Key Points:
- More frequent night wakings, difficulty falling back asleep and difficulty falling asleep at bed time and nap time
- Motor Development: rolling over, sitting and crawling are the new skills keeping them up.
- Separation Anxiety: Increased awareness and consequently, separation anxiety make it a challenge to fall asleep on their own.
- 3 to 2 naps: A lack of daytime sleep or an excess of daytime sleep affects a baby’s ability to fall asleep at night.
When the 6-month sleep regression hits, most parents are well familiar with the term from when their baby had one recently at around 4 months. This regression is also characterized by a disruption in sleep patterns like more frequent night wakings, difficulty falling back asleep and difficulty falling asleep at bed time and nap time. What factors influence this sleep regression?
Motor Development
Infants grow and develop exponentially, and just as they went through lots of developmental milestones that caused the 4-month regression, they are now reaching new and more complex cognitive and motor skills.
At 5 to 7 months, most babies are rolling over in one direction and working on rolling towards the other side, they are starting to sit up independently and some are even starting to crawl! Attaining these new sets of skills really gets in the way of sleep because they are eager to move and continue to explore and experiment with all the possibilities of their own body.
Separation Anxiety
They also are becoming more and more aware of their surroundings, making connections and exploring objects and their senses. They are more curious and very aware of everything around them, especially when it’s time to go to sleep! This makes it increasingly difficult to wind down.
Separation anxiety often starts to develop around 6 months. This is a time when babies are starting to recognize that they are separate from their parents and may become upset when they are not close to their caregivers, especially during sleep. As a result, babies may resist being put down in their crib or may wake more often during the night seeking comfort from their parents. This can lead to more nighttime waking and difficulty falling back asleep independently.
Transition from 3 to 2 naps
Babies go through many changes in their daily sleep patterns throughout their first year. As newborns, there’s no clear routine, then they begin to have 3 distinguished naps. At around 6 months, their sleep needs change once more and now they transition from 3 naps to just 2: one in the morning, and one in the afternoon. This shift in sleep routines, patterns and overall day and night sleep is one more factor that can influence the 6-month sleep regression. A lack of daytime sleep or an excess of daytime sleep will undoubtedly affect a baby’s ability to fall asleep and their night time sleep.
If your baby is going through this sleep regression or if you’re just getting ready for when the time comes, remember: it is influenced by changes in your baby’s growth and development. At 6 months, they are more aware of their surroundings, may experience anxiety, and have different sleep needs at this stage, all of which can contribute to disrupted sleep. Although the regression can be challenging, it’s generally temporary, and with consistency and patience, babies will adjust to their changing needs and routines.
