While some babies sleep well from the jump, most babies go through at least a few sleep regressions as they learn to become great sleepers. But even after you’ve gone through sleep training, your baby can still regress back to a time when it seemed like you had to walk on eggshells in order to get the baby to sleep and keep the baby asleep.
Not only can sleep regressions be hard on your little one, but it likely means you’re not getting enough sleep now, too. So to help you get through this phase and continue building good sleep habits for your little one, here are three tips for surviving your baby’s sleep regressions.
Don’t Disturb The Baby When Sleeping
For adults, not getting enough sleep the night before might mean that you’re ready to turn in early the following night and then sleep like a log. But for babies, the more sleep they’re getting, the more sleep they’re likely going to continue getting in the future.
Knowing this, if your baby seems to be going through a sleep regression, you should do everything in your power to not disturb him or her once sleep finally comes. To do this, Dr. Karen Gill, a contributor to Healthline.com, advises that you put your baby to sleep in a dark room so that the light doesn’t wake them up. If you need to check on him or her, use a baby monitor rather than going into the room yourself. And if there’s a lot of noise going on at home, or you just want to give your little one a sound buffer, use a white noise machine or a fan to help block out sounds that could startle your baby awake.
Try To Be More Flexible
For the times that putting your baby down for a solid nap or bedtime just isn’t working, Kara Aaserud, a contributor to Today’s Parent, recommends that you try to be more flexible than you may otherwise be about how to get your baby to sleep and where they should sleep. While you might not normally want your little one to sleep in the car or in a stroller, if going for a ride or a walk is what it takes to catch some shut-eye, it could be well worth it to both of you. You can then work on going back to your healthier habits later on.
Give Your Baby More Attention When Awake
Sometimes, a sleep regression can be exacerbated by separation anxiety that your baby experiences when realizing they’re sleeping on their own.
To combat this, Colleen de Bellefonds, a contributor to What To Expect, suggests that you give your baby extra attention during wakeful periods in the day. Snuggling more right before putting your baby down to sleep can help them feel more secure and encourage better sleep.
If your baby is going through a sleep regression, consider using the tips mentioned above to survive until this phase is over.