Just when you think you've finally nailed your baby's sleep routine—suddenly, they won’t settle at night and are fussing and crying for what seems like hours.
A few days ago, a mum I worked with emailed me in a panic. Her baby, now 7.5 months , who had been sleeping through the night for weeks after working together , was now taking hours to fall asleep, crying, and fussing non-stop. Sound familiar?
Understanding Sleep Regression Stages
What you’re experiencing isn’t uncommon. Through the first year and a half, babies undergo 10 significant developmental milestones or leaps. These leaps are periods of rapid mental growth where your little one acquires new skills and abilities. Yes, it often feels like a regression because sleep becomes disrupted. But I like to think of it as a progression. Each leap helps your baby see and understand the world in new ways.
Understanding these leaps and baby sleep regression ages helps you know what’s coming and how to support your baby’s growth. Even though these phases can be tough, they’re actually signs that your baby is making great progress!
The Wonder Weeks book or app is a fantastic resource to understand when these leaps occur and what’s going on with your baby. It will help you anticipate changes and offer strategies to support better sleep during these phases.
Here's a chart summarizing each leap along with the new abilities your baby will gain:
| Leap | Age Range Weeks / Months | Behavioural Sign | New Abilities |
| 1 |
4.5 - 5.5 weeks/ 1 month Sleep Regression |
Increased fussiness, clinginess | Sensory awareness, social smiling |
| 2 |
7.5 - 9.5 weeks/ 2 month Sleep Regression |
Longer wakefulness, interest in stimuli | Recognising patterns, varied cries |
| 3 |
11.5 - 12.5 weeks/ 3 month Sleep Regression |
Attempting to grab objects, rolling over | Coordinated movements, smoother transitions |
| 4 |
18 - 20 weeks/ 4 month Sleep Regression |
Interest in cause and effect, clinginess | Cause and effect understanding, purposeful play |
| 5 |
22.5 - 26.5 weeks/ 5 month Sleep Regression & 6 month Sleep Regression |
Separation anxiety, exploring objects | Object permanence, understanding relationships |
| 6 | 33.5 - 37.5 weeks/ 7 month Sleep Regression & 8 month Sleep Regression | Frustration, resistance to routine changes | Categorization skills, sensory differentiation |
| 7 | 41.5 - 46.5 weeks/ 9 month Sleep Regression & 10 month Sleep Regression | Need for structure, sequence exploration | Sequencing actions, imitation |
| 8 | 50.5 - 55.5 weeks/ 11 month Sleep Regression & 12 month Sleep Regression | Independence, exploration | Creating routines, role-playing |
| 9 | 59.5 - 64.5 weeks/ 13 month Sleep Regression & 14month Sleep Regression | Testing boundaries, problem-solving | Understanding rules, complex problem-solving |
| 10 | 70.5 - 75.5 weeks/ 16 month Sleep Regression & 17month Sleep Regression | Assertion of independence, system understanding | Managing systems, complex associations |
Categories of Development and Their Impact on Baby Sleep Regression
Motor Development
Milestones: Rolling over, sitting, crawling, walking.
Impact on Sleep: Your baby might wake up to practice these new skills, leading to more night awakenings and shorter naps, often contributing to baby sleep regression.
Cognitive Development
Language Acquisition: When your baby starts babbling or saying their first words, they might have more vivid dreams, causing night wakings.
Object Permanence: Around 6-9 months, babies learn that things and people still exist even if they can’t see them, leading to anxiety and potential sleep regression.
Emotional Development
Separation Anxiety: Peaking around 9-18 months, this can cause significant sleep disturbances as your baby seeks comfort.
Independence and Autonomy: As toddlers assert their independence, bedtime resistance and night awakenings can increase, marking another sleep regression stage.
Social Development
Awareness of Social Interactions: As children become more socially aware, sleep can be disrupted by excitement or anxiety over social events.
Changes in Family Dynamics: Adjustments such as a new sibling can lead to disrupted sleep and potential baby sleep regression.
Strategies to Get Back on Track During Baby Sleep Regressions
Final Thoughts
Developmental leaps and sleep regressions can be exhausting and frustrating, but understanding these stages can help you better support your child’s growth. As a Child Sleep Consultant in Ireland, I remind parents that if your baby has been sleeping well overall, these disruptions are usually short-lived. Your routine will get back on track before you know it.
If your child hasn’t been sleeping well for an extended period and you need support, book a free 15-minute Sleep Assessment call with me to see how I can help.
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