They slept. Now they do not.
You finally thought sleep was improving, and suddenly you are awake four times a night again. We had more than one stretch like this.
A “regression” often comes with a real change: lighter sleep, a new skill, teething, separation anxiety or a nap change. Babies are learning constantly, so there is not only one regression.
New skills do not clock off at bedtime
Rolling, sitting, crawling and standing can all be practised in the cot at ridiculous hours. Ari could be exhausted and still seem determined to rehearse something new.
Floor time during the day helped. So did keeping the bedtime routine familiar instead of changing everything after one bad night.
Choose one gentle response for a few nights
We tried to agree how we would respond before bedtime, because inventing a new plan at three in the morning never brought out our best thinking.
You do not have to follow somebody else’s sleep method. Pick what feels workable and safe for your family, then give it a little time before deciding it has failed.
If poor sleep arrives with fever, pain, feeding changes or unusual crying, it may be more than a sleep phase. Ask your baby’s doctor or nurse.
Call your doctor if
- Night waking comes with fever, pulling at ears, or inconsolable crying
- Your baby has stopped feeding well as well as sleeping badly
- You are so exhausted that driving or daily tasks feel unsafe — this is a real reason to ask for help
