Writing about what sleep regression (SR) is is the most personal experience that I can relate to. I mean ever since I have embraced motherhood sleep regression has been my all-time companion. Since my elder two sons have started school I am getting much better sleep than before but I believe my weekends are working days and working days are weekends. It is because the best and most peaceful sleep I get is after sending them to school.
Thank GOD my youngest son is a sleepy head like me too so he is not giving me any tough time. So here is to all my sleepless nights with a fussy baby about who I could never figure out what was wrong. Here this blog is all about SR and my personal experience as a mum of three.
What is Sleep Regression
Sleep regression is a phase or stage in the baby’s development. During this particular phase the baby stops sleeping. It is a period of change in the baby’s sleep patterns.Keep in mind that the term sleep regression is used exclusively for babies.
According to experts the SR phase in babies is divided into six phases. These six phases refer to six different age groups such as:
4, 6, 8 , 12, 18 and 24 months old.
The medical causes of SR do not have much research back. However a lot of studies suggest that SR in children might be because of:
- The urge to become more independent
- Developmental milestones such as teething, crawling and sitting etc
- When the child’s brain and body are in the process of learning new skills
How long does Sleep Regression Last
Now that you have got all the answers about what SR is, the next phase is about knowing how long this phase lasts.
Honestly my personal opinion is that when it’s about kids there is NO FIXED TIME PERIOD for anything. SR is part of those things. I have experienced SR with my middle child and believe me it took 2 years for him to have a proper bedtime routine.
For the first six months he was a very good sleeper. After all these years I have come to know that what kept him awake during all those nights was actually SR. I had tried everything. From full bed time meals to massages and hot baths but EVERYTHING FAILED!
The consensus however is that SR lasts for two to four weeks (although I don’t agree). Best of luck with yours!
How long does 4 month Sleep Regression Last
When we talk about 4 month sleep regression we cannot say that 4 months is fixed. In babies it can come one month before and even after the fourth month as well. However 4 month sleep regression is the first phase of sleep regression.
What you should expect from babies during 4 month old SR is that they will sleep more like adults and less like babies. This is the first time that you can observe an alteration in their sleeping patterns.
6 Month Sleep Regression
The reasons behind 6 month sleep regression are different.6 months is the peak time a child starts showing developmental changes. He begins to sit, tries to crawl, his hand grip increases etc. Therefore sleep regression during this phase is quite common.
My second born also started showing signs of sleep regression when he was 6 months old. I remember how he woke up in the middle of the night and wanted everyone else to stay awake with him as well.
Why?
Most of the time he was hungry. He would always eat himself and he never encouraged spoon feeding. Till date he is very headstrong. So he would sleep without a proper dinner and the wild man woke up hungry. Later it became his habit to have several milk bottles at night.
This is the reason with the majority of kids. They wake up because they are hungry. A lot of kids are solely on breastfeeding and their eating requirements are not met with milk alone. Therefore they couldn’t have a proper sleep routine at night.
18 Month Sleep Regression
The 18 month sleep regression phase is quite a mature one. During this time the child is more than a year old. He or she SHOULD have a proper sleep routine and let their parents, especially mothers, sleep with peace.
Unfortunately I can personally relate that once you become a mother the dearest thing you compromise for your children is your SLEEP
During the 8 month sleep regression the main reason behind toddlers waking up is SEPARATION ANXIETY. This is especially true in case your child has been co-sleeping with you for a longer period of time. I have tolerated the sleep regression phase in almost every age. My elder sons used to wake up and come into my room whenever they wanted while they were both going to school. Reasons? Separation anxiety. It took them almost 3-4 months to get comfortable with their room and surroundings.
My Two Cents
In this blog I addressed almost every query regarding sleep regression. Yet there might still be many questions unanswered. If you have any queries or questions you are most welcome to share in the comments section.
My two cents are that be it sleep regression or any other developmental phase of a child’s life remember that kids are after all kids. As a parent you should also learn. I wasn’t educated on a lot of kid’s related things and that is why I am sharing my thoughts and experiences on LOVE MOMMY!