Most parents have heard of sleep regressions, but fewer realize that these phases occur repeatedly during the first two years of life. Just as you start to feel like things are improving, your baby begins waking every hour, naps become unpredictable, and bedtime turns into a marathon.
While exhausting, these regressions are signs that your baby is growing in all the right ways. They reflect developmental leaps, increased awareness, and rapid neurological progress. That is why understanding when they typically occur and how to respond can ease your stress and support your child through the disruption.
What Is a Sleep Regression?
A sleep regression is a temporary period when a baby or toddler who was sleeping relatively well suddenly experiences disrupted sleep. This might include:
- More frequent night wakings
- Shortened or refused naps
- Increased fussiness at bedtime
- Clinginess or separation anxiety
These regressions are usually tied to developmental milestones and often show up just as your baby begins learning a new physical or cognitive skill.
The good news? Regressions are temporary. Most last anywhere from two to six weeks, depending on the baby and the circumstances. The not-so-good news? They are likely to happen more than once.
To see a detailed overview of each regression stage and how to handle it, visit this comprehensive baby sleep regression guide.
Major Sleep Regressions by Age
4-Month Regression
Why It Happens: This is the first major sleep regression and one of the most difficult. At around four months, your baby’s brain begins to shift from newborn sleep patterns to more mature sleep cycles. That means shorter stretches of deep sleep and more frequent light sleep phases.
Signs to Expect:
- Frequent night wakings
- Short naps (20 to 45 minutes)
- Fussiness during feeds or bedtime
What Helps:
- Begin a consistent bedtime routine
- Introduce “drowsy but awake” to help baby practice self-settling
- Offer plenty of daytime comfort
This regression marks a permanent change in sleep structure, so adjustments to your routines may be needed.
8 to 10-Month Regression
Why It Happens: This regression often coincides with big physical leaps like crawling, pulling to stand, and cruising. At the same time, babies begin to develop object permanence, which can trigger separation anxiety.
Signs to Expect:
- Increased clinginess
- Standing in the crib instead of sleeping
- Nap protests or bedtime resistance
What Helps:
- Allow plenty of time during the day to practice new motor skills
- Offer extra reassurance and presence at bedtime
- Stick to familiar routines, even if they feel less effective temporarily
The Sleep Foundation emphasizes that this stage is emotionally driven as much as it is physical (source).
12-Month Regression
Why It Happens: Around the first birthday, babies are often transitioning from two naps to one. At the same time, walking, pointing, and first words start to emerge, which can overstimulate the brain and interfere with rest.
Signs to Expect:
- Resistance to the second nap
- Early morning wakings
- Increased mobility and wakefulness during the night
What Helps:
- Resist rushing the nap transition. Many babies still need two naps until 14 to 15 months
- Use blackout curtains and white noise to prevent early wakeups
- Maintain a relaxing bedtime routine
18-Month Regression
Why It Happens: This stage is often fueled by emotional development. Toddlers are becoming more independent, testing limits, and experiencing a deeper fear of separation. They may also begin teething again with the arrival of molars.
Signs to Expect:
- Nighttime wakeups accompanied by crying
- Nap refusal
- Separation anxiety at bedtime
What Helps:
- Offer connection and routine rather than discipline
- Allow extra wind-down time before naps or bedtime
- Use comfort objects if safe for your child’s age
Dr. Jodi Mindell, a pediatric sleep expert, notes that at this age, emotional regulation is still under construction. Toddlers need support, not pressure (source).
24-Month Regression
Why It Happens: By age two, toddlers are imaginative, opinionated, and more physically capable. This regression may involve resistance to sleep because of increased independence, fear of missing out, or vivid dreams.
Signs to Expect:
- Bedtime delays or tantrums
- Nightmares or night terrors
- Power struggles at naptime
What Helps:
- Set clear, loving boundaries with predictable routines
- Offer two bedtime choices to give your toddler a sense of control
- Use visual timers or sleep cues to help transition to rest
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends using visual bedtime charts or simple routines to reduce pushback and build healthy habits (AAP).
Supporting Yourself Through Regressions
Sleep regressions are not only tough on babies — they are hard on parents too. The unpredictability, exhaustion, and pressure to “solve” sleep can leave you feeling drained.
Here are a few reminders:
- Sleep regressions are normal
- Your child is not broken
- You are not doing anything wrong
- Regressions are often followed by a leap in ability or understanding
If you need a roadmap to help make sense of it all, this expert guide on baby sleep regressions explains every stage in more detail and offers gentle tools for navigating each one.
Final Thoughts: Regressions Are a Sign of Growth
Sleep setbacks are hard, especially when they follow a stretch of good rest. But every regression is a clue that your baby’s brain and body are changing in powerful ways.
When your child wakes more often, fights naps, or becomes clingier at night, it is not a sign that they are going backward. It is a sign that they are stepping forward into a new stage.
Support, patience, and consistency will get you both through it. And when the dust settles, you may be surprised to find that sleep — like your baby — is stronger than before.
