Sleep Regression or Sleep Progression?
Oh, the joys of parenthood! Just as you think you've finally cracked the code to a peaceful night's sleep, your little one throws you a curveball…
You’ve probably heard of or even refer to the term “sleep regression,” noting the period of time where your babe seems to be taking a “dip” in their usual sleep habits. But what if I told you that this is actually a sleep progression?
What is a sleep “progression?”
Often referred to as a sleep “regression,” here at Pink Moon Sleep, I opt to call it by its more appropriate name: the sleep progression.
Why, you ask? While sleep progressions are challenging in the moment and can seem like a totally backwards move in terms of your baby’s sleep journey, they are actually reflecting a HUGE leap in your baby’s development and sleep patterns. Exciting, right?!
Your little one is constantly navigating growth spurts, new skills and developmental milestones, all of which take a lot of energy, which can often be reflected in their sleep. This is where the sleep progression can show its face.
A sleep progression is classified as a change in your baby’s usual sleep patterns, usually showing up as a “dip” or “regress” in their usual sleep routines.
So, how do you know if you’re experiencing a sleep progression?
Before we dive in on how to survive the sleep progression, let’s take a look at the classic signs to look out for.
Signs of a sleep progression
Sleep progressions show their face in different ways for different children and at different stages of development. However, their are common tell tale signs that your little one may be experiencing a sleep progression as opposed to a newly formed sleep habit.
Remember: sleep progressions can be little blips or full blown events.
Whether your little one is experiencing a few nights of rough sleep or it has been weeks of hardship, sleep progressions look different for every child and may look different as they continue to grow as well.
Here are some general signs that your little one might be going through a sleep progression:
Trouble falling asleep
Frequent night wakings
Shorter and irregular naps
Increased “clinginess”
Working on or mastering a new skill (crawling, standing, walking etc.)
Going through a growth spurt (frequent feedings, teething etc.)
If you are noticing any of these signs (especially a combination of them), then your baby might jsut be experiencing a sleep progression.
When to expect a sleep progression
Every child is different and they all develop new skills and reach their milestones at different times. Many of the parents I work with see perhaps the biggest “dip” in sleep around the 8-10 month mark, which makes sense as your little one is navigating A LOT of new skills around this age! However, this looks different for everyone.
The most common ages where we see a sleep progression include:
6-8 weeks
4 months
6 months
8 months
10 months
12 months
18 months
22-24 months
2.5 years
I know, this looks like a LOT of potential opportunities for a sleep progression and can be overwhelming as a new parent! But trust me when I say that it is really not worth stressing over. I offer this list here as a reference point if you start to notice a sudden blip in your baby’s sleep. Remember, your child may reach a sleep progression a little earlier, later or may skip over it entirely. Everyone is different!
How to survive (and thrive) during a sleep progression
I know that these moments, days, or even weeks can be so exhausting, but there are so many things we can do to support our little ones as they navigate this new stage of development! At the end of the day, remember that this is a progression and an incredible time for growth and development for your little love! Keeping that in mind, let’s talk about a few strategies for surviving the sleep progression.
1. Rule out health concerns
There is a lot of hype around sleep progressions, so much so that underlying health concerns are sometimes missed. For young babies especially, health concerns including tongue ties, feeding difficulties, airway issues, and other discomforts can go undiagnosed during the early months as many parents often assume that they are just going through a sleep progression. Do make sure you are consulting with your health care provider with any health related concerns first and foremost.
2. Offer opportunity to practice their new skills
Because sleep progressions are directly linked with developmental progressions, it is SO important to give them PLENTY of practice time during the day to work on their newfound skills. Whether you have a 6-month-old working on crawling or a 12-month-old mastering their walk, offer them opportunities throughout the day for them to practice these new milestones. This can also help discourage them from feeling the need to practice when it is time for bed!
3. Spend time outside
There are so many benefits to spending time in nature for us and our little ones, including aiding in sleep! Being out in nature and being exposed to natural sunlight can help regulate baby’s circadian and boost serotonin levels, the precursor to melatonin production.
