Are you a new parent struggling with your baby's sleep schedule? Have you noticed that your baby is suddenly waking up more frequently at night, despite previously sleeping soundly? If so, you may be experiencing the dreaded 6 month sleep regression. This can be a challenging time for both you and your baby, but rest assured that it is temporary and will eventually pass. Keep reading this article for important tips and strategies that will help you and your baby to get through this challenging phase.
What Is the 6 Month Sleep Regression?
The 6 month sleep regression is a term used to describe a stage when a baby who has been sleeping well suddenly starts waking up more often during the night. It usually occurs around the age of 6 months but can happen anytime between 3-9 months. It is often referred to as a regression because it feels like a step backward from the progress you've made in establishing a sleep routine.
What Causes Sleep Regression in 6 Month Olds?
Before we delve into how to cope with sleep regression, it's essential to understand what causes it. At around six months, babies go through several developmental milestones that can cause sleep regression. These milestones include:
Learning to Roll Over
At around six months, babies learn to roll over. This newfound skill can be exciting for them, but it can also disrupt their sleep. Your baby may roll over and then become upset or stuck in this new position.
Starting Solid Foods
Around six months, babies start to explore solid foods. This can be exciting, but it can also cause digestive discomfort, leading to changes in their sleep patterns.
Teething
Teething can start at around six months, and it can be a painful experience for babies. As their teeth start to come through, babies may become more fussy and restless at night.
Crawling
Some babies start to crawl at around six months. This newfound mobility can lead to increased excitement and difficulty settling down at night.
Learning to Sit Up
At around six months, babies may start to sit up independently and it can lead to more frequent wake-ups as babies may become stuck in this new position and need help to lie back down.
These developmental milestones can cause babies to wake up more frequently or make it harder for them to fall asleep. Let’s learn about the signs of sleep regression in 6 months olds.
Signs of Sleep Regression in 6 Month Olds
It's not always easy to tell if your baby is experiencing sleep regression or just having a few rough nights. However, some signs can indicate that your baby is going through a sleep regression phase. These signs include:
Increased Fussiness During the Day
If your baby is experiencing six month sleep regression, they may be more fussy than usual during the day. This is because they are not getting the sleep they need and are feeling more tired than usual.
Difficulty Falling Asleep or Staying Asleep
During sleep regression, it can be harder for babies to fall asleep or stay asleep. They may wake up more frequently and take longer to go back to sleep.
Waking up More Frequently Than Usual
If your baby is waking up more frequently than usual, it may be a sign that they are experiencing sleep regression. They may wake up at night and find it difficult to settle back down.
Shorter Naps
Babies who are experiencing sleep regression may have shorter naps during the day. This is because they are not getting the quality sleep they need at night, making them more tired during the day.
Changes in Appetite
Babies may experience changes in their appetite during sleep regression. They may want to feed more frequently or they may not have an appetite at all due to feeling tired and fussy.
Navigate Sleep Regression with Confidence
Ensure your baby feels secure and comforted at night.
Tips for Coping with Sleep Regression in 6 Month Olds
While sleep regression can be a challenging time for parents, there are several tips and strategies that can help you cope. Here are some of the most effective ways to manage sleep regression in 6 month olds:
Be Consistent with the Bedtime Routine
Establishing a consistent bedtime routine can be helpful in managing sleep regression with a six month old. This routine can include activities like a warm bath, a bedtime story, or a lullaby, all of which can signal to your baby that it's time to wind down and get ready for sleep.
Provide a comfortable sleeping environment
Creating a comfortable sleeping environment can also be helpful in managing sleep regression. Ensure that your baby's room is cool, dark, and quiet. You may also want to invest in a baby sleeping bag and a white noise device to help drown out any outside noise that could disturb their sleep.
Adjust Your Baby's Feeding Schedule
If your baby is waking up more frequently than usual, it may be due to hunger. Adjusting your baby's feeding schedule to include an additional feeding before bed or more frequent feedings during the day can help ensure that they are not hungry during the night.
Avoid over-stimulating activities before bedtime
Avoid over-stimulating activities such as playing with toys or watching TV before bedtime. Instead, choose quiet and calming activities such as reading a book or singing a lullaby.
Take steps to address teething
If your baby is experiencing teething pain, offer them teething toys or a cold washcloth to chew on. You may also consider offering them a pain reliever such as infant acetaminophen or ibuprofen. However, make sure to consult with a pediatrician first.
Don't give up
Sleep regression can be a challenging time, but it is important to be patient and understanding with your baby. They are going through a natural developmental phase, and it may take time for them to adjust and settle into a new sleep routine.
Ask for help
It's important to seek support from your partner, family, or friends during a sleep regression. They can help provide emotional support and give you a break when you need it.
