What we’ll cover:
- What is a Sleep Regression?
- What’s unique about the 12 month sleep regression?
- Signs of the 12 month sleep regression
- 12 Month Sleep Regression Survival Tips
- Is it teething, a growth spurt or a regression disrupting my baby’s sleep?
I’ve seen it time and time again. Right when parents are excitedly planning their baby’s first birthday, they’re often hit with a terribly rough patch of sleep. This “one year sleep regression” often manifests as fighting naps, resisting bedtime and waking throughout the night (sometimes for hours on end.)
Your baby is now 12 months old, so you’ve probably been through a sleep regression or two. So how is this one different? And what’s the best way to get through it?
To help you stay rested (and sane) while celebrating your baby’s first birthday, this article will give you 9 actionable tips for surviving the 12 month sleep regression. The article will also explain how you can tell if it’s a sleep regression, teething or growth spurt that’s affecting your one year old’s sleep. If teething is your culprit check out my guide for all you need to know about teething and sleep training.
This post may contain affiliate links.
x
RELATED: My baby stands (or sits up) in the crib and won’t sleep!
What is a Sleep Regression?
Sleep regressions are predictable disruptions in sleep for a baby or toddler who was previously sleeping well. It’s when your baby resists falling asleep, starts waking more at night, or fights naps out of the blue.
Sleep regressions come at predictable times because they are associated with developmental milestones. As your little one advances in one area (like walking or talking) it’s normal for another aspect of development to temporarily regress (like sleep.)
Because they coincide with developmental milestones, sleep regressions may happen at 6 weeks, 4 months, 6-7 months, 8-10 months, 12 months, 18 months and 2 years old. Most children experience a few sleep regressions in their first 2 years. It’s rare for a child to experience all of them.
The good news is that sleep regressions are temporary. And your 12 month old should go back to sleeping well in 1-2 weeks.
So if your little one was sleeping great, but is suddenly waking up at night, fighting bedtime or naps, and is fussier than normal- she could be going through the 12 month sleep regression (or the “one year old sleep regression.”)
RELATED: How to get your baby sleep longer stretches at night!
What’s unique about the 12 month sleep regression?
So now that you know developmental milestones can cause sleep to temporarily regress, it’s no wonder your one year old is not sleeping! At this age many babies are taking their first steps, speaking several words clearly, following simple commands and advancing their fine motor skills. There’s a lot going on in your little one’s brain and body!
Also, separation anxiety can peak at 12 months old. It’s a normal phase of development, but can be quite stressful when your little one becomes clingier or cries whenever you put her down or leave the room.
Separation anxiety often surfaces at sleep times. If your baby was previously fine falling asleep on her own, she may now cry when placed in her crib awake.
A greater awareness of the world can make it especially difficult for your 12 month old to wind down and fall asleep for naps. She’ll fight falling asleep because she’d rather be playing!
Also, nap patterns can change around your baby’s first birthday. Many 12 month olds start fighting the afternoon nap, leading their parents to believe it’s time to switch to one nap. But this often leads to more over-tiredness, crankiness and worsened sleep because your baby isn’t yet ready for one nap.
Signs of the 12 month sleep regression
• Fighting naps or short naps
This age is notorious for refusing naps, in particular resistance around the second nap. Now is not the time to transition to one nap though!
• Resisting bedtime
The sudden list of requests at bedtime can indicate a need for slightly longer wake windows to burn off all of that toddler energy.
• Waking more at night
Multiple night wakings and screaming at night are very common during the 1 year sleep regression.
• Hungrier than normal
Being a mobile toddler can cause your little one to increase their daily calories! Also, a short-lived growth spurt can contribute to the one year sleep regression.
• More fussy, restless or clingy
A peak in separation anxiety at this age is very common and this can cause restless sleep and fussiness in your 12 month old.
12 Month Sleep Regression Survival Tips
So you have figured out that your 12 month old is in the middle of a sleep regression, but what do you do to get through those sleepless nights and long days……
If you want to know all my expert advice for surviving sleep regressions and getting your baby sleeping great ASAP, then download my free Sleep Regression Survival Guide here.
Tip #1: Know what you can expect from your baby’s sleep
The first step in fixing your baby’s sleep problems is to know what you can realistically expect. Having a clear idea of your 12 month old toddler’s sleep needs helps you know exactly what you’re working towards.
Naps & Wake Windows
- Your baby needs 2-3 total hours of daytime sleep everyday.
- This is usually divided between 2 naps. It’s usually too early to drop to one nap.
- Wake windows of 2.5–4 hours throughout the day work best at this age.