3. Check your sleepy cues and wake windows
Remember that wake windows are generalized and different children have different sleep needs. While I think wake windows can be really helpful as a jumping off point, I would encourage you to lean more on your baby’s sleepy cues.
Because the signs of a sleep progression include shorter naps, difficulty settling etc., many parents think that their child needs less overall sleep and try shortening or dropping a nap all together. If you are experiencing any of these signs of a sleep progression, I encourage your to first check your wake windows and know the amount of total day sleep they should be getting for their age range (remembering that this is just a guide and your kiddo may need a bit more or a little less than the “average”). Taking away sleep that they need can cause even more sleep disruptions from overtiredness, which we definitely want to avoid!
During a sleep progression, I am often asked, “Rhaine, do you think my baby is ready to drop a nap?” or “Should we just push bedtime later so that they are more tired?” In this particular circumstance, the answer is almost always no. Instead, we want to double check your baby’s wake windows and gradually adjust them if needed.
4. Filtering in sleep associations and establishing routine
One of the first things I look at as a holistic sleep coach are your child’s sleep associations. I am a big supporter of layering MORE sleep associations as opposed to “taking them away.” I like to remind parents and caregivers here that:
not all sleep props, habits or associations are inherently “bad.”
The problem arises if and when your baby is unable to fall or stay asleep on their own without the sleep prop AND (I can’t emphasize this enough) you feel the need for change. For example, feeding or rocking to sleep may have worked well for you and your baby for some time, but now baby is frequently waking through the night and is unable to resettle without your assistance AND you are feeling ready for a change.
The 2 most common sleep associations that can lead to more disruptive sleep patterns are:
Feeding to sleep
Rocking to sleep
I cannot emphasize enough that
There is absolutely nothing wrong with feeding or rocking to sleep!
Again, if you are noticing a dip in your baby’s sleep patterns AND you are ready for change, you may consider gradually moving away from feeding or rocking to sleep and layering in more sleep associations into your routine that will help your little one develop and feel more confident in their independent sleep skills, such as:
Including your child in the routine (turning off lights, closing curtains, choosing books etc.)
Adding in white noise
Consider using blackout curtains or Slumberpod
Introducing a lovey (if age appropriate)
These are just a few examples that you can layer in as a part of your regular calming routine!
5. Take care of yourself
While a sleep progression can show up as just a little blip that barely made an impact, this can be a really overwhelming, stressful and exhausting time for others. If you are struggling, I invite you to pause and check-in with yourself. Be really honest with yourself about how you are feeling so that you can practice some calming exercises/strategies so that you are better able to co-regulate and be there for your little one. Communicate with your partner(s) and other family members or caregivers about where you are at, how you are feeling, and what you need from each other to support your child.
You absolutely do NOT have to worry about a sleep progression and when or if it might be happening for your baby. You are likely here because you want to be prepared or maybe you are in the throws of a sleep progression right now and you need solutions (like yesterday). Wherever you are at in your parenting journey,
take a deep breath and remember that it's a temporary phase and you are the best support person to help your little love gradually transition back to their regular sleep patterns.
6. Consider additional support
Know that sleep progressions usually last anywhere from 2-4 weeks, and while it is possible for them to resolve “on their own,” if the pattern is continuing for more than 2 weeks it may be a new formed sleep habit and might be time to consider additional support.
Whether you choose to work with a 1:1 sleep coach like myself, take a sleep training course, download a free sleep guide, or have a support network to lean on, trust your gut and find the best option that fits your parenting style and feels like a good fit!
Is it time for more support?
Whether you are in the middle of a seemingly endless sleep progression or you are looking for a more personalized solution to support your little one as they navigate healthy sleep routines, give me a call! You can always book a completely free, no obligation sleep assessment with me and talk things through before diving in.
Sweet dreams,
♡ Rhaine
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