Before you became a parent, all your friends warned you of the sleepless nights. But to your surprise, your child turned out to be the best little sleeper you could have hoped for! She never resisted her naps, she never stalled at bedtime, and she always seemed to wake up at the same time every morning.

That was until you recently started noticing certain changes in her sleeping patterns. All of a sudden, she became more irritable when you were putting her down for her naps; she started waking in the middle of the night and getting up for the day far too early.

We know it can be disorientating when your child suddenly runs into problems during the time that they are supposed to be resting and recharging. However, please know that it’s completely normal for this to happen, and it’s something that a lot of families experience.

What your child is going through could be something called sleep regression. If you don’t know about sleep regression, then we’re here to provide the necessary information and help you look out for the signs of this potential disruption to their sleep.

At what age do babies have sleep regression?

Your child can go through sleep regressions at any age, including 4 months, 6 months, 8 months, 18 months, and 2 years. Sleep regressions are usually a result of a developmental milestone, partly because their brains are working extra hard learning the new skills as well as because they just want to keep practicing them!

We’ve put together a list of indications that your child is experiencing sleep regression, including tips on what to do during this phase. So, let’s take a look at them now!

So, what are the signs that my child is experiencing sleep regression?

Resisting naps

There are several reasons why your child might be experiencing issues with sleep that aren’t necessarily related to sleep regression. For example, they might be feeling a need for more independence, and this desire can affect their sleep. However, if your child is clearly resisting naps, then this might be linked to sleep regression. If this is the case, then you might notice them starting to master a new skill or enjoying some kind of new freedom that makes it harder for them to settle down for a nap. Being consistent with your child’s nap routine is crucial here, or perhaps bringing in some quiet time to help them wind down for the night. Remember that your little one isn’t always going to need the same amount of naps per day, so analysing whether they are having too little, too many, or are ready to give up naps entirely is another key step to take for the good of their sleep and health.

Waking early

Waking up early is another telltale sign that your child might be experiencing sleep regression. You might find that they are waking up really early in the morning, around 5:30 a.m. or so. Or they might be much more excited to get up and start the day because they are learning a new skill. However, a toddler waking early in the morning can also mean that their sleep patterns need adjusting. Maybe they need to be going to bed a little later, for example. If you see this sign, try to observe how long your little one is awake before and after naps, what time they are going to bed, and how long their naps are typically going on for.

Stalling at bedtime

If your child is coming up with excuses not to go to bed, then this could be another indicator they are going through sleep regression. Finding out what is at the root of their sleep regression is important, as this is the key to helping them find their way back to good-quality sleep. Perhaps they are struggling with separation anxiety; perhaps they need a little more assurance. Or they might just be trying to test your boundaries. Whatever it might be, remember to reinforce bedtime boundaries, like staying in bed, and stick to a routine where possible. Although your little one might not be happy with rules like this at first, children need limits to feel safe and give them stability.

Struggling to stay asleep

We know it can be difficult if your little one wakes up regularly during the night, and if this pattern is occurring for you, then your child may be experiencing sleep regression. This can be due to the fact that they are at the age of hitting developmental milestones and are therefore prone to separation anxiety. However, remember that it also might be linked to something like discomfort due to teething, which is why it’s best to investigate the cause as best as you can.

What is sleep regression?

We look at sleep regression in infants for Unii’s Baby Sleep Journey.