream feed can give them the nutrition they need to sleep longer before their next “wake-up call.”

If you want to try a dream feed before you go to bed, be sure to keep the lights dim and the room quiet so that your baby stays in the “sleep zone” as much as possible. Keep in mind that dream feeds don’t work for every baby, but it’s worth a try if you’re struggling with a tired baby.

For more information on the dream feed, check out this article from the Newton blog: Dream Feeding: What it Is and How to Do It.

What’s the best room temperature for a sleep regression?

The “Goldilocks” temperature for your baby’s nursery (whether they’re going through a sleep regression or not) is usually between 68°F and 72°F.

If their room is too hot, they might wake up with a sweaty neck and hair, flushed cheeks, rapid breathing, and even heat rash. If their room is too cold, they might wake up shivering and have a pale complexion.

Set the temperature in their room so that they have a warm chest, relaxed posture, normal skin color, and steady breathing while they sleep.

For more information on the “Goldilocks Zone,” take a few minutes to read this article from the Newton blog: Baby Sleep Temperature Guidelines to Keep Your Baby Cozy and Safe.

Does white noise help during a sleep regression?

White noise can absolutely help during a sleep regression! During these times, your baby is much more aware of their surroundings, so the TV playing faintly or a floorboard creaking in another room will wake them up more easily.

White noise creates a consistent "sound blanket" that mimics the shushing sounds they heard in the womb, helping them stay asleep longer. In fact, white noise can help your baby sleep whether they’re experiencing a sleep regression or not, so it’s a great addition to any nursery.

Just make sure the volume is about as loud as a soft shower and placed at least several feet away from the crib.

To learn more about white noise, check out this article from the Newton blog: The Benefits Of White Noise For Your Baby.