Make time for self-care
Caring for a baby during sleep regression can be physically and emotionally draining. Practicing self-care is essential to ensure that you are taking care of yourself as well. Take breaks when you can, get enough rest, eat healthy meals, and engage in activities that you enjoy.
Conclusion
6 month old sleep regression is a normal part of a baby's development, and it can be a challenging time for parents. However, there are several tips and strategies that can help you cope with sleep regression in 6 month olds. Establishing a consistent bedtime routine, creating a comfortable sleeping environment, adjusting your baby's feeding schedule, avoiding over-stimulating activities, and addressing hunger & teething are all effective ways to manage 6 month sleep regression. Remember that this phase is temporary, and with patience and understanding, your baby will eventually settle into a new sleep routine.
FAQs
Is sleep regression in 6 month olds normal?
Yes, 6 month old sleep regression is a normal part of a baby's development and can occur at around six months of age.
How long does 6 month sleep regression last?
The 6 month sleep regression typically lasts anywhere from 2-6 weeks. However, every baby is different, so it's possible that your baby's sleep patterns may be disrupted for a longer or shorter period of time. Read more about sleep regression here.
Can sleep regression in 6 month olds be prevented?
No, sleep regression is a natural part of a baby's development, and it cannot be prevented. However, establishing a consistent bedtime routine, creating a comfortable sleeping environment, and trying the above-mentioned tips can help manage sleep regression in 6 month old.
Will my baby's sleep patterns return to normal after the 6 month sleep regression?
Yes, once the 6 month sleep regression is over, your baby's sleep patterns should return to normal. However, it's important to establish healthy sleep habits early on to help your baby sleep better in the long term.
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Made it possible to put the baby down in the baby nest! Before baby could just sleep on me.
We had extreme problems with our 3rd child's sleep. After 3 months, we were at our wit's end and tried just about everything. He never slept for more than 45 minutes at a time and not by himself. It improved with the weighted sleeping swaddle. Now he is 5 months old and sleeps well for several hours.
Our daughter is 17 months old and she has a regular wake-up schedule around 9 PM, 11 PM, 2 AM, 4 AM, and 5:30 AM, usually staying awake between 5:30 AM and 6:30 AM.
She frequently wakes up during the night, feeling upset, tossing and turning, and wanting to breastfeed. She gets upset if she doesn't get to breastfeed and prefers to sleep on us while we have to stand up and rock her back to sleep. She usually sleeps in my bed.
Nights have been challenging, and we were getting desperate. However, last night was our first experience with the weighted sleeping bag... 😱 😱
She woke up around 12 AM for the first time, climbed on me, and quickly fell back asleep. She woke up a few times after that but managed to soothe herself back to sleep. At 5 AM, I had to stand up and rock her, but she quickly fell back asleep. At 6:10 AM, there was a joyful wake-up call from our 1.5-year-old. She slept much more soundly and peacefully, and she managed to fall back asleep on her own, which she had never done before.
We noticed a significant improvement just on the first night. In fact, I don't feel utterly exhausted this morning and don't have that pressing need to take a nap during the day, which I usually do. I'm feeling enthusiastic about the upcoming nights and hoping to get a full night's sleep without interruptions, so I can regain some normalcy in my life. I can't imagine what we would have done if we hadn't found this weighted sleeping bag.
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About 4 months ago, we entered a nightmare period. Our little boy, who had been sleeping through the night and was generally happy, suddenly started waking up multiple times during the night, inconsolable. Initially, we attributed it to a cold, but even after he recovered, the night disturbances continued. About 2 months later, he was diagnosed with asthma, which seemed like a valid reason for his nighttime awakenings. However, despite responding well to asthma medication and having no issues during the daytime, the nights remained a pure ordeal. He would wake up incredibly anxious and screaming, and we often found ourselves staying up for hours trying to soothe him back to sleep. We tried everything and came across something called 'Night Terrors,' which seemed to describe his symptoms perfectly – an anxious nightmare from which he couldn't wake up, likely triggered by his illness.
I am a trained occupational therapist, and I understand the importance of sensory stimuli for many individuals. So, we began researching products related to weighted blankets/bags. That's when we discovered this sleeping bag.
We received it a week ago, and now, he puts it on when he has his nighttime bottle, creating a positive association. And I must say, it's been a tremendous success. He has slept for a full 11 hours every night for the past 7 nights. Our boy is now extremely happy and well-rested, and so are his parents
Our son used to wake up in the middle of the night and struggle to fall back asleep, sometimes staying awake for 2-3 hours. When we read a lot about weighted pajamas, we decided to give them a try. We noticed results almost immediately. He started falling asleep faster and sleeping more peacefully. Instead of having 2-4 wakeful nights a week, it reduced to just one. Now that he has moved in with his big sister, he sleeps through the entire night, and we still use the weighted pajamas because we're afraid to try without them.
