What It Means
A sleep regression is a phase when a baby or toddlerToddlerA child from 1 to 3 years old, the stage CDC's parenting guidance places between infancy and the preschool years. See more who had settled into a fairly steady sleep pattern slips backward, waking more often at night and often turning fussier. Cleveland Clinic says these phases typically last a week or two before sleep gets back on track. The term comes from everyday parenting language; the AAP and the American Academy of Sleep Medicine don't use it as a diagnosis, and Cleveland Clinic notes that research hasn't shown regressions arriving on schedule at one age for every baby.
Try It: How Long Has This Stretch Lasted?
Slide to the number of days your baby's sleep has been off. The guide is Cleveland Clinic's "a week or two."
Within the week or two Cleveland Clinic says a regression typically lasts. Keep the routine steady.
Longer than the usual week or two. It's a good time to check in with your pediatrician.
How Parents Say It
- "I think we're in a sleep regression."
- "He slept through for a month and now he's up three times a night."
- "Is it a regression or is she getting sick?"
The Breakdown
Ages people link to regressions, and what the sources say happens then
| Age | What's going on | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Around 4 months | The age most often talked about for a regression | Cleveland Clinic |
| Through the first year | Harder stretches can line up with growth spurtsGrowth spurtA short stretch when a child grows faster than usual in height and weight, common in the first year and again around puberty. See more and new milestonesDevelopmental milestonesSkills most children can do by a certain age, like rolling over or waving bye-bye. CDC places each at the age 75% or more of children reach it. See more | Cleveland Clinic |
| Late in the first year into the second | Separation anxiety can bring night waking and crying for a parent | HealthyChildren.org |
| 12 to 18 months | Most children shift to one nap a day | Mayo Clinic |
Signs Cleveland Clinic lists
- Waking more often at night than a few weeks ago
- More fussiness than usual
What helps. Cleveland Clinic suggests keeping a calm, relaxing routine for naps and bedtime and continuing with sleep trainingSleep trainingTeaching a baby to fall asleep on their own, both at bedtime and after waking in the night, using a planned, consistent method. See more if you've started it.
When to talk to the doctor. Call your pediatrician if the stretch doesn't pass, if your baby seems ill, or if something just doesn't seem right to you.
Good to Know
A sudden change in sleep can also come from illness, so a fever, a cough or other new symptoms are a reason to call the doctor rather than wait it out. HealthyChildren.org, the AAP's site for parents, says brief waking and resettling is normal around 6 months and advises against rushing in. Safe sleepSafe sleepThe AAP's rules for lowering the risk of SIDS and suffocation: baby on the back, alone, on a firm flat surface in their own sleep space, every sleep. See more rules stay in place on hard nights too: baby on their back, in their own sleep space, on a firm, flat surface.
FAQ
How long does a sleep regression last?
Cleveland Clinic says regressions typically last a week or two, though every child is different. If it drags on longer, check in with your pediatrician.
At what ages do sleep regressions happen?
They're most often talked about around 4 months, and Cleveland Clinic says others can line up with growth spurts and milestones. Research hasn't shown them arriving at the same age for every baby.
Is a sleep regression a medical diagnosis?
No. It's parenting language for a temporary step back in sleep. Doctors look at what's behind it, such as development, separation anxiety, nap changes or illness.
Do It in Buhata
Notes and Calendar
Log each night's wake-ups in Notes (Premium) in Buhata and mark the day it started on your Calendar, so you can see when the stretch ends or show your pediatrician.
Open BuhataRelated Terms and Categories
- 4-month sleep regression
Parents' name for a stretch of worse sleep around 4 months, when a baby's sleep cycles and body clock are maturing.
- 8-month sleep regression
Parents' name for a stretch of worse sleep around 8 to 10 months, when separation anxiety, new motor skills and nap changes often arrive.
- 18-month sleep regression
Parents' name for a stretch of worse sleep around 18 months, when separation anxiety peaks and many toddlers settle into one nap.
- Growth spurt
A short stretch when a child grows faster than usual in height and weight, common in the first year and again around puberty.
- Nap transition
The stretch when a child drops a daytime nap, such as going from three naps to two, from two to one, or from one to none.
Sources
Cleveland Clinic, "Infant Sleep Regression and How To Help"; HealthyChildren.org (AAP), "Separation Anxiety & Sleeping Trouble in Young Children"; Mayo Clinic, "Baby naps: Daytime sleep tips"; HealthyChildren.org (AAP), "Getting Your Baby to Sleep"; AAP, "Safe Sleep and Your Baby"
- health.clevelandclinic.org/the-4-month-sleep-regression-what-parents-need-to-know
- www.healthychildren.org/English/healthy-living/sleep/Pages/separation-anxiety-and-sleeping.aspx
- www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/infant-and-toddler-health/in-depth/baby-naps/art-20047421
- www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/sleep/Pages/getting-your-baby-to-sleep.aspx
- publications.aap.org/patiented/article/doi/10.1542/peo_document088/79989/Safe-Sleep-and-Your-Baby-How-Parents-Can-Reduce
Last updated .