Surviving the 12 Month Sleep Regression

The 12 Month Sleep Regression

Fighting naps… Fussy and restless… Waking up multiple times a night… Short naps… Refusing bedtime…. Does this sound familiar? If your little one is close to celebrating their first birthday or they already had their first birthday and all of this sound familiar… I am very sorry to tell you, but you might be in the middle of the 12 month sleep regression. If your baby has been a good sleeper and you are seeing some of these obstacles, hang in there! You’ve got this! It will only be temporary. I will give you some advice on how to survive the 12 month sleep regression.

What is a sleep regression?

A sleep regression is an abrupt change in a baby’s sleep pattern. Therefore the first couple of years of a baby’s life, they are going through the most developmental changes in their entire life. Just think about it, they are learning to walk, crawl and talk. They are going through nap transitions, they are growing a desire for independence. Their going through all sorts of life changes like potty training, getting a sibling, transitioning from a crib to a toddler bed. This is just mentioning a few. A sleep regression can last anything from 1 week – 4 weeks.

What does a 12-month-old schedule look like?

The first thing you need to look at is your baby’s sleep schedule. How much sleep they should get during the day and at night. You need to make sure they are in a good routine. But most parents think that when they are hitting the 12 month sleep regression and their little one is refusing their 2^nd nap that they are ready to drop a nap. Taking away this 2^nd nap will lead to overtiredness and even more fussiness which can make everything feel so much worse. If they are refusing their 2^nd nap let them have some quiet and peaceful time in the crib. It is okay for them to spend some quiet time alone in their crib. You can always move bedtime a little bit earlier on these days to make sure they are not going into a complete state of overtiredness.

Download your free sample schedule for your 12-month-old here. https://unplugsleepsolutions.com/opt-in/

Independent sleep skills

If your baby is an independent sleeper, do not resort to let them get in bed with you, trying to rock them to sleep or feeding to sleep. This will only cause confusion on their side and whenever they are waking up in the middle of the night, they would need this to get back to sleep again. It is so easy to implement a bad sleeping habit when babies are going through a regression or sickness and this will make it a roller coaster ride when trying to take those habits away again.

DO offer MORE comfort to them during this time.

Give lots of cuddles and tickles. Stay a little bit longer in their room when they are falling asleep.

Stick to your bedtime routine so they are familiar with what will happen next.

If you are struggling with independent sleep skills for your little one, schedule a call with me so we can steer you in the right direction. https://calendly.com/unplugsleepsolutions/15min

Get them out and about

At the age of 12 months babies are buzzyyy little bees. Going through all of these changes and new developmental milestones it is important for them to practice their new skills. Get them outside to play! Getting them in a splash pool and being exposed to the sun will help produce melatonin which will be released at night, helping with better sleep. Give them the opportunity to burn off the extra energy they have. Set up a safe play area in your house where you can keep them busy. Blowing bubbles through a straw.

Playing in a ball pit.

Dancing around to your favorite songs, drawing, painting, helping them by practicing standing and sitting down and the list goes on. The more energy they get to burn off during the day, the less they will be up during the night.

Let them EAT

Around their 1^st birthday, babies will go through a growth spurt. You might notice that they are hungrier and eating more than usual. If you are feeding your baby more during this change, it will help them to not wake up as often for hunger. Incorporating fresh fruit, vegetables and extra protein into their diet will be a good idea. Here is a great example of a Sample Menu for a 1-year-old from Healthy Children. https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/feeding-nutrition/Pages/Sample-One-Day-Menu-for-a-One-Year-Old.aspx

In conclusion the 12 month sleep regression will be tough, but there are ways to make it easier on yourself and on your little one.

Hang in there!

Stick to your normal bedtime routine and daytime schedule. Give more love and comfort. Get them to play during the day. Get rid of that energy and provide a little bit more food and milk. If things are getting too much for you try to lean on your partner, a friend or a family member to give yourself a break. Eventually this phase will pass soon, and you will be back to normal… or as normal as it can be with a little one.