Sleep Regressions and What They’re All About

So you’re drifting through life with your 3 month old, and you’re thinking to yourself “hey, this parenting thing isn’t too shabby! I’ve got it all figured out.”

And then BAM!

The dreaded four month sleep regression appears.

Dun dun dunnnnnnn!

Okay, maybe it isn’t that sudden. Or maybe it is? Depends on your baby! But have no fear, we can help you get through the worst of it and come out the other end unscathed.

Photo by Helena Lopes on Unsplash

Okay, maybe it isn’t that sudden. Or maybe it is? Depends on your baby! But have no fear, we can help you get through the worst of it and come out the other end unscathed.

1)      So what exactly *is* a sleep regression?

A regression is when your child effectively “unlearns” a skill and no longer knows how to do something. It can come in many forms with different skills but in particular a “sleep regression” refers to a time when they go from sleeping for long periods to frequent wakings or difficulty falling asleep.

2)      Why does it happen around the 4-month mark?

Four months is typically when your child’s circadian rhythms will sync up and they’ll start to become tired in the evening and awake during the day. Previously, you might have found that once your child is asleep, they’ll just stay asleep, but now they might be less able to sleep longer period than they usually would be able to sleep. 

As well, you might also notice more frequent night wakings – this is also part of the regression! Humans typically go through more heavy sleep times and lighter sleep times, and babies need to learn how to put themselves back to sleep during these cycles. Believe it or not, sleeping is a learned skill.  

3)      What can we do about it?

The thing we always recommend is consistency. As sleep scheduling coaches, we firmly maintain that a strict schedule and boundaries around your child’s sleep patterns will help them stay on track as much as possible even when the regression hits. The more you keep with your routines, the better!

For more information about how to manage your child’s sleep regression, contact us over at Nighttime Heroes Sleep Schedule Coaching.