Understanding the 12 month sleep regression
Is your once peaceful sleeper suddenly waking at all hours of the night and refusing their naps? Welcome to the 12-month baby sleep regression, a phase that can leave even the most experienced parents feeling frazzled. You're not alone in this sleep chaos but understanding what’s happening can make all the difference.
In this post, I’ll explore the telltale signs of the 12-month sleep regression, how long you can expect it to last, and the reasons behind this perplexing phase. Plus, I’ll share two quick and effective tips to help you and your little one navigate this challenging time. Keep reading if you’re ready to reclaim your sleep and help your baby through this sleep regression.
Signs of the 12 month sleep regression
Does your 12 month old’s sleep suddenly seem all messed up? If so, you can pretty much count on it being because of the 12 month sleep regression. But, if you’re not 100% sure, here’s how the 12 month regression most often manifests in baby sleep:
It’s naptime. The same naptime your baby has been used to for weeks but suddenly, they seem wide awake when they are supposed to be sleeping. You try and try but they just won’t fall asleep for their nap. They may cry as you try to put them to sleep or they may giggle and squirm but the bottom line is, they don’t seem sleepy at all- even though you know they should be.
Same scenario as above but at bedtime. You know they should be tired because they didn’t nap that great today but when bedtime rolls around, it is a huge fight to get them to fall asleep and stay asleep.
Then, as nighttime rolls around and you’ve finally gotten them down for the night, they are back up often to call for you. Maybe they were previously sleeping through or maybe they were still having some wake ups, but whatever you’re experiencing now is a clear setback in their night sleep.
On top of all that, your baby is also starting their day earlier than usual. This may have been a drastic change- hello 5am wake ups! Or it might be slowly creeping earlier and earlier. Either way, this is another sign your baby is going through the 12 month sleep regression.
Your little one might not exhibit all these signs at once. You may only see one or two signs. But any of these around 12 months can be a sign of this sleep regression.
How long does the 12 month sleep regression last?
Like most sleep regressions, you can expect it to last about 2-4 weeks. This is the typical amount of time you can expect the cause of the regression to be disruptive.
However, It can often seem like a sleep regression is dragging on indefinitely, but the reality might be that your baby has developed new sleep habits during the regression that now need to be addressed. Without understanding this, parents can feel like the sleep regression is lasting for months.
For instance, imagine your baby used to fall asleep on their own in the crib before the regression. During the regression, they start having trouble falling asleep, so you begin holding them until they nod off and then transferring them to the crib. This might go on for several days or even weeks. By the time the regression-causing milestone has passed, you might wonder why your baby still isn't falling asleep independently.
The truth is, if you wait for your baby to indicate they no longer need to be held to sleep, you'll likely be waiting a long time. You'll need to take the lead and start putting them down awake again. Because your baby has grown accustomed to your help falling asleep, this transition will require an adjustment period. However, once you work through it, your baby will return to their healthy sleep habits in no time!
Why does the 12 month sleep regression happen?
There are several reasons you may be experiencing the 12 month sleep regression. Let’s talk through the 3 main causes below:
Physical milestones- Your 12 month old is extremely active at this point and in many ways resembles a toddler more than a baby now. Standing, cruising, and even walking for some babies are new skills they are practicing and getting ready for. This increased physical activity can sometimes cause your 12 month old to become overtired and overtiredness can lead to difficulty falling asleep- even causing your baby to seem wide awake when they are really exhausted. At the same time, your baby may be impatient to practice and use their new skills when it’s sleep time. It’s not uncommon to see them showing off in their crib, playing and cruising around for fun, just because they can! But fear not, the novelty of practicing these skills in the crib will wear off within a week or so.
Language milestones- There's also a lot of language development going on behind the scenes. Your baby has probably started saying some of their first words like “mama,” “dada,” or “ball.” Apart from the basics, they may not be talking a ton yet but their little brains are practicing and working on making those connections. And your 12 month old can understand a lot more than they can express verbally. Their receptive skills are growing and developing. These developments can be a sleep interrupter- after all, it’s hard for them to shut their little brains off long enough to fall asleep.
Changing sleep needs- It’s natural for babies sleep needs to change and lessen as they get older. I find parents typically fall in one extreme or the other with this one. Either they are expecting their 12 month old to still be on the same schedule they were at 9 months and it’s not enough awake time for them OR they are thinking their 12 month old is ready for only 1 nap when in reality they are not at all ready for that huge nap transition yet. Take a look at your baby’s sleep schedule. Have you added room for more awake time between sleeps? Have you considered capping a nap if it’s getting hard to fit everything in? Are you trying to push your baby to a 1 nap schedule before they’re ready? The average 12 month old will be on 2 naps, able to manage 3-4 hour wake windows, and be capable of 10-12 hours of overnight sleep.
3 tips for handling the 12 month sleep regression
Change your mindset: Let’s flip the script on sleep regressions and view them in a positive light. Instead of lamenting the latest disruption to sleep, let’s embrace a new perspective. In fact, many people now prefer to call them sleep progressions, celebrating the growth and development these changes represent. Sometimes all you need is a little re-frame and attitude adjustment.
Schedule tweaks: This sleep regression most often presents itself in refusal or resistance of nap 2. Don’t be surprised when your 12 month old starts to struggle going down for nap 2. This is common and it is NOT a sign that your baby is ready for just 1 daily nap. It simply means they are going through a phase of nap resistance and that they need you to remain consistent in offering nap 2 for them until they work it out. We want to hold onto nap 2 until as close to 15 months as possible.
Some things you can do to help if you are struggling with that second nap in particular:
1. Cut off nap 1 by 11:15am.
2. Gradually increase time between nap 1 and nap 2 to 3.75 or 4 hours.
3. Know that it's okay if nap 2 is getting shorter (30-45 minutes). It becomes less and less restorative as you near the transition to 1 nap so don't fret!
Don’t start any new habits: This is the hardest piece of advice for many parents but it is so important. Remember when we talked about how long this sleep regression will last? Well the truth is, it will feel like it’s lasting longer if you introduce new habits because you will just need to end up breaking them later on. If your baby gets used to more help to fall asleep during the sleep regression (like your presence, rocking, nursing, laying with, etc.) then they will continue to expect that until you change those habits back.
This is why my motto for sleep regressions is not to start any new habits that you don’t wish to continue. If your baby has been an independent sleeper, then continue to expect that of them, even during a sleep regression. Don’t make any big changes to their routine or schedule during this time. Consistency is what they need as they learn to navigate their changing brains and bodies.
Have a baby who isn’t an independent sleeper but you know it’s something you want to tackle? Schedule a free call with me here and we can chat about how I can help!
Final Thoughts
Navigating the 12 month sleep regression can be a challenging experience for both parents and babies. However, understanding this phase is key to managing it effectively.
Remember, it's crucial to maintain a positive mindset. Viewing sleep regressions as sleep progressions highlights your baby’s growth and development. Stick to a consistent schedule, make necessary tweaks, and avoid starting new habits that you'll later need to break. With patience and persistence, your baby will soon return to their healthy sleep patterns. Embrace the journey and celebrate the progress, knowing that this phase is a temporary step in your baby’s development. You’ve got this!