Bedtime
- Bedtime should fall between 6:30-8 pm.
- This is the “normal” range for bedtime, but try to keep your child’s bedtime within a 15 minute range each night. (Tight bedtimes lead to the best night sleep.)
Night Sleep
- Most 12 month olds need 11-12 hours sleep at night. (Some can get by with 10 hours of night sleep if they nap 3 hours everyday and moods are stable.)
Night Feedings
- Your 1 year old CAN sleep through the night without feeding!
- If you’re worried about your baby’s growth or weight gain, please double check this with your baby’s doctor.
- Check out my Weaning Night Feedings Guide.
Total sleep in 24 hours
- 13-15 hours
Tip #2: Keep daytime active
Most 12 month olds are active little souls! They’re busy scooting around the furniture, or walking, and need plenty of time everyday to practice new skills. So make sure your baby has ample time throughout the day to move around and burn off physical energy.
Create a baby-proofed play area in your living room to keep your baby busy. You can also put him in a jumper or activity center so he’s stimulated and active while you do housework or catch up on emails.
Time spent outdoors is vital with helping our little ones take in new stimulation and burn off energy. Include a trip to the park or play time in the yard everyday. Even a stroll around the neighborhood can help avoid pent up energy preventing your baby from settling to sleep at bedtime. On bad weather days, arrange a playdate or sign up for a baby swim class.
Being active during the day will prevent your 12 month baby from being awake all night long wanting to practice his new skills!
Products to Keep Your Baby Busy
Tip #3: Don’t make big changes to your sleep routine
The 12 month sleep regression is not the time to transition to one nap or switch to a toddler bed. Regressions are times of restlessness and disrupted sleep. The more you can stick to your baby’s typical sleep routine, the better she’ll bounce back after this regression passes.
Specifically, keep up with your calming bedtime routine and consistent bedtime everyday. If your little one typically falls asleep on her own, continue encouraging this everyday. You can sit quietly in a chair in her bedroom if separation anxiety makes her cry when you leave her bedroom.
Keep your baby on 2 naps a day, with wake windows ranging from 2.5-4 hours. Sometimes daycare will transition babies to one nap at 12 months old. If your daycare insists on doing this, that’s ok. Just make sure your baby continues taking 2 naps when home with you. Earlier bedtimes may also be needed on daycare days.
Easier said than done with a one year old fighting sleep, but try your hardest to avoid pulling your baby into bed with you. Although it can seem like the only thing that works, it’s a guarantee that you’ll be co-sleeping long-term. Instead of bed-sharing, keep your baby sleeping in her crib and you can camp out in her bedroom for a few days to ride out this sleep regression.
Children thrive with consistency and routine, especially during difficult times. Although your baby may fight his typical sleep routines, doing the same activities at the same time each day actually eases his restlessness, because he knows exactly what will happen and that it’s time for sleep. Stay consistent!
If you need help with getting on to the right schedule your 12 month old, I have all the information you need (and more) in my gentle sleep training program.
RELATED: How to Help Your 11 Month Old Sleep Like a Champ!
Tip #4: Give extra comfort
As babies and toddlers go through developmental bursts, it’s normal for them to seek closeness to their parents. Your 12 month old is learning to be more mobile and independent, but still needs a lot of reassurance.
Separation anxiety is the process of newfound independence causing stress for your little one. Your baby is understanding more and more that she’s a separate individual from her parents. And there will be times she needs more comfort, affection and reassurance.
Plus, your baby will be over-tired, fussy or clingy because of the disrupted sleep from this regression.
Give your baby extra cuddles, kisses and one-on-one time during the day. Remind her how much you love her. Make a point of sitting down together several times a day (for just 10 minutes each) and read a book, play a game or sing songs together.
Make sure your baby’s bedtime routine is filled with eye contact and hugs, and free from distractions. This will help your little one unwind enough to accept falling asleep.
At 12 months old you can safely introduce a stuffed animal or lovey. Having something to cuddle helps soothe and comfort your baby at bedtime.
Popular loveys
Tip #5: Feed your baby more frequently
There’s often a growth spurt around your baby’s first birthday, which makes your little one hungrier than usual. This extra hunger can make him wake up early from a nap or more often at night.
Don’t refuse a night feed if your baby wakes and seems genuinely hungry. Feed him, and make sure to focus on feeding more the next day.
Your 12 month old should have milk or solids every 2-3 hours during the day during this regression. Maybe you need to increase the volume of his feeds or offer a snack more frequently. Feeding enough to fuel his growth spurt will help prevent hunger from disrupting his sleep.
