Ah, sleep regressions – when good sleep goes bad,  that can leave even the most seasoned parents feeling like they're back at square one. Just when you thought you had it all figured out, your little one decides to throw a curveball and suddenly, sleep becomes a distant memory.

But don't worry, because in the world of parenting, the so-called “sleep regression”  is  just another bump along the journey to better sleep for everyone involved. 

Key Loving Lessons Learned in this episode:

🟣 What is a sleep regression?
🟣Is a sleep regression real? 

🟣 When do these sleep regressions occur? 

🟣How long does a sleep regression last? 

🟣What can I do to help my child during the sleep regression? 

🟣Should I change our routine during the sleep regression?

🟣Is it normal? And will it be ok if they don’t get all their sleep?

🟣How can I support myself when my child is going through a “sleep regression”?

🟣When should I reach out for help with a sleep regression?

🟣Will my child’s sleep go back to normal?

🟣Is this teething or is this developmental?

🟣Can I help my little one sleep when they are going through a sleep regression?

Links in this episode: 

⭐️Wonder Weeks

⭐️Understanding Flexible Routines

⭐️Sleep Coaching Success - 6 months and older

⭐️Sleep Shaping Success- 5 months and younger

⭐️Understanding Temperament & Parenting Styles

⭐️Irene’s Calendar - Let’s hop on a call!

The Sleep Regressions Guide

The sleep regressions guide outlines the developmental milestones your little one will experience during their first two years of life. These milestones indicate that our children are in a season of transition. And yes, as our children go through these changes, we, as parents, are also navigating our own season of transition.

Your child will continue to experience "sleep regressions," as will you, because change is guaranteed.  These  changes and transitions occur roughly every six months, which tends to be more manageable. Many people don’t consider this as a season of change, but I do, and I like to share this awareness so you understand there’s nothing wrong with you.

Here’s the thing: there’s a lot of excitement around new skills and discovering new things in the world. Your child’s brain is thrilled by all these new experiences. However, while they’re eager to explore, they can quickly become overtired and overstimulated by all the new learning.

Sometimes, our little ones don’t want to shut down and sleep because they want to keep learning and exploring. This is especially true for certain temperaments. Naturally, this can lead us to react or respond in ways that may or may not serve our family well, depending on our parenting style.

Things to take into consideration with the “sleep regression” 

It's important to focus on the right now and not fall into the trap where we're like, oh my gosh, they're never going to sleep or  get out of this.   These thoughts can take us down a negative rabbit hole and they don't serve us very well. 

A better way to approach "sleep regressions" is shifting our mindset and reframing how we think about this. Try these thought reframes: 

“We're in a season of transition.”  

This can remind us, we all change and through this change  we're all learning and growing.  This allows us to  keep taking actions that will serve us and serve our families. 

“My child’s sleep needs have changed.”  

That means your little one may need a longer wakeful window, naps and bedtime might need to be adjusted as well.  

I know that when I was sleep-deprived, overwhelmed, and anxious, this was one of my struggles. I was very resistant to change and had a lot of negative thoughts. I like things a certain way and wanted to check the boxes. Sometimes, I just wanted to stay in the same flow I had just figured out because it was comfortable. Anything outside of that was challenging.

However, these seasons of change ultimately helped me overcome my control freak and perfectionist tendencies, allowing me to move past sleep deprivation and anxiety.

That is why I incorporated flexible routines and embraced the mindset that comes with them. Flexible routines mean being adaptable, which helped me deal with change as it comes along, preventing me from getting stuck in frustrating patterns. This approach allowed me to lead my children and empower them in the process. I also realized how capable, flexible, and adaptable my boys could be.

This mindset also helped me adjust my unreasonable expectations for both myself and my children, enabling us to navigate through change more effectively. When I work with families in a sleep consultation or group coaching, and parents have the opportunity to practice implementing flexible routines day to day, they become equipped with the tools they need to get sleep back on track. 

I want you to understand what to expect during your child’s major growth spurts. When you know the developmental milestones and how they may affect your child’s sleep, you’ll be prepared to take action and help your child through the so-called “sleep regression.”

Check out the Watch Me Grow blog series, where I dive into the Ages & Stages to help you know what to expect and identify your best next steps during this season.(Coming soon...) 

Watch me grow- The 4 month “Sleep Regression”

Watch me grow- The 8, 9, 10 month “Sleep Regression”

Watch me grow- The 12 month “Sleep Regression”

Watch me grow- The 15-18 month “Sleep Regression”

Watch me grow- The 2 year old “Sleep Regression”

Watch me grow- The 3 year old  “Sleep Regression”