Many people face the problem of sleep regression in their babies during their early development for 6 months. Parents notice a change in the sleep pattern of their baby. Even when your baby was a good sleeper, they suddenly face a challenge in their sleeping routine. This regression is difficult to handle for parents, but it is part of their growth and development. In this blog, you will learn about the causes, signs, and solutions of 6-month sleep regression.
What Is the 6-Month Sleep Regression?
It is a time period when your baby has small naps and mid time waking. It is because your baby is growing fast, and it remains active all the time. That is why, at night, babies have difficulty sleeping due to an active brain. As they grow up, they learn new skills, and they start crawling and playing with things around them. Sometimes it may be due to teething or something that makes your baby uncomfortable. To overcome this phase of the baby’s life, maintain their sleeping routine.
Why Does Sleep Regression Happen at 6 Months?
Sleep regression occurs at 6 months due to the progress in growth and changes in the sleeping routine. Babies are at their growing and learning stage, and they learn to roll, crawl, sit, and play with their surroundings. This makes their brain active and energized. Some babies face teething pain, and some of them face separation anxiety from their parents when they sleep at night. This is also the reason that your baby faces difficulty sleeping at night. The 6 month’s sleep regression occurs for many reasons.
- Growth spurts
- Illness
- Distraction in eating
- Change in sleep routine
- Cognitive leaps
- Change in environment
- Disturbed routine
Signs Your Baby Is Going Through Sleep Regression
- Difficulty falling asleep: Some babies can not sleep easily, they need more time to fall asleep at night. This decreases their nap time and makes them restless all day.
- Frequent nighttime awakenings: After putting them in bed, they awake and start playing or crying. This disturbs their sleep, and their sleep cycle is disturbed. Some tiredness is the reason.
- Irritability upon waking: Disrupted sleep occurs during 4 month sleep regression. It can increase irritability among babies. They are unable to sleep because of excessive crying.
- Reduced total sleep time: Excessive crying, playing, and midnight irritation reduced their total sleep time. During the day and nighttime, the baby’s feeding pattern was also disturbed during the month of sleep regression.
- Changes in appetite: Babies spend more time playing, and ignore their feeding pattern at daytime. They may want to feed more, especially at night, and nap time decreases.
- Fussing and crying: At a growing age, babies experience teething problems or some digestive issues. These health issues disrupt sleep.
How Long Does the 6-Month Sleep Regression Last?
6 month old sleep regression in babies lasts for two to six weeks. Sleep regression ages vary in babies. Some babies face sleep regression for 1 week, and some of them have 6 month sleep regression, which lasts for 1 month or more. This phase is temporary, and it is a sign of healthy development as babies learn new skills, such as crawling. To overcome this phase quickly, you have to maintain a sleeping habit and stay consistent with it. Sleep pattern returns to normal as the baby becomes used to their new skills.
Common sleep regression ages
| Age | Common contributing factors |
|---|---|
| 3 – 4 months | Biological change in the baby’s sleep architecture |
| 7 – 10 months | Developmental milestones, teething, transitioning to two naps, separation anxiety |
| 14 – 18 months | Transition to 1 daily nap, developmental milestones, testing boundaries and independence |
| 2 years | Need for a schedule adjustment, pushing limits, two-year molars |
Effective Tips to Manage Sleep Regression
- Maintain a consistent bedtime routine
Before bedtime, it is important to create a relaxing environment, like a warm bath or a gentle massage. This can help your baby to sleep better. - Practice new skills during the day
6 month sleep regression is linked to learning new skills. Your baby learn new and active skills. It is good for the baby’s physical health. The baby plays and spends time playing while awakening. - Create an ideal sleep environment
Create an environment that is comfortable for your baby. Use curtains to block sunlight and provide your baby with noise free environment. A cool and dark room gives your baby restful sleep. - Adjust wake windows and nap schedule
Always check your baby’s waking and napping schedule. There must be a gap of 2 to 3 hours between each nap. Otherwise, your baby becomes overtired and faces worse night waking. - Address nighttime feedings
Feed your baby with excess calories. It can decrease night hunger and break the night feeding habit. In this way, your baby can get healthy sleep. - Manage separation anxiety
It can cause nighttime crying in your baby. During waking at night, give them cuddles and relax them with your words, which is helpful for the baby’s sleep pattern at night.
Conclusion
6 month old sleep regression is a temporary but recoverable stage in every baby’s life, caused by cognitive and learning skills. This is a challenging phase for parents to maintain their sleep routine, create a calm environment for babies, and feed them timely. Your baby can recover to normal life gradually. For this, parents should make changes in their baby’s life and schedule their every routine.
FAQs
How long does 4 Month sleep regression last?
This 4-month sleep regression can last for 2 to weeks. Sleep regression ages are not the same for all babies. Some babies get relief in just 1 to 2 weeks. By establishing a consistent routine, your baby can recover easily.
How long does 6 month sleep regression last?
6 month sleep regression lasts for a short period of time as compared to 4 month sleep regression. It sometimes lasts for maybe a week only.
How do I fix my baby’s sleep regression?
To fix the sleep regression, ensure to provide your baby with a regular sleep pattern, provide them with a comfortable environment, and feed them timely.
Does sleep regression end naturally?
Yes, it is a temporary phase and can be ended easily after a week or a month. After a duration of almost 1 month, it can be the end by itself. Except for 4 month regression, its changes are permanent.
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