How to Deal with Toddler Sleep Regression?

 At a certain age, particularly between 15 and 24 months old, your kid will start experiencing 16 month sleep regression, 17 month sleep regression, or whenever it exactly starts happening. The point is, that your child is going to go through a phase that will require you to rebuild their sleeping and napping routine from the ground up all over again. In today’s blog, we dig deeper into this topic to try and give new parents some insight into dealing with this phase properly and healthily.

What’s The Reason Behind 16 Month Sleep Regression?

In general, sleep regression means that your child is going to find difficulties sleeping through the night and taking naps during the day. This condition tends to appear particularly between the ages of 15 and 24 months old. If you're a new parent ask yourself "Why is my 16 month old not sleeping?" There could be several answers to this question, so let's go through some of the most common causes of toddler sleep regression.

Developmental Milestones:

Once your baby hits 16 months old, they're going to go through several cognitive and emotional developmental milestones. From talking more to gaining enough confidence to walk around more, all of these transitional factors will naturally disrupt your baby's sleep cycle, making it harder for them to go to sleep as easily as they used to, which is what toddler sleep regression is all about. The more they grow, the busier their life is going to be, which makes sleeping a little bit of a task at some point, until they get used to their new sleeping pattern, with mom and dad’s help.

Separation Anxiety:

Toddler separation anxiety at night is not unheard of. On their way to becoming more independent, your baby is going to go through a phase of separation anxiety because they're still getting used to sleeping away from mom and dad. This could make it harder for them to sleep through the night without waking up frequently and freaking out about where mom and dad are.

Teething:

While teething can begin as early as 3 months, most likely you'll see the first tooth start pushing through your baby's gum line when your little one is between 4 and 7 months old. So, it's only natural for your baby to be experiencing some teething discomfort around 16 months old, which can make it hard for them to sleep soundly, especially around nap time, when it's still daytime and their senses are heightened which makes them more aware of the pain. This is one of the major reasons for toddler sleep regression.

Routine Changes:

Doing anything your child isn't used to will upset them and disrupt their sleeping pattern until they adapt to their new daily routine. Things like going to daycare because mom has to go back to work, staying away from the usual caretakers for extended periods, or any other slight change could upset them enough to mess with their good night's sleep and nap times, leading to toddler sleep regression. As insignificant as these changes may seem to you, they're quite the opposite for your baby who is still adapting to different types of stressors. Being as supportive as you can to help your baby adapt to these new stressors is the quickest way to grow them out of their toddler sleep regression phase.

Sleep Associations:

These are the set of habits and routines that your baby associates with falling asleep. These associations could be rocking, nursing, or using a pacifier. If your baby is very much used to these associations to be able to fall asleep, self-soothing is going to be a very difficult task for them when they wake up at night as this skill is very important for them to learn to be able to fall right back into their good night sleep, getting them out of their toddler sleep regression phase.

Cognitive Development:

As we've already mentioned earlier in the blog, this is the age when your baby's cognitive abilities start to significantly develop. With these increased cognitive abilities, your baby's mind is going to be more active at night, leading them to experience this 16 month sleep regression. Around this age, your baby is going to become more curious and want to explore everything around them, so when they wake up at night, their mind will immediately start looking around for things to do, and when you add that toddler separation anxiety at night to the equation, going back to sleep becomes a very difficult task for your little one because they're both bored and anxious about your absence now.

So How can You Manage the 16 Month Sleep Regression? 

Coping with this toddler sleep regression phase of your baby’s life is a bit challenging, especially if you’re a new parent and this is your first experience with such an issue. But worry not, here are some very useful tips to help get you through toddler sleep regression peacefully and properly.

Commit to a Consistent Sleeping Routine:

This could be the next sleeping association your baby needs to get through their toddler sleep regression. When you stick to a specific daily bedtime routine, your child's biological clock will start picking up on when to wind down and go to sleep. In the beginning, you can help calm down your baby with a soothing activity before bed, like a warm bath or a gentle rocking and cuddling, just until your baby is completely used to their new sleeping routine.

Teach Your Baby to Self-Soothe:

As we said before, self-soothing is a skill your baby has to learn to overcome this new phase in their lives. It's their first step toward independence, and it's important to be patient with them during the learning process until they get through those sleep regression ages. Try starting by putting them into their comfy bed when they're feeling sleepy but still awake, this will help them fall asleep without having to rely on a parent or a carer.

Provide a Comfy Sleep Environment:

Without a comfy and peaceful sleeping environment, your baby will never learn to self-soothe and sleep on their own, meaning that your baby’s toddler sleep regression will last longer than both you and your baby would like. Their surroundings have to be encouraging for them to sleep. Your little one's bedroom should be dark, quiet, and at a temperature of 16-20°C.

Acknowledge The Teething Discomfort:

If the main problem behind their toddler sleep regression is teething pain, have a talk with your family's pediatrician about ways to alleviate teething discomfort. Usually, parents find things like teething toys, gels, and pain relievers to be useful in such conditions, but it's better to take your pediatrician's advice as they are more familiar with your baby's case and what might need to be properly and safely addressed.

Be Patient and Consistent:

Helping your baby go through this phase requires a lot of patience and consistency to properly manage the sleep disturbances during your baby's 16 month sleep regression. Avoid anything that you wouldn't do in the long run, and try to stick to a specific routine to help your baby develop the ability to differentiate between bedtime and playtime. It will take a while, but eventually, your baby will go right back to their old sleep patterns.

It’s OK to Ask for Help:

Whether it’s from a doctor, a friend, a family member, or a more experienced parent, asking for help is more than alright as this phase could be just as confusing to you as it is to your baby. Getting personalized advice is the best way to get through the 16 month sleep regression peacefully, healthily, and quickly.

How Kido Bebe Helps You Out:

From setting the right type of bedroom to getting other equipment, going through the 16 month sleep regression requires the support of some high-quality products, and what better place to find those other than our store?!

At Kido Bebe, we take pride in assisting parents on their journey by providing the best baby products and mom products in our collections from reputable brands. Make sure to go through the collections because there is a suitable product for every situation!

FAQs:

It’s time to answer some of the frequently asked questions about this issue. New parents, take notes.

Is there a 16 Month Sleep Regression?

Toddler sleep regression won’t necessarily happen at the age of 16 months, it usually starts between the age of 15 and 24 months old, meaning that there’s a high chance that your baby will start fully showing signs of sleep regression at the age of 16 months old.

How Long does 16 Month Sleep Regression Last?

As demanding as it is, the 16 month sleep regression typically lasts for a week or so. As we've discussed, the best approach for parents during this time is to be consistent with their daily routines.

What are The Sleep Regression Ages?

Sleep regressions can vary in timing and duration, just like most things associated with infants and young children. Nonetheless, several experts appear to agree that the most frequent regressions occur between two and six weeks after birth and occur at four, six, eight, twelve, and eighteen months of age.

In Conclusion:

Much like any other part of parenting, toddler sleep regression is a phase that requires a lot of patience, consistency, and support to help your baby get through it successfully and healthily. If you’re still feeling confused and want to get more personalized advice, it’s best to speak with your family’s pediatrician as they are more familiar with your child’s specific situation.