Sleepabee

Sleep regressions at 8–10, 12 and 18 months

5 min read

Why a good sleeper can suddenly start waking again, how long it usually lasts, and how to get through it without creating new habits.

Your baby was sleeping well, and then — for no clear reason — naps get short, bedtime turns into a struggle and the night wakings come back. These patches are often called sleep regressions. The name sounds alarming, but sleep is not really going backwards: skills a child has learned do not disappear at a set age. What usually happens is that a burst of development makes sleep harder for a while.

Common, not universal

Sleep disruptions like this are common, but not every child has them, and they do not arrive on a fixed date. Paediatricians point out that it is different for every child. Medical sources such as the NHS do not use the word "regression" at all; they simply note that growth spurts, teething and illness can all affect how a baby sleeps.

Most of these patches are short-lived — usually somewhere between a few days and a few weeks.

What tends to drive them

  • New physical skills. Around 8–10 months many babies are learning to sit, crawl and pull up to stand — and want to practise in the cot instead of sleeping.
  • Separation anxiety. As babies realise that you still exist when you leave the room, being apart at bedtime can suddenly feel much harder. It often shows up again in the second year.
  • Teething. Sore gums can cause fussiness and wakings; at around 18 months the first molars are often on their way.
  • A world that is more exciting. Around the first birthday children walk, follow simple instructions and say their first words. Changes such as a new childcare room or weaning can unsettle sleep too.
  • Nap changes. Short naps are sometimes the first sign that wake windows have grown. A baby still on three naps around 8 months may be ready for two.

How to get through it

  • Keep your usual routine. Doing the same calm steps in the same order before every nap and bedtime helps children wind down, especially when everything else feels new.
  • Comfort, but do not start what you do not want to keep. It is fine to give extra comfort for a few nights. Just be careful that a short-term fix — feeding or rocking to sleep every time, for example — does not quietly become a new habit that lasts long after the regression has passed.
  • Do not drop a nap too early. At around 12 months, refusing the second nap is common, but most children are not ready for one nap yet. Dropping it too soon can bring night wakings or very early mornings. Sleepabee does not suggest moving to one nap before about 14 months.
  • Wait for a pattern. Before you change the nap schedule, look for signs that last 1–2 weeks; a few bad days are not enough. Often, stretching wake windows a little is enough.
  • Give it time. If you stay consistent, most of these phases pass within a few days to a few weeks.

When to talk to a doctor

Talk to your doctor or health visitor soon if your child:

  • snores often, seems to struggle to breathe at night, or is very sleepy during the day;
  • is not gaining weight as expected, or has lost their appetite;
  • has sleep problems you are finding hard to manage.

If you are worried and not sure what to do, it is always fine to ask.

If your baby is under 3 months old with a temperature of 38 °C (100.4 °F) or higher, or 3–6 months old with 39 °C (102.2 °F) or higher, call your doctor straight away. If you cannot reach a doctor, call your local emergency number.

Call your local emergency number now if your baby:

  • stops breathing for more than 20 seconds;
  • is breathing very fast or with great effort — grunting, or sucking their tummy in with each breath;
  • has blue, grey, pale or blotchy skin, lips or tongue;
  • is very hard to wake, or will not wake up;
  • is floppy, or is not feeding;
  • has a seizure (fit), or a rash that does not fade when you press a glass against it.

Sources

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