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Sleep regressions suck. There’s no better way to put it. If you haven’t been through one yet, don’t worry. You’re not missing anything good. They are exhausting. They lead to irritable parents. They lead to irritable kids. Here’s a few tips to make them better.
- Set a routine. Babies are creatures of habit. Get a bedtime routine going and stick to it. Routines at night clue your baby in to the fact that it is almost time to go to sleep. This really isn’t any different than brushing your teeth before bed as an adult or changing into clothes for bed. The routine is a chance for baby to wind down and prepare for bed. It doesn’t have to be a long, complex routine either. Keep it easy for both of you. Make it a short bath, some fresh clothes, and a bottle. Bam! Night night.
- Daily schedules are just bigger routines that last all day. If baby is getting up a lot at night, time to reevaluate their schedule for the day. Sometimes too much activity or not enough naps leads to babies being overtired. As odd as this sounds, they can get too tired to sleep. This leads to one crabassy bundle of joy who can’t sleep and is pissed at that fact. Some babies are actually ready for an earlier bedtime, especially if they are on the move now. All that extra activity adds up and tires them out faster.
- Rethink the bedroom. As babies grow up, they become more aware of their surroundings. There may be something in the nursury that isn’t sitting right with them. From noises to lights, consider all possibilities for what may be making them uncomfortable. Some babies become more sensitive to light and will no longer sleep in a bright room. Others need some soft noise to rest comfortably.
Above all, remember that sleep regressions are temporary. They don’t last forever, even if it seems like it when you are in the middle of one. They usually line up with some sort of breakthrough. Your baby’s brain is working hard trying to learn how to do important stuff like sit up, crawl, walk, etc. Sometimes they just can’t shut it off easily. Once baby figures out that new skill, their sleep schedule will return to normal, or at least a new normal. Hopefully these tips will help you get everyone back to a good sleeping schedule soon!
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