Just when you thought you'd cracked the code—bedtime routine set, naps running like clockwork, and finally a few blissful hours to yourself—it happens. Your baby stops sleeping. Or your toddler starts waking up like it’s a party at 2 a.m. again.
Welcome to the world of sleep regressions: one of the most frustratingly normal parts of raising small humans.
Let’s break down what’s happening, what to expect by age, and how to get through it without sacrificing your last nerve. Spoiler: You’re not doing anything wrong. Your kid is just growing up.
What Is a Sleep Regression, Really?
A sleep regression is a totally normal, temporary phase when a baby or toddler—who was sleeping well—suddenly starts waking more often, fighting bedtime, or refusing naps altogether. Sleep regressions typically last from 2 to 6 weeks and are often tied to big developmental leaps, growth spurts, or changes in your child’s environment.
Think of it as a brain upgrade: great in the long run, but glitchy in the short term
At What Ages Do Sleep Regressions Occur?
If you feel like sleep regressions keep coming back like a bad ex, you’re not wrong. Here are the most common ages when regressions hit:
In other words: if you're wondering whether your child is regressing... there's a good chance they are. Sleep regression ages don’t care if you just got used to sleeping again.
How Do I Know If It’s Sleep Regression?
Here are some classic sleep regression symptoms:
- Suddenly waking up multiple times at night
- Fighting naps or bedtime when they didn’t before
- Shorter naps, earlier wake-ups
- Extra clinginess, crankiness, or general gremlin behavior
- No signs of illness, but a major shift in sleep
If your child was sleeping well and is now a mess (but otherwise seems healthy), it’s probably a regression—not a sleep disaster of your own making.
A Quick Guide to the Regression Stages by Age
We asked Katie Sutcliffe, a Poppins Pediatric Nurse Practitioner and certified Pediatric Sleep Specialist, to break down the most common sleep regressions by age—and what’s actually going on behind all those late-night wakeups. Below, you’ll find a stage-by-stage guide to what’s normal, what to expect, and how to help your kid (and your sanity) get through it.
0–2 Months
Before we even get to the official regressions, let’s talk about the newborn phase. As Katie explains: “At this stage, babies are adjusting to life outside the womb and their sleep-wake cycle is still developing. Newborns spend much of their sleep in lighter stages (aka REM), which can cause frequent waking.”
Here’s what you can expect:
- What’s going on: While not technically a "regression", infant sleep patterns are irregular and unpredictable. Babies need to feed every few hours, and their bodies are still adjusting to night and day cycles. Translation: Life outside the womb is a lot.
- Symptoms: Frequent waking, short naps, irregular sleep.
- What helps: Keep the lights low at night, expose them to daylight during the day, and give it time. Again, this isn’t a regression so much as a full-system reboot.
4 Months
At 4 months, something big starts shifting beneath the surface of your baby’s sleep. As Katie explains: “Around 4 months, babies experience significant brain development, including changes in their sleep cycles. This marks the transition from newborn sleep, which is more fragmented, to a more adult-like sleep structure.” In other words, the frequent wakeups should give way to a full(ish) night sleep soon.
Here’s what to know:
- What’s going on: Babies are learning to consolidate sleep and may go through a period of "fighting" sleep because their sleep cycles are maturing. This is often when parents first notice more frequent night wakings or realize their baby suddenly needs extra help falling asleep.
- Symptoms: Frequent night wakings, shorter naps, harder time falling back asleep.
- What helps: Stick to routines, give them time to adjust, and start gently helping them learn to self-soothe.
8 Months
Mobility milestones and clinginess often collide around this age, creating the perfect storm for disrupted sleep. As Katie explains: “At this stage, babies are becoming more mobile (sitting, crawling, or standing) and are also developing separation anxiety. This developmental leap affects their ability to self-soothe and stay asleep.”
Here’s the breakdown:
- What’s going on: Crawling, pulling up, and "Where did Mom go?" panic. A perfect storm.
- Symptoms: Extra clinginess, fighting naps, early wake-ups, separation anxiety.
- What helps: Comfort them, keep routines steady, and try not to introduce new habits you don’t want to keep long-term (looking at you co-sleeping).
12 Months
By 12 months, your baby’s not just growing—they’re leveling up fast. As Katie points out: “At around a year, babies are becoming toddlers. In addition to mastering walking and other motor skills, language development is taking off, leading to more active minds and a greater awareness of the world around them. As they process the huge cognitive and motor milestones they’ve reached, it can affect their sleep.”
Here’s what you can expect:
- What’s going on: New motor skills and language skills are lighting up their brains—and keeping them up.
- Symptoms: Night wakings, nap refusals, sudden hunger or behavior shifts.
- What helps: Stay consistent with bedtime, offer comfort, and expect some protest. Their world just got a lot bigger.
18 Months
Around 18 months, sleep gets tangled up in big feelings, boundary-testing, and shifting nap schedules. According to Katie: “This regression is linked to emotional and behavioral developments, as well as the transition from two naps to potentially just one nap. Toddlers are learning how to handle bigger emotions, and the transition to fewer naps can disrupt their routine. Sleep cycles may also become more erratic as they test boundaries and deal with the frustrations of their new social and cognitive skills.”
Here’s what to know:
- What’s going on: Emotions are big. Naps may be shifting. And toddlers have opinions now—lots of them.
- Symptoms: More tantrums, early waking, and epic bedtime battles.
- What helps: Use a calming routine, offer limited choices (“Do you want this pajama or that one?”), and expect some pushback.
