Your baby finally started sleeping through and you were getting some longed-for solid hours. So how come they’re waking in the night again?
If your baby’s sleep has taken an unexpected turn for the worse, don’t despair. The bleary-eyed struggle may be real but, says Essential Parenting’s Helen Davies, disrupted sleep patterns are completely normal and, thankfully, short-lived.
What is the 8-month sleep regression?
A sleep regression describes a time when your baby seems to suddenly lose the progress they've made on their journey to sleeping well. They might go back to waking more at night, fussing more, taking fewer naps and refusing to settle.
But, reassures paediatric nurse and specialist health visitor Helen, it’s not exactly what it says on the tin. Despite the worrying name, a sleep regression is more a temporary bump in the road than a major diversion. Plus, the 8-month variety can happen at around 7 to 9 months, while parents also commonly report sleep regressions at 4 months, 6 months and 18 months.
Mum-of-four Helen says: “These are like seasons in parenting rather than regressions. Babies' sleep patterns fluctuate, and changes are completely normal.”
So don’t despair if sleepless nights have returned – things usually settle again within a matter of weeks.
How do I know if my baby is having a sleep regression?
Feeling like a zombie, forgetting your keys and putting the teabags in the fridge? These all might be enough of a clue! But, through the sleep-deprived fog, you might also spot these telltale signs from your baby:
Waking more during the night when there's no obvious cause (such as illness)
Fussing and crying more when waking
Not settling down to naps or to bed as well as before
Practising big new skills when they're awake, like pulling up, crawling, cruising and babbling more
Being clingy with you because they're experiencing separation anxiety.
It might help to track your baby's sleep using an app like Napper to see how patterns change over time. If you can manage to do this before the next bad sleep phase, you’ll also have a baseline to compare.
Why is my baby having a sleep regression?
Helen says babies often have a sleep setback because they’re going through big developmental milestones. For example, your little one’s attempts at pulling up to stand might mean they're too frustrated or excited to lie calmly in their cot.
“Babies are constantly developing,” says Helen. “And at around the 8-month mark several big changes are going on at the same time, like preparing to walk and talk. No wonder your little one is finding it all overwhelming!”
Helen adds that your baby is also becoming more attached to you and may start to experience separation anxiety, making it harder for them to settle without you nearby. Teething may also be to blame for fitful nights.
How do I deal with the 8-month sleep regression?
Caffeine aside, there's lots you can do to ease the stress of a tricky sleep phase so everyone can get the snooze they need.
For a start, Helen says, your baby may be ready to move from 3 to 2 naps a day so that they're tired enough when they do sleep. If you think this might be a factor, try helping them drop a nap, but make sure they’re still getting enough sleep in the day. Overtiredness can mean a grouchy baby later.
Then revisit these bedtime basics:
Make sure you stick to a regular bedtime routine, including a bath, cuddles, and a book.
Add comforting cues or “sleep associations” that tell them it’s time to settle by themselves, like a cosy nightlight and mobile.
Create a quiet, calming environment for naps and nighttime sleep.
Make sure your baby isn’t going to bed hungry and irritable as their appetite changes.
Poppy Taylor, who runs a support group for mums, says she felt tired and emotional when her son Arthur started to wake up more in the night and wanted extra comfort and milk during the day.
But she says: ‘I found it helpful to go with the flow and be responsive to what Arthur needed. And then, before you know it, it all settles down again.’
She adds that she and her friends renamed the phase a “sleep progression” to see it in a more positive light and because they knew their babies were experiencing a developmental leap.
Poppy also says self-care is vital. ‘It’s really important to talk to other mums, family and friends. Starting the group really helped. And if I was feeling tired, I would cancel plans or take time to rest.’
Lastly, if you're at all worried that there might be a more serious reason behind your baby's disrupted sleep, or if you're struggling to cope, talk to your health visitor or doctor. They're there to help you both and may be able to refer you to a specialist sleep service.
