Sleep regression ages: signs, causes, and how to cope

While sleep regressions are nothing to worry about – in fact a baby waking in the night is perfectly healthy and considered a biological norm as it helps babies regulate their breathing and protects against SIDS – it can be extremely exhausting for parents.

To help you get through periods of frequent nighttime wakings, we spoke to Theresa Ross, a sleep therapist and clinical nurse specialist in paediatric sleep services at Evelina London Children's Hospital, covering everything you need to know about sleep regressions and how to survive them.

What is sleep regression?

“’Sleep regression’ is a term used to describe a change in a baby’s sleep pattern, from a previously settled pattern to less settled,” Theresa says. “They might suddenly start waking more often and struggle to settle to sleep.”

It doesn’t mean that your baby’s ability to sleep has gone backwards — it’s usually a short-term thing that happens as a response to their bodies developing and changing.

“If your child is well, think of these changes less as a “regression” and more as a normal stage of infanthood,” Theresa says.

What causes sleep regressions?

Theresa says there are a variety of reasons that a sleep regression could happen.

As your baby develops, they might have more awareness of their surroundings, meaning it takes them longer to settle to sleep as they are aware of more stimulation around them. Or, if they are experiencing a growth spurt, they might wake up in the night, hungry.

Being ill can also impact babies’ sleep. This could be after they have immunisations, if they are experiencing teething symptoms or reflux, or if they have a fever or pain.

“If you have concerns about any of your child’s health or developmental needs in relation to sleep, seek advice from your GP or health visitor,” Theresa says.

Plus, changes in your baby’s environment, like unexpected noises or a too-hot bedroom can stop them from sleeping, as can changes to their routine, like holidays, going to nursery or daycare, or parents returning to work.

Common sleep regression ages and signs

“There is no clinical evidence of specific times when children might experience changes to their sleep pattern. They can occur at any time throughout childhood,” Theresa says. “But changes are more likely to occur around a child’s developmental stages.”

These tend to be around three to four months, six to eight months, and eight to nine months.

At three to four months, babies might be hungrier as they grow quickly and experience growth spurts. This can mean they wake up more frequently in the night, wanting to be fed.

At six to eight months, babies can now stay awake at will and might be able to roll over, sit up, and resist being put down to sleep. They might also have developed object permanence and know that they are separate from their mother, meaning that they know their caregivers exist even when they can’t see them.

“This may present as them calling out or crying for mum to until she returns,” Theresa says.

At eight to nine months, “pain from teething can affect your child’s sleep. And they may begin to pull to stand and struggle to lower themselves in the crib,” Theresa says.

How long do sleep regressions last?

There’s good news: sleep regressions are usually temporary.

“It may require you to change feeding schedules, delay bedtime a little, or take a little longer in helping them to settle to sleep,” Theresa says.

“However, if you keep to your routine, the negative changes will not last too long.”

Tips for managing sleep regressions

“Parents need not worry about these changes unless their child is ill,” Theresa says. But here are some tips to help your baby sleep better during a sleep regression.

• Try to identify if the sleep regression comes from specific issues like illness, pain, or teething, and address those.
• Make sure you have a good bedtime routine in place — this includes making sure your baby’s bedroom is a good temperature (18 to 19 degrees Celsius), staying away from noise and distractions before bed, and keeping to a consistent schedule.

“Try not to alter too much from their bedtime routine but be aware they may need a little more reassurance,” Theresa says.

• Try not to fall into habits to settle your baby, like feeding or rocking them to sleep, as that will prolong the sleep changes.
• Instead, try to put your baby to bed when they are drowsy, so they get used to falling asleep on their own.

Although it might feel like a setback, a sleep regression isn’t anything to worry about, and your baby will be napping like a pro again very soon!

Read more:

• How long should my baby sleep, month by month?
• Why your baby not sleeping through isn't always as bad as it seems
• 6 tried and tested baby sleep hacks with videos