Navigate Regressions with mother-lovin CONFIDENCE.
As a new mom - I had heard, read, and in turn, felt a sense of dread approaching the 4-month mark. It sucked and I don’t want that for you. What brought on that sense of dread? Regressions.
Knowing that your babe is going to go through regression does not have to be a scary thing. With some confidence, encouragement, and a plan, I know that you and babe can navigate these times.
Rather than referring to these times as regressions - we are going to reframe it and call them progressions.
What is a progression?
A progression is a period of time when your babe makes tremendous leaps and strides with their physical and mental development. These are permanent changes - and can throw them, and everyone around them for a bit of a loop.
Sometimes it's developing a new skill like rolling. Other times it's discovering object permanence - where babe now knows that when mama and dada leave the room, even though I cannot see them I know that they are still there.
These periods are often called regressions - because sleep can be seen as regressing or taking a step backward and can get a bit....messy.
Real Talk - the biggest thing that you can do for your babe [and yourself] if you want to sail through these regressions as smoothly and quickly as possible, is to develop a solid sleep foundation! Why is this, you ask?
When your babe wakes during the night and does not rely on rocking, nursing, or being held to fall back asleep, these regressions are a heck of a lot easier to navigate.
That being said - independent sleeper or not, I got some tips for ya!
How do you know if your sweet babe is going through a progression?
The first thing to consider is babes age. Is your babe?
4 Months
8 - 10 Month
12 Months
18 Months
24 Months
Is babe working on new skills?
Think about whether babe has just started to develop a new skill! Have they recently started:
Rolling
Crawling
Schooching
Pulling Up
Walking
Being increasingly independent
All of these new skills and learnings are huge for your babe. They want to practice their skills or exercise their newfound independence whenever they can. Including at bedtime, naptime, and throughout the night...
All that being said, what can you do to help babe [and yourself!] get through progressions with confidence?
Examine Sleep
Practice, practice, practice,
Have a Gameplan
Solid Bedtime Routine
Step One: Examine Sleep
Your babe is likely ready for an increase in awake time & potentially less daytime sleep.
Not sure about awake times? I have a guide for that! Awake Time Guide.
When making changes to babes’ sleep, take things gradually.
Start with stretching the awake window before bedtime by 15-30 minutes & decreasing daytime sleep by 15 minutes [this can be 5 minutes from one nap, 10 minutes from another - however you want to work it].
Maintain this change for 3-5 days, if things have improved. You found the sweet spot! If not, re-examine awake times.
Use the awake times as a guide, but ultimately follow your babe's lead and watch for those sleep cues. Need help with sleep cues? I got you. Check out this post.
Does your babe nurse, rock or use a pacifier to fall asleep?
If they do & this works for you - there is nothing wrong with it!
But, if your goal is to have your babe falling asleep on their own, and when they wake, have the tools that they need to fall back asleep- it may be time to consider if these have become essential pieces of the back to sleep equation.
Step Two: Practice, Practice, Practice
If your babe is developing a new physical skill - this may seem simple but give them LOTS of time to practice throughout the day.
Let babe practice during their bedtime routine.
Let them practice in their sleep space right before they go to sleep for their nap or at bedtime.
Rolling can be a big disruption to sleep. Why? Babe rolls over during the night and cannot rollback.
There are a couple of options:
ONE | Roll babe back 6,738 times per night,
OR
TWO| Roll them back - once, maybe two, or three times
THEN, pat their bum, rub their back, help them back to sleep while on their tummy.
Once babe gets the hang of rolling, most become tummy sleepers by choice! Be patient with your babe while they master their new skill. It can take up to 10-14 days for sleep to get back on track.
Step Three: Have a Gameplan
So - you and babe are in the middle of navigating a progression. If sleep has taken a hit - get together a game plan and stick to it for the duration of the progression and beyond!
This is the question I recommend asking yourself. If babe wakes during the night, what am I going to do?
Pause - give babe 3-10 minutes
Decide how you are going to comfort babe.
Bum Patts
Rocking
Snuggles?
That decision is yours.
3. Decide how long you will stay with babe.
Until they fall asleep?
For a set amount of minutes?
4. Treat any waking before 6 am as a night waking
5. Stick to this routine.
If babe is going through the 4 months progression, offer night feeds when you generally would!
Step 4: Bedtime Routine
Setting up a bedtime routine is a big part of developing a solid sleep foundation! Going through the same steps each and every night is not only comforting for babe but cues them that sleep time is coming!
4-12 Month Routine:
Bath
Diaper & Jammies
Nursing and/or bottle
Books
Snuggles
Sleep Sack & Sound Machine
Into Bed!
13+ Month Routine:
Bath
Diaper & Jammies
Books
Snuggles
Sleep Sack & Sound Machine
Into Bed!
I know that these rough patches can be challenging - but with consistency, patience, and a plan- you and your babe can get through this together. Remember, this isn't forever, it's just for right now.
Babe going through the 18 or 24-month progressions? I have a TON more information on navigating these progressions specifically in this guide.
If there are bigger changes you want to make to your babe's sleep habits, check out my 1 on 1 sleep packages to get those sleepless nights back on track!
