Sleep Regressions: What’s Going On and How to Cope?!

Jen Fyvie
Apr 23
3 min read

If your little one was sleeping reasonably well and then suddenly starts waking more often, fighting naps or just seeming all over the place with their sleep people will likely tell you “Oh, it’s just a sleep regression!”

But what does that actually mean? And more importantly…what can you do about it?

So, what is a sleep regression?

A sleep regression isn’t a formal diagnosis or an official milestone—it’s a term used to describe a temporary disruption in sleep that usually happens alongside a leap in development. Technically it should be called a sleep progression! The good news is your baby isn’t broken, you haven’t done anything wrong, their wee brain is simply in overdrive.

These sleep disruptions are usually linked to things like:

Learning new skills such as rolling, sitting up, learning to crawl or walk
Separation anxiety
Teething
Changes in naps or overtiredness creeping in

Your baby’s brain is busy learning new skills, taking in the world and their sleep unfortunately can take a bit of a hit in the process.

When do regressions typically happen?

As every child is different and will reach various milestones at different times you can pretty much find a “sleep regression” at any age, however, there are some common ages when these blips tend to occur:

4 months: The big one! This is when sleep cycles mature and babies start sleeping more like adults ( waking more often between cycles).
6 months: Hello weaning! Sitting up and learning to eat - there’s lots of new things to try!
8–10 months: We are on the move! Crawling, standing, pulling to stand... there’s lots they want to practice!
12 months: Some babies drop a nap too soon, and that can cause some chaos and of course they probably want to start walking too!
18 months: Independence, new words and separation anxiety.
2 years: oh hey tantrums! A mix of developmental leaps, language explosion and boundary testing.

It’s not a guarantee your child will hit every one but if sleep suddenly takes a turn, these stages are common culprits.

What does a regression look like?

You might notice:

Waking more frequently at night
Fighting naps (or skipping them entirely)
Waking up super early ( >6 am)
Struggling to settle without you
Needing more cuddles, reassurance or support to fall sleep

Basically…things feel off and your baby suddenly seems like a different sleeper than they were a week ago.

How long does it last?

Most sleep regressions last anywhere from a few days up to 6 weeks.But..and this is important…sometimes what starts as a regression sticks around longer if new habits are formed in response, such as adding in an extra night feed or rocking your baby back to sleep when you didn’t do this previously ( totally normal by the way…survival mode is real).

That doesn’t mean you’ve done anything wrong or that it can’t be fixed..it just means their sleep needs a little reset once things settle.

How to get through it (without losing your mind):

Here’s what you can focus on:

Stick to a consistent bedtime routine
Keep nap and bedtime timings appropriate for your child’s age
Offer comfort and reassurance but try not to overhaul your usual approach if you don’t need to
Practice new skills (like crawling or walking) during the day, so they’re less excited to try them at 2 am
Try to stay calm and respond in a way that feels sustainable for you

If sleep feels like it’s gone completely out the window and you're not sure how to get back to where you were, don’t panic…I’ve got you! Often all you need is a little bit of guidance and some minor tweaks to get things back on track. My wee sleep sorter consultations are perfect for this!

Need extra support?

I’ve created a free 5-step guide to help you navigate night wakings, which can be really common during regressions. You can grab it here 👇https://weesleepyones.eo.page/z5m59

And if more in depth personalised support is what you need then get in touch and let’s have a chat about sleep support packages.

Whatever you decide to do, don’t worry it won’t be like this forever!