Stop Calling it a Problem. It’s Called Development!
Just when you think you’ve cracked the code, BOOM!
Your baby, who was sleeping beautifully, suddenly wakes every hour like it’s their new job. Bedtime turns into a full production. Naps vanish. And your left wondering what on earth just happened?
Welcome to the world of baby sleep regressions, or what I prefer to call PROGRESSIONS. Uninvited. Poorly timed. Completely normal!
What Is a Sleep Progression (Really)?
A sleep progression is a temporary disruption in sleep where a baby who was previously sleeping well suddenly… isn’t.
More night wakings.
Harder bedtimes.
Short naps.
Early mornings.
Sleep progressions usually show up alongside big developmental changes. When your baby’s brain and body are busy learning something new (even if sleep feels like the last thing on their to-do list).
When Do Sleep Progressions Happen?
While every baby is different, common sleep progression ages include:
Around 4 months (pretty important one)
8–10 months
12 months
18 months
2 years (the biggest of them all)
Some babies breeze through these phases. Others announce them loudly, at 2am, repeatedly. Read more about what is happening at each age and stage here.
How Sleep Progressions Show Up
More Night Wakings: Your baby may start waking more frequently overnight, even if they previously slept longer stretches.
Bedtime Becomes a Battle: Settling can suddenly take longer. Babies may resist sleep, need more support, or wake shortly after being put down (hello, false starts).
Naps Go Rogue: Naps may shorten, disappear, or become wildly unpredictable just to keep you on your toes.
How to Navigate a Sleep Progression (Without Panicking)
Take a Breath: Sleep progressions are normal. They are not a sign you’ve done something wrong, and they don’t mean sleep is broken forever even though it can feel that way at 3am.
Hold Onto Your Routine: Consistency is your anchor. Keeping bedtime routines familiar helps your baby feel safe and grounded when everything else feels new and overwhelming.
Offer Support Not Chaos: Your baby may need extra reassurance during a progression. That doesn’t mean throwing out all structure. Support them in ways that feel aligned with your parenting style while keeping things predictable.
Avoid “Fixing” Everything at Once: This is where things often unravel. In the middle of exhaustion, it’s tempting to change everything. Small, thoughtful adjustments beat panic-driven overhauls every time.
The Upside No One Mentions
As brutal as sleep progressions feel, they often line up with exciting developmental leaps like rolling, crawling, babbling, standing, walking, thinking. Your baby isn’t regressing. They’re progressing. These phases are building resilience, adaptability, and new skills for both of you.
Sleep progressions are like unwanted plot twists in the parenting story. Frustrating? Absolutely. Permanent? No. With understanding, consistency, and the right support, you will find your rhythm again. If you’re stuck in a regression/progression and wondering whether this is “normal” or something more, you don’t have to guess.
Get in touch for personalised baby sleep support and let’s navigate this phase together calmly, confidently, and with far less Googling at midnight.
I’ve got you,
Clare
Your Baby Sleep Expert