Baby sleep regression: What's behind the difficult nights?

Has your baby already slept through the night or slept for several hours at a time and is now suddenly waking up again and refusing to take a nap? It's quite possible that this is a sleep regression. This refers to a period of poor sleep in a baby or toddler, which usually occurs in the first two years of life.

Sleep regression in babies occurs in several phases, the so-called 4-month sleep regression is particularly well known. But what is behind it? Why does sleep regression occur in your baby in the first place? And is there anything parents can do during this difficult phase? We have summarized the answers to these and many other questions for you in this article.

What is a sleep regression?

The term sleep regression describes different phases in your baby's life that can occur at around 4, 8, 12 and 18 months. During this time, your baby suddenly sleeps noticeably worse than before, even though they may have already slept through the night - their sleep behavior suddenly changes. Your child then has great difficulty falling asleep and waking up at night is not uncommon: sometimes they even wake up every hour. A lot of time can pass before they fall asleep again and the lack of sleep also affects you as parents.

And in general, your baby has problems finding rest during these sleep regression phases and regulating themselves. This can be quite grueling for parents, but also for the baby. However, the good news is that sleep regression is only a phase of poor sleep in a particular month of life, not a permanent condition.

Sleep regression phase: progress, not regression

Since "regression" means regression, the term is actually not entirely accurate. Although the sleep rhythm worsens again, your child actually makes great progress in terms of development during these sleep deprivation phases. Sleep regression usually occurs with an enormous growth and development spurt.

Your child learns new motor and cognitive skills - and more than they can absorb at once. This is because the newly learned information is stored in long-term memory during sleep. In addition, babies often try to repeat and practise the newly learned movements in their sleep. All of this then sometimes manifests itself in changed sleeping habits or your baby may even have real sleep problems. Sometimes a baby's sleep regression is exacerbated by teething.

In such restless phases, the spring cradle from swing2sleep can help you. You place your baby in your hammock, where he or she lies snuggled up in the womb. This feeling of safety and security can help your baby to calm itself down and relax into sleep. This makes our miracle cradle a great help during sleep regression.

How does sleep regression manifest itself in babies & toddlers?

If your newborn baby suddenly sleeps less well, this is not a cause for concern, but rather a sign that your baby is developing well. However, if you are unsure whether this is a phase of sleep regression, check your child's behavior for these three typical signs and changes:

• Difficulty falling asleep: The process of falling asleep is prolonged during the day and in the evening and your child has problems settling down or falling asleep. If your baby has already developed the ability to fall asleep on their own, this may have changed again. Your baby is also looking for more closeness to you parents and is showing separation anxiety.
• Frequent waking up: Your child no longer sleeps through the night and wakes up more frequently at night. They may only sleep for 60 to 90 minutes at a time. Your baby suddenly no longer likes naps either, they may be shorter or even completely absent.
• Severe restlessness: Your baby is fidgeting and kicking a lot, is more fussy and grumpy than you are used to from your little one and cries more often. This is the result of poor sleep.

How long does an episode of sleep regression last?

Well, unfortunately the answer is not that simple. Because the old adage also applies here: every child is different. Some babies can sleep wonderfully again after just a few days, while for others it takes a little longer for the brain to get used to the changes in the body.

The duration of the sleep regression also depends on the age of your little one. For example, the phase of poor sleep at around 4 months of age is significantly shorter than all other phases: around two to six weeks. Therefore, keep in mind when a sleep regression can occur. However, the monthly figures are only guidelines. Of course, the individual development of your little one plays a major role.

Do you think your baby is in a sleep regression phase? Using the swing2sleep has already worked wonders for many babies. Our miracle cradle offers your baby a cozy nest and rocks them to sleep with gentle movements. This helps your baby to fall asleep more easily and also promotes sleeping through the night. If your baby finds it difficult to settle down, the snugness of the cuddly hammock will have a positive effect on their state of mind.

4-month sleep regression

• The first growth spurt is imminent
• Baby learns to turn from tummy to back and vice versa and practices this during sleep - a new sleep pattern develops
• Babies refine their motor skills, learn to grasp, the oral phase also begins
• Sleep phases and deep sleep phases gradually become longer, which is unusual for your baby - this could be the reason for your little one's sleep problems during the transition to the next sleep phase

8-month sleep regression:

• Gross motor skills deepen, your baby learns to crawl and pull themselves up independently
• It now recognizes animals, people and things - and divides them into categories
• Your child also learns certain sequences and routines in their daily routine
• All of this results in poorer and restless sleep

12-month sleep regression:

• Your child learns to associate things, such as making animal sounds when they are pictured in a book
• Your baby may be making their first attempts at walking and is now actively crawling and pulling themselves up independently
• Your baby is teething for the first time, which also leads to poor sleep
• Separation anxiety is also occurring, for example when settling in

18-month sleep regression

• The toddler learns to see themselves as an individual and develops a sense of self
• "No" phase begins, your child recognizes that they have a mind of their own
• Vocabulary increases and your child now understands a lot of what you say
• Great urge to explore
• The first nightmares in your child's life occur during this phase

Sleep regression in babies: tips for parents

The bad news first: parents and babies usually just have to get through the sleep regression phases. After a few weeks, there is usually an improvement all by itself. A few things can also help:

1. A regular daily routine: Of course, you can't organize every day the same way. There are usually too many responsibilities and to-do's in everyday life. However, you should maintain certain regularities. The same rituals in the morning, the same bedtimes and a bedtime ritual in the evening - be it with a book, carrying, acupressure to fall asleep or a lullaby.
2. Create a healthy sleeping environment: This helps to make it easier to fall asleep, especially in the evening. Pay attention to dimmed lights, how you dress your baby at night and the temperature in the room. It's better to avoid distracting things in the crib, such as cuddly toys or a mobile.
3. Give closeness and be patient: During the sleep regression phase, your baby usually just needs you or you as parents. So cuddle together a lot and carry your child when they need it.
4. Rely on smart little helpers: The swing2sleep bassinet is ideal for daytime sleep in particular, as it rocks your child to sleep quickly and safely . And some parents also use our miracle cradle with its gentle up and down movements in the evening to get their child to fall asleep. Once they are in a deep sleep, your baby can be carefully transferred to the crib.

If your baby is suddenly plagued by frequent sleep problems and is in a sleep regression, you should respond to their needs in the best possible way. Our spring cradle not only helps during the 4-month sleep regression: whenever your baby has problems falling asleep, sleeping through the night or settling down, our miracle cradle can help.

Sleep deprivation is like torture: but it gets better

We know: It can be extremely nerve-wracking when your child's sleep phases are short again and the nights bring little rest. If your baby wakes up quickly, cries all night and can't get to sleep, it can be very stressful.

But the good news is that it will all pass. If you feel like you're in over your head when you're extremely exhausted, don't hesitate to get help. This is never a sign of weakness, but always a sign of self-care.