We purchased the Baby Deepsleep for our son a couple of months ago. It worked very well in terms of his daytime naps, but it was challenging to determine if it helped at night since our son continued to wake up as frequently as before. Nevertheless, it's a nice product, and I can certainly recommend it to everyone I know to give it a try
When my daughter turned 4 months old, her sleep gradually started to deteriorate. By the time she was 7-8 months old, it had become so bad that going to bed seemed pointless. She would wake up crying 1-2 times every hour throughout the night, and sometimes even more frequently during the early hours of the night. It was absolute torture.
I was aware of weighted swaddle but had hesitated due to the price. However, after trying everything else without success, it was our last option. We've used it for the past 4 nights, and the results have been remarkable. For the first 2 nights, she slept for 7-8 hours straight, and for the last 2 nights, she slept for a whopping 10 hours (!!) before waking up for a bottle. It's been incredible, and it has truly been my salvation. I should have bought it several months ago. I can't recommend a weighted bag enough!
Our girl had colic for the first 2 months, and all her sleep was on us parents... 🤯 We couldn't get her to sleep on her own under any circumstances. The first few nights with the weighted swaddle were a bit challenging as it didn't wrap as tightly as she was used to. But then, something miraculous happened! We woke up one morning and were utterly amazed because she had slept for 11 hours straight. Initially, we thought it might be a one-time occurrence, but to our delight, she has been doing the same thing every night since! 🤩 It's been a month now, and we use the weighted swaddle every time she needs to sleep, whether it's in the sling, the stroller, or the crib. We're even considering getting an extra one because we can't do without it when it's being washed. 😅🙈 The weighted swaddle has truly been invaluable to us, and we wholeheartedly recommend it!
Highly recommended if you have a child who refuses to sleep. My daughter, who was then 5 months old, simply wouldn't sleep. But once she got the weighted sleeping swaddle, she started sleeping right away. I could even stop using the stroller, and she would continue sleeping.
She went from only sleeping for 20 minutes while being held to using the weighted sleeping swaddle, and on the first day, she slept for 40 minutes in her stroller. The naps only got longer from there. Now, she's a happy and well-rested child! 🤩😍
We purchased a weighted bag for our 13-month-old daughter, who hasn't had significant sleep issues. She used to wake up 3 times at night for breastfeeding. After using the weighted bag for 14 days, we've seen a noticeable improvement. She has at least halved the number of awakenings where she needs assistance to fall back asleep 🤪.
We also immediately noticed a slower respiratory rate, with deeper breaths.
We're very pleased with the customer service and the fast delivery to Norway.
Our baby becomes noticeably calmer as soon as we put on the sleeping bag.
I was recommended one for babies aged 8 months and older, with a minimum weight of 10 kg. However, it turned out to be too big for our child, so I am selling mine to buy a smaller one.
It does No magic, but it helped my Little one to sleep deeper and is a Great help. Still our Baby wakes up several times a night but now it finds into sleep faster and easier.
Our son has been using the weighted bag with great success (!) since he was 13 months old. We regret not investing in one earlier because we've always had challenges with his sleep. When he turned 18-19 months, he had outgrown the first one, and we considered whether we should buy the next size called "Weighted Sleep Suit" I was skeptical because it leaves the feet free, and I was worried it might cause restlessness at bedtime. We called your company and received excellent and helpful guidance, which made us confident in purchasing the larger size.
Now, we've been using it for a few months, and it continues to work wonders for our son's sleep. We are still very satisfied customers! In the first few nights with the larger size, he seemed a bit more restless in his legs and feet than we were used to, so we used socks, which helped. But now, socks are no longer necessary, and he absolutely loves his suit.
It's a brilliant product that has greatly improved both our son's ability to fall asleep and his sleep quality. Even during the awakenings he used to struggle with when we first started using it around 13 months, we noticed that the suit seemed to calm him down as soon as we put him in it. He became more relaxed and settled.
I highly recommend the weighted bag or "Weighted Sleep Suit" to families with young children experiencing sleep difficulties. It's such a simple way to improve sleep! Thank you for your consistently excellent service
Milas is a sensitive baby and has always had a hard time falling asleep without being held, rocked, or close to me. It used to take between 1-2 hours to get him to sleep. He just didn't want to settle down, and his arms and legs would swing around. We couldn't believe it was true on the first night when we tried the weighted bag. His body became completely calm, and he fell asleep without any assistance within 10 minutes. It's been like that ever since. We are immensely grateful and highly recommend it to everyone. We've regained our evenings and have so much more peace. A fantastic invention!