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Every parent goes through the dreaded sleep deprived newborn phase where you stay up all night soothing and nursing your little one. And just when you think you can’t take another sleepless night, they slowly start to sleep for longer periods of time. Before you know it your toddler is sleeping through the night and you are finally in the clear. Right? Wrong! Chances are that your 18 month year old will wake up one day in the middle of the night and refuse to go back to sleep or start screaming when asked to go back to bed. At first you may be frantic and think that something is wrong. But there is no need to worry. Your baby is perfectly fine, they are just going through sleep regression which is completely normal. Sleep regression can happen to any kid so there is no need to be concerned. However, it can be very disruptive to your sleep schedule and frustrating to deal with. Here’s everything you need to know about the 18 month sleep regression and how to deal with it.
What Is Sleep Regression?
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In order to combat sleep regression we must first understand what it is. Eighteen-month sleep regression is a transition that toddlers undergo coinciding with their developmental stage. Your tiny tot goes through a developmental stage of increased independence that typically manifests as testing boundaries at bedtime. So you might find your toddler refusing to go to bed or waking up multiple times at night. You must also keep in mind that this is the age at which the molars of many children start to grow. This can be quite painful and the discomfort may cause them to wake up frequently. They may also be agitated due to experiencing nightmares and may have trouble falling back asleep. The point is that it may not be something that your child does on purpose.
How Long Does Sleep Regression Last?
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When you’re sleep deprived, time can feel like it’s dragging but thankfully sleep regression usually doesn’t last for months on end like the newborn nights. However it is important to keep in mind that the duration of sleep regression differs from child to child. You can expect most cases to last anywhere between 2 to 6 weeks. As annoying as this may be, the good news is that it is temporary and, with the right approach, won’t be too long of an inconvenience to your own sleep schedule.
Ways To Combat Sleep Regression
1. Stick To Your Bedtime
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Not only is it important to stick to your bedtime routine but it is important to stick to your bedtime. If your baby is supposed to go to bed at 9, they get in bed even if they are kicking and screaming. This may seem harsh but changing their bedtime just because they are protesting it will have consequences that you don’t want to deal with. You know what’s best for your child, so keep their routine in order and make them go to bed. Chances are that once they are in their pajamas and all tucked in, they’ll drift away in a short while.
2. Avoid Responding Right Away
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It’s hard to stay away if your child is screaming or crying at night. But you must give your child the chance to self soothe and go back to sleep. If you must respond, be as calm as possible. There is no need to get all worked up and excite your child. Check on them methodically and head out if they don’t actually need your assistance falling back asleep.
3. Engage In Activities
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If you want your toddler to fall asleep like clockwork, one way to ensure that they go to bed is to wear them out during the day. Make sure that your kid engages in many activities, especially outside. Allow them to run around and exert themselves so that when 8 pm comes around, they are more than happy to be tucked into bed. If they can’t stay awake the whole day without getting cranky, you can put them down for a quick nap after lunch and spend the evening hours playing in the park to lower their energy levels.
4. Treat Any Underlying Pain Or Discomfort
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If your little one is waking up everyday or having trouble falling asleep it may be because they are experiencing some type of pain or discomfort. Maybe their teeth are growing and the process is painful. Maybe they have a tummy ache and don’t know how to communicate this to you. Whatever the case may be, take time to find out the cause behind your child’s discomfort, consult with their pediatrician and treat it as soon as possible.
Having your precocious sleep disrupted by your toddler just when you thought the late night phase was over can be frustrating. But this phase doesn’t last very long and can be easily managed. With these few tips you and your baby will be back to getting a full night’s sleep in no time.