2 Years
The 2-year mark brings a surge in independence—and a matching resistance to sleep. Katie breaks it down like this: “Around 2 years old, kids start testing limits and developing more complex emotions, increased language development, and greater social awareness. This can lead to more resistance to sleep as they seek independence. They may also experience fears (e.g., fear of the dark or separation anxiety) that disrupt sleep.”
Here’s what you can expect:
- What’s going on: More language, more fears, and a surge in independence.
- Symptoms: Refusing sleep, waking up scared, ditching naps, testing boundaries.
- What helps: Nightlights, comfort items, and keeping a firm but loving routine. Avoid screen time close to bed.
3 Years
By age 3, your child’s imagination is in overdrive—which is great for playtime, but not so great for bedtime. As Katie explains: “At age 3, children are becoming more aware of their surroundings, and their imagination is running wild. This often leads to fear of things like monsters or bad dreams, and they may start to exhibit more separation anxiety or night terrors.”
Here’s the breakdown:
- What’s going on: Imagination takes off—so do fears of monsters, shadows, and separation.
- Symptoms: Nightmares, sleepwalking, bedtime resistance, clinginess.
- What helps: Validate fears, don’t feed them. “Monster spray” (aka water in a spray bottle) never hurt anybody.
4 Years
Sleep challenges don’t disappear at preschool age. In fact, 4-year-olds face their own unique set of disruptions. According to Katie: “Like at age 3, 4-year-olds may experience anxiety and vivid dreams. Their sleep may also be disrupted as they are adjusting to changes in their routine, like starting preschool or becoming more independent. Additionally, they might be transitioning from needing a nap to a nap-free schedule, which can disrupt their sleep.”
Here’s what to know:
- What’s going on: Preschool transitions, big emotions, and dropping naps can all throw sleep off.
- Symptoms: Night waking, trouble settling down, vivid dreams, general restlessness.
- What helps: Quiet wind-down time, consistent bedtime, and patience. This stage often needs more emotional support than discipline.
What’s the Hardest Sleep Regression?
Most parents vote for the 4-month regression, hands down. It’s the first major one, and it sticks. Your baby’s sleep cycles have fundamentally changed, and this isn’t just a phase—it’s a reset.
The trick isn’t “getting back to normal.” It’s building new sleep habits for your baby’s growing brain.
What Weeks Are Growth Spurts?
Growth spurts often overlap with regressions (because of course they do). Common growth spurts happen around:
- Week 3
- Week 6
- Week 8
- Month 3
- Month 6
- Month 9
You’ll know it’s a growth spurt when your baby turns into a hangry gremlin and wants to feed constantly. Expect some sleep disruption while their body gets bigger and their brain catches up.
What Not to Do During Sleep Regression
When your child’s sleep suddenly falls apart, it’s tempting to try everything to fix it. But according to Katie, some well-meaning moves can actually make things harder in the long run. Here’s what she recommends parents avoid during a regression—and what to do instead.
- Don’t panic. Regression doesn’t mean you broke your baby.
- Don’t abandon your routines. Keep wake-up and bedtime consistent—even if they don’t fall asleep right away.
- Don’t build new sleep habits you don’t want to keep. Rocking for hours, driving around the block 14 times, or co-sleeping out of desperation might work short-term, but think long-term.
Consistency helps them feel safe. Even when they act like bedtime is a crime.
How to Make a Child Fall Asleep Quickly
The bad news? There’s no magic trick that can make a child suddenly fall asleep. But there are things you can do to help speed up the process. Here’s what Katie suggests:
- Keep bedtime routines short, predictable, and boring (yes, boring is your friend).
- Use blackout curtains and white noise.
- Offer comfort but don’t overstimulate.
- If they’re old enough to understand, try a bedtime pass—one free trip out of bed, then lights out.
Sleep regression stages won’t disappear overnight, but good habits speed up the rebound.
What to Do When Kids Won’t Sleep
Start by ruling out the basics: Are they sick? Teething? Too hot? Too cold? Hungry? Scared? If not, here are your next moves:
- Stick to your routine
- Stay calm (they feed off your energy)
- Offer limited choices (“Do you want two books or three?”)
- Give comfort without rewiring the whole sleep system
If all else fails, tag in your partner and go scream into a pillow for 60 seconds. You’ve earned it.
Why Is It So Hard for My Child to Sleep?
Because their brain is doing cartwheels. Development, emotion, imagination, physical growth—all of it messes with sleep.
Sleep is a skill, and like most skills, it comes with setbacks. You’re not failing. Your kid isn’t broken. You’re just in the thick of something normal and temporary.
When Should You Call a Pediatrician?
Sleep regressions are expected. But reach out if your child:
Has loud snoring, choking, or gasping during sleep
- Shows signs of illness (fever, vomiting, rash, etc.)
- Has behavior or emotional changes that feel off
- Seems unusually sleepy during the day
Trust your gut. If something feels wrong, don’t wait.
Poppins is here 24/7 with pediatric clinicians and parent coaches who can help you figure out what’s normal, what’s not, and how to make it through the night.
Bottom Line: You’ve Got This
Sleep regressions are tough, but they’re not forever. Your child is growing, learning, and becoming more themselves every day. That’s worth celebrating—even if you're doing it with bags under your eyes.
Need help navigating the night shift of parenting? Poppins gives you 24/7 access to pediatric experts and real-life parent coaches who’ve been there. Because sometimes “just ride it out” isn’t enough—and you shouldn’t have to do this alone.
