And do they all count? Let’s clear it up.
You finally feel like you’ve cracked the sleep code—your baby is going down easily, nights are manageable, and you’re no longer in full-on zombie mode. Then out of nowhere… boom. Naps fall apart. They’re waking more often at night. Everything feels upside down again. Yep, it could be a sleep regression—or what I like to call a “sleep wobble.”
Let’s unpack what’s really going on, so you feel equipped (not overwhelmed) when sleep takes a turn.
💤 When do sleep regressions happen?
You’ve probably heard about sleep regressions happening at 4 months, 8–10 months, 12 months, 18 months, and 2 years. But here’s the thing:
🔑 Only the 4-month regression is rooted in a true biological shift.
At around 4 months, your baby’s sleep actually changes. They move from newborn-style sleep (which is mostly deep and disconnected from external noise/stimuli) to a more mature sleep structure, with distinct sleep cycles—light, deep, light, wake. Just like us. That means they’re now more likely to wake at the end of each cycle, especially if they don’t yet know how to drift back off independently.
The other ages? Those “regressions” are more about developmental leaps—crawling, separation anxiety, language bursts. Sleep disruption often tags along with those changes, but it’s not because of a shift in how your baby sleeps. So I like to call them blips rather than regressions.
🧐 What does a sleep regression look like?
Every baby is different. Some breeze through with barely a wobble, others hit bumps that really throw the whole family off. You might notice:
- More frequent night wakes (even if they were sleeping well before)
- Fighting naps or bedtime
- Shorter naps (like, suddenly 30–45 minutes)
- Waking after just one sleep cycle (both day and night)
- Early morning wakes (hello, 5am…)
🧠 What’s actually happening at Four months?
Before this stage, your baby could easily sink into long stretches of deep sleep. Now, their brain is maturing and sleep becomes lighter and more cyclical. That means they’re waking up more often—and if they’re used to being helped to sleep (rocking, feeding, contact), they might need that same help to get back to sleep again.
This doesn’t mean you’ve done anything wrong. It just means they haven’t yet learned how to connect those sleep cycles on their own. You can absolutely continue helping them to sleep if that’s working for you. But if the wake-ups are starting to take a toll, this could be a good time to start gently building in some self-settling skills.
🌙 How do I help my baby learn to self settle?
There’s no one right way to do this. What matters most is choosing an approach that feels good and doable for your family.
Some parents prefer to stay close by and offer hands-on reassurance. Others feel comfortable with more step-back methods. Both are valid. What matters is that you’re consistent and confident in whatever you choose. With my sleep support packages, I guide and support families through the sleep training process, teaching them the proven techniques that have helped countless children transform from up-all-night sleep thief’s, into the best sleepers around!
The key to lasting change? Customising your approach to your baby’s temperament, your parenting style, and your capacity right now.
✨ The bottom line?
Sleep regressions (or blips!) are normal, temporary, and survivable—even when they feel never-ending in the moment. Your baby isn’t broken. You’re not doing anything wrong. This is a phase of development, not a forever problem.
Need help figuring out what’s right for your little one? You don’t have to guess your way through it. Book a call with me and let’s make a plan together.