Baby Sleep Regressions: Milestones That Disrupt Sleep

Yes, developmental milestones in the first year can temporarily disrupt sleep. Let’s explore how these changes affect your baby and what you can do to support them during this time.

Motor Milestones

When babies develop new motor skills, such as rolling, crawling, or standing, they often want to practice them constantly, even during sleep. They may also become frustrated if they get “stuck” in a position they can’t yet adjust independently.

What You Can Do:

• Prioritize daytime awake time for movement and motor skill practice.
• Help your baby develop the motor skills that they are finding challenging (rolling from belly to back) so they can do this independently at night.
• Floor time is the best way to offer these opportunities for early mobile babies. Older infants and toddlers will benefit from practice with moving from sitting to laying down and standing to sitting.

Cognitive Milestones

Around 4 months, babies become more aware of their surroundings, which can be overwhelming for babies that have a Sensory Sensitive Profile. By 6-9 months, they develop object permanence, realizing you exist even when out of sight, which can cause distress at bedtime.

What You Can Do:

• Notice if your younger baby is overwhelmed by stimulation through the day and provide a calming “runway” prior to sleep time. This means dimming lights, lowering noise, and creating a more calm environment overall before bedtime routine starts.
• Your older baby will learn a lot from playing peek-a-boo and encouraging short periods independent play during the day to build their confidence and work through the normal developmental stage of separation anxiety.

Teething

Teething can disrupt sleep, especially during the phase when gums swell before a tooth erupts.

What You Can Do:

• Offer comfort with appropriate pain management (consult your healthcare provider).
• Provide extra support and soothing. Once their discomfort subsides, return to your usual sleep routines.
• Provide firm teething toys to mouth and chomp on during the day to ease discomfort and support the tooth coming through the gum.

While any or all of these developmental disruptions may feel challenging, they are temporary and reflect your baby’s incredible growth. With patience and proactive strategies, you can help your baby through these phases and maintain healthy sleep habits.

When to Worry About Your Baby's Sleep

Most milestone-related sleep disruptions resolve within 2 to 6 weeks. Speak with your child's healthcare provider if you notice:

• Sleep difficulties that persist beyond 6 weeks despite consistent routines
• Loud snoring, mouth breathing, or pauses in breathing during sleep
• Significant weight loss or feeding difficulty alongside the sleep disruption
• Unusual movements, stiffening, or behaviors during sleep
• Excessive daytime sleepiness or difficulty rousing your baby
• A baby who has stopped meeting expected developmental milestones

These signs may point to underlying conditions like obstructive sleep apnea, reflux, or a developmental concern that benefits from medical evaluation.

Frequently asked questions about baby sleep regressions

What ages are sleep regressions most common?
Sleep regressions most commonly occur around 4 months, 6 months, 8 to 9 months, and 12 months. Each is typically tied to a specific developmental milestone: increased awareness around 4 months, motor leaps like crawling around 6 to 9 months, and walking around 12 months. The 4-month regression is often the most challenging because it coincides with a permanent change in your baby's sleep architecture.

How long does a sleep regression last?
Most milestone-related sleep regressions resolve within 2 to 6 weeks once your baby has integrated the new skill. Teething disruptions typically last only a few days around the eruption of each tooth. If sleep difficulties persist beyond 6 weeks, it is worth speaking with your child's healthcare provider to rule out other causes.

Should I sleep train during a regression?
Most pediatric sleep specialists recommend pausing new sleep training while a regression is active and your baby is genuinely uncomfortable or overwhelmed. Continue the routines and habits you have already established, offer extra support, and resume any new training once the regression has passed and your baby has stabilized.

Is it a sleep regression or something else?
True milestone-related regressions are temporary and resolve within weeks. Persistent sleep difficulty, loud snoring, pauses in breathing, significant feeding difficulty, or a baby who is missing developmental milestones may indicate something other than a regression and warrant medical evaluation. Trust your instincts and speak with your child's healthcare provider when in doubt.

References

1. Atun-Einy O, Scher A. Sleep disruption and motor development: Does pulling-to-stand impact sleep-wake regulation? *Infant Behavior and Development*. 2016;42:36–44. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.infbeh.2015.11.002

2. Kelmanson IA. Separation anxiety and bedtime resistance in eight-month-old infants. *Early Child Development and Care*. 2012;182(11):1455–1464. https://doi.org/10.1080/03004430.2011.622756

3. Ramos-Jorge J, Pordeus I, Ramos-Jorge M, Paiva S. Prospective longitudinal study of signs and symptoms associated with primary tooth eruption. *Pediatrics*. 2011;128(3):471–476. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2010-3606

4. Appleyard K, Schaughency E, Taylor B, Sayers R, Haszard J, Lawrence J, Taylor R, Galland B. Sleep and sensory processing in infants and toddlers: A cross-sectional and longitudinal study. *American Journal of Occupational Therapy*. 2020;74(6):7406205010p1–7406205010p12. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2020.038182

This article is educational and is not medical advice. Please discuss your child's specific sleep concerns with their healthcare provider. See our full Legal Disclaimer.