A six-month-old baby is in a time of rapid development and milestones. From crawling to walking, your little one is exploring and learning in leaps.
A sleep regression occurs during a baby’s period of rapid brain development. It is caused by a disturbance in the hormone levels in the baby’s brain, which regulates sleep. Sleep regressions affect an estimated 50% of babies around their first birthday. In the six-month phase, the baby’s circadian rhythm has changed, giving them a much shorter sleep window.
This phase would be challenging and stressful, especially first-time parents. This isn’t to say that you should give up hope for a good night’s sleep! With these tips, you can assist your baby get through the six-month sleep regression with ease, or even enjoy it while getting adequate sleep for yourself.
What is a six month baby sleep regression?
The concept of sleep regression extends beyond a toddler who doesn’t sleep through the night. A baby or toddler who was once a good sleeper throughout the night begins to wake up during the night and take shorter naps or skip them altogether is experiencing sleep regression.
These sleep regressions might be caused by developmental milestones in children. The limbic system, which feels and expresses the brain’s emotions, begins to develop fast around this period and becomes sensitive to what is happening to oneself. Infants can weep and express their feelings if they are “drowsy” or “unpleasant” or nervous because they do not have family around, or if they are sleepy but the surroundings are bright or have problems going to sleep. Also, if they are sleep deprived or overtired (sleeping schedule is irregular), their brain will become agitated and they may cry.
Sleep regressions may occur during the first six months of your baby’s life. They might tuck in nicely after completing their regular nighttime routine but just a few hours later they’ll suddenly start fussing for no apparent reason. You might be puzzled as to why your toddler is starting to cry after they have been fed regularly throughout the day and had just changed their diaper.
Six month sleep regression might continue anywhere from two to six weeks before your baby’s sleep habits return to normal. The implications of the term itself are the most important thing to remember throughout sleep regression. “Regression” refers to reverting to a previous state, implying that the change is not permanent! In summary, it’s just for a short time, and it’s a good idea to be healthy and not panic.
What can I do to help my baby during the six month sleep regression?
Sleep regression can last from three to six weeks, but it’s important to realize that it is a temporary condition. When a baby isn’t sleeping as well as it used to, you don’t have to change the entire routine. During the six month sleep regression, you should continue to use the sleep training methods and routines you have been using so far. For instance, many parents physically or verbally soothe their babies while they lie in their cribs. We recommend that you continue to use this method if it has worked in the past and you have experienced success.
The following two methods were found to be effective in surviving the sleep regression period. So, if you’re a first-time mom dealing with the six month sleep regression these techniques will undoubtedly help you.
Try to keep the same routine day after day
By six months of age, the sleep and waking cycles are more strictly regulated, which is why it is so important. You should provide more consistent sleep routines to toddlers during this stage, remove negative sleep objects, and help them fall asleep on their own.
Routines at bedtime are helpful for many reasons. Having them before bedtime helps children relax, and babies know it’s time to sleep. And they even help us release sleep-inducing hormones. Consistency and routine are crucial to children’s development.
Most babies and kids find comfort in repeating the same steps at the same time every night. It’s also never too late to start a routine, so you can begin even if your child is older. Swaddling, putting them down when they are drowsy but alert, having a dark room, sleeping without movement, using white noise, and swaddling are ways we can promote healthy sleep.
One of the most common concerns among parents is when their child wakes up in the middle of the night while sleeping in his or her own crib. Investing in a baby monitor is our bonus tip for parents who want to keep a close eye on their infant while still having their own space. A baby monitor allows parents to roam about freely in their home or even outside with the peace of mind that their child is safe. You can know immediately if your baby has merely rolled over and can adjust themselves or whether you need to intervene before returning to the nursery with the Cubo AI Smart Baby Monitor.
Be consistent with bedtime and naptime
Babies become more mobile between six and eight months of age. They start rolling over, sitting up, and maybe even standing holding onto something. Sometimes they scoot or crawl, and their first teeth appear. It is quite easy to get your baby on a consistent 6 month sleep schedule even if they do not sleep through the night regularly. A baby needs an average of 11 hours of uninterrupted sleep a night at around 6 months of age. Also, they require two to three naps during the day in addition to three and a half hours of sleep at night.
Now that your six-month-old is adjusting to a 2-naps schedule, following a predictable routine is easier. Sleep and nap time should fall around the same time each day. Not only are regular bedtimes more convenient for you, but they’re incredibly beneficial for your child as well.
As parents Be flexible. Your typical nap and bedtime pattern will most likely be disrupted as a result of your baby’s six month sleep regression . For the time being, parents’ sleeping patterns must be adjusted.
If your baby’s sleep pattern is causing you troubles, the Cubo AI Smart Baby Monitor can help you solve the problem in days by providing you greater control over how your baby sleeps. Every morning, you may get a report containing your baby’s sleep health in easy-to-navigate statistics from the previous night thanks to the baby monitor’s ability to keep track of the data. You’ll be able to get your baby to sleep through the night in no time if you use it correctly.
Conclusion
It is tiring and difficult to resume sleep after a sleep regression. Remember, regressions are temporary; you must endure them as they happen. Don’t worry, the six month sleep regression phase will go easily if you use the measures mentioned above. Furthermore, you must be consistent in your execution of those methods. Peace of mind without retreating is the most important thing to have with a healthy sleep habit.
It’s obviously easier to say than to do, but stay positive when you go through a six month sleep regression and know that the reasons behind it are actually good.
