Teaching your child healthy sleep patterns is a process, and often a long and difficult one, at that. And sometimes, just when you've finally established a routine where your child is getting to bed on time and getting all the sleep they need, they suddenly fall out of the routine. Sometimes, this stems from a change like a vacation, a sickness, or another break to the pattern, but it may also be a developmental milestone called a sleep regression. At 5 Little Monkeys, we strive to be a resource to parents everywhere for helping kids get better sleep – so here's our guide to toddler sleep regressions.
What Are Sleep Regressions?
A sleep regression is a sudden, often unprompted change in a child's sleep pattern where a child that was sleeping well before suddenly begins waking up frequently during the night, having trouble falling asleep, or any other similar sleep problem. Crucially, sleep regressions aren't caused by external factors. In fact, they seem to come out of nowhere! But they occur because of changes in your child's physical and mental development. Generally, kids experience around 4 sleep regressions, two of which occur when your child is a toddler: one at 4 months, one between 8 and 10 months, one at 18 months, and one at 2 years.
Handling Toddler Sleep Regressions
Sleep regressions can be incredibly frustrating when they occur, but keep in mind that they're temporary. Normally a sleep regression lasts from 2 to 6 weeks, and then your child should return to a more normal sleep schedule. Remember, sleep regressions are a part of development: and that means your child will move through them.
The 18-month sleep regression usually comes about as a result of teething, increased separation anxiety, and often a newfound defiance. At 18 months, your toddler is learning to exercise their will, and that means they may grow defiant when faced with things they don't want to do. That makes this sleep regression particularly difficult to deal with – but do your best to hold your ground and to avoid getting angry with your child. It will pass.
The 2-year sleep regression may have a number of causes. For one, 2-year-olds need less sleep: instead of 14 hours every day, many children will need only 12. Separation anxiety may also play a role, as your child may feel afraid of being left alone or may not want to miss out on fun while you're gone (yes, FOMO is a thing for toddlers). 2-year-olds may also begin to feel generalized anxiety in a way they haven't before: toddlers at this age have vibrant imaginations, but they're also much more aware that there are bad things in the world that could potentially hurt them. Sometimes, those two factors combine into strong fears or nightmares that hinder sleep.
In both of these sleep regressions, knowledge is power. They will be trying times, and as a parent, you'll likely feel a lot of frustration around "losing progress." But remind yourself, as much as you can, that this is a normal phase of development and is truly just a phase. It may last several weeks, but eventually, your child will move out of the sleep regression and return to a healthy, normal sleep pattern.
Order Our Children's Sleep System Risk-Free
Sleep regressions are difficult, but they're a regular part of any child's growth. And no matter what phase of growth your child is in, a high-quality children's mattress will help them get better sleep night after night – even in the midst of a sleep regression. At 5 Little Monkeys, our children's bed has been meticulously designed to give kids exactly what their bodies need for healthy, restful sleep, and if you're interested in trying it, we'd love to help. Try the mattress risk-free for 100 nights, and if you don't love it, we'll give you a full refund. Give your child the healthy sleep they deserve: try our mattress for kids today!