What are sleep regressions and how do they affect babies

Do you know what the regressions of the dream are? How do they affect children? It is surely a phrase that did not exist for you until you had a baby.

The regressions of sleep can be one of the most difficult challenges sleep and can cause frustration and exhaustion parents. We explain to you exactly what sleep regressions are and how they affect children.

What exactly are sleep regressions in babies?

Regressions are the periods of time that suddenly a baby who slept well at night begins to wake up at night or has a hard time and takes longer to fall asleep or even begins to take bad naps. And unsuspecting parents, they don”t know the reason for these sudden changes.

The sleep regressions can last from 2 to 6 weeks and after this time the baby”s sleep patterns return to normal, that is, it is a temporary period that will pass, it is better not to be scared and continue with your healthy sleep habits.

Causes of sleep regression in children

The cause of these sleep regressions may be due to childhood development, the so-called developmental milestones.

Typical ages where these sleep regressions can occur are around 6 weeks, 4 months, 8 to 10 months, 12 months, 18 months, and again in 2 years.

But not all children go through these regressions, much less all of them. The most frequent is the one of the 4 months, but surpassed this does not mean that they have to happen to all.

And what are development milestones? They occur when babies and young children begin to practice new skills that can cause more restlessness at bedtime because they are more aware and nervous about the new things that are happening to them than sleeping.

– When they start to turn and turn around.

– To sit down.

– To stand up.

– To walk.

– To speak.

Sleep regressions in babies according to their age

– Regression of sleep of 6 weeks. Most babies experience accelerated growth at 6 weeks. And that growth can be the cause of the baby waking up more frequently, costing him more to fall asleep and being much hungrier.

– 4 months sleep regression. It is possible that your baby who slept well unexpectedly begins to wake up continuously, cannot stand more than 1h asleep, it costs much more to fall asleep, increases crying and irritability and takes more short naps. The 4 month sleep regression is due to a change in your biological sleep rhythm and is different from the other sleep regressions that pass in a few weeks and the baby”s sleep returns to normal. Many changes occur in this regression that will make your baby start sleeping differently.

– Regression of sleep of 8-10 months. This regression is usually due to great brain development. The baby begins to crawl, slide, sit, get up, say words, etc. In addition to developmental milestones, in many babies, the first teeth also appear.

– Regression of sleep of 12 months. Signs that your baby is entering this regression: start walking, reduce naps, are more irritable and constantly wake up. Once they really start walking, they get much more tired and spend much more energy, you may also think that you are hungry at night, but it does not mean that you have to feed them at night, it is preferable to give them more food during the day.

– Regression of sleep of 18 months. At 18 it may be due to teething, separation anxiety. At this age they learn to do things by themselves, to drink water from a cup, to take a spoon, etc. This independence can make you not want to go to sleep or stay in bed, you may even have attacks of genius and struggle not to want to sleep.

– Sleep regression of 2 years. The “Terrible Two” can greatly influence your child”s dream. You may notice that there is a bit of recoil as you learn new skills and grow. They influence a wide variety of factors that can cause it. At this age they will probably start to go to the bathroom by themselves, move on to a bed of elders, they may begin to have nightmares and they may definitely externalize their most challenging character or behavior.

All sleep regressions are difficult and exhausting, remember that they are temporary regressions, you have to be patient because they happen. What is more important is to offer peace of mind and not go back in healthy sleep habits.