When your baby or toddler suddenly starts waking more at night or struggling to settle at bedtime, it can feel like you’re back to square one with sleep. While sleep disruptions can be frustrating, they often have clear causes – and the good news is, they’re usually temporary.
There are three key reasons why your child’s sleep might take a step backward: developmental milestones, illness, and changes in environment such as travel. One or more of these factors often play a role in sleep regressions.
1. Developmental leaps and learning new skills
Sleep regressions are often linked to major developmental changes. Around 12-16 weeks of age – often referred to as the four month sleep regression – your baby changes from having newborn sleep to having sleep cycles like we do. If you are helping your little one to sleep in some way – by feeding, rocking or cuddling them – you will likely see this at this point. And that’s because if you are helping your little one to sleep in some way, they now need you to do this every time they go through their sleep cycles, which can be frequently as every 30-60 minutes. You can read more about the four month sleep regression and how to help your little one through it, here.
At the same if your little one is mastering new abilities, from rolling, crawling and standing to early speech development. This can lead to night-time restlessness, extra wake-ups, or prolonged bedtime chatter.
If your baby is rolling onto their tummy and getting stuck, quietly reposition them without engaging in too much interaction. Keep the lights low and avoid talking or picking them up unnecessarily. Practicing these new skills during the day can help reduce nighttime disruptions.
Helpful tip:
Encourage safe and active daytime play to help little ones burn off energy and improve sleep at night. Reinforce skills like rolling or crawling in the day to help ease the obsession at bedtime when they’re in the cot!
2. Sleep regressions due to illness
A second common cause of disturbed sleep is being unwell. Whether it’s a cold, teething, or another minor illness, your little one may need extra rest, but that sleep might be lighter and more interrupted.
You’ll naturally offer more comfort, cuddles, or medications as advised by your doctor, but try not to create habits that are hard to break – like co-sleeping or rocking to sleep every time. If you need to monitor them overnight, it’s better to stay in their room rather than bring them into yours.
Once they’re feeling better, a quick return to your usual bedtime routine will usually help them get back on track quickly, especially if they already have independent sleep habits in place.
3. Travel and schedule changes
Traveling – especially across time zones – can disrupt your child’s internal clock. Even without jet lag, busy holiday schedules, skipped naps, and new sleeping environments can all contribute to overtiredness, which often makes settling to sleep harder.
Stick to your normal bedtime routine as closely as possible when away from home. If you’re all sharing a room, try creating a visual barrier (like a curtain or travel crib cover) so your little one isn’t distracted by your presence.
Bonus tip:
Pack familiar sleep items like their favourite blanket or bedtime book to make the environment feel more like home.
Sleep regressions are a normal part of early childhood development. The best way to handle them is with patience, consistency, and routine. Recognise the signs, understand what’s causing the disruption, and gently guide your child back to their regular sleep pattern.
Need help with your baby’s sleep?
If sleep regressions are leaving your family exhausted, or you think you might need some extra help when it comes to sleep, we offer a free 15-minute consultation. You can tell us all about what’s happening with your little one, and we can let you know how we can help your whole family get better sleep.