RELATED: How to Wean Off Night Feeds (Once this Regression Passes)
Tip #6: Hold off on weaning for now
Going through several major milestones at the same time can be a recipe for a sleep disaster! If you planned to wean off breastfeeding when your baby turned one, but you’re in the throes of the 12 month sleep regression, consider waiting a few weeks.
Since regressions coincide with a need for more closeness with mom, attempting to wean may be more difficult. Instead, use breastfeeding as a way to comfort your baby during this restless and tiring phase.
Tip #7: Find creative ways to get a break
There is no shame in admitting you’re exhausted and frustrated and need a break. No one wins awards for “toughing it out” during a sleep regression.
Sleep deprivation and lack of personal time make most moms grumpy and short-tempered. (I know it does for me!) Carving out small blocks of time for rest and rejuvenation will get you through this rough patch without extra mom guilt because you yelled or snapped at your family.
You don’t need a regular babysitter to get a break.
Instead, there are plenty of creative ways to get help:
- Do a swap with another mom. You each take turns watching the kids for 2-3 hours one day. This is plenty of time for a mental break, a nap or a lunch date with your best friend, kid-free!
- See if your gym or YMCA has a free daycare. You can do a workout class, hang out in the steam room or nap in the car!
- You and your partner take shifts. No point in you both being exhausted and drained all the time. You get one night of full sleep wearing ear plugs in the guest room. Tomorrow night, you’re on shift and your partner gets a break. Do this during the day, too. Trade off 2-3 hour breaks to do whatever you want on Saturday. On Sunday, it’s Dad’s turn!
- Find a teenager in your neighborhood who can babysit (affordably) for a few hours.
- If your 1 year old won’t nap or naps are nearly impossible, it’s ok to let your baby nap in the stroller or car. Wear ear plugs and listen to your favorite motivational podcast while your baby snoozes on-the-go. Whatever helps your little one sleep easiest during this regression!
- Send a spontaneous invitation to grandparents asking them to come visit. After a bit of small talk, hand over your baby to them and sneak off for a nap! 🙂 Many grandparents are also happy to watch grandbabies in the morning so you can get an extra hour of sleep.
Tip #8: Stick to independent sleep habits
Most babies need extra comfort in order to relax and sleep during sleep regressions, but try to keep up with your baby’s independent sleep habits.
Make it a goal to keep your 12 month old sleeping in his crib, and do everything you can to achieve this! You may need to sit in a chair (or sleep on the floor) in your baby’s bedroom for a few nights. Keeping your baby’s sleep environment and routines consistent will make it so much easier to get back on track when this regression passes.
Do your best to avoid feeding or rocking to sleep, because this can make babies wake more at night, needing to be fed or rocked!
If your little one hasn’t yet learned to fall asleep on his own and sleep through the night, check out my sleep training program. It guides you through teaching your baby to sleep all night in a way that suits his temperament and your parenting style.
At 12 months, your baby can be expected to sleep 10-12 hours at night without feeding. What a great birthday gift to give your entire family!
Tip #9: Gently tweak naps (with caution)
At 12 months old, your baby still needs 2 periods of quiet rest each day. Ideally this would be 2 naps, but if your 12 month old is fighting naps it’s ok to let her hang out in the crib awake during nap time. If naps are a total disaster, teaching your 12 month old to sleep independently for naps will really help to keep them on track with sleep.
If your toddler always refuses the afternoon nap, shorten the morning nap to one hour. This can help her accept another nap 3-4 hours later.
Around 12 months old, many babies need slightly longer wake windows. This could be a reason that your 12 month old is fighting naps. Extend wake windows to 3-4 hours and see if that helps your baby settle easier.
A great way to help your little one catch up on lost sleep is to move bedtime earlier. This is especially helpful if she’s overtired from short naps or waking a lot at night.
RELATED: How to Get Your 1 Year Old Sleeping Amazingly!
Is it teething, a growth spurt or a regression disrupting my baby’s sleep?
Before deciding that the 12 month sleep regression is the cause of all your problems, it’s important to rule out the other “usual suspects.” Other causes of sleep problems for 12 month olds are teething and growth spurts. Let’s discuss them below.
Toddler Teething
Many parents blame teething for weeks (or even months) of poor sleep. While it’s true that teething can disrupt your baby’s sleep, this interesting article explains that teething only affects sleep for a few days and find out how to cope with teething with sleeping.
If you can’t see or feel a tooth bud on your baby’s gums, chances are that teething isn’t the problem. Sleep training your baby (when they’re definitely not teething) often helps them to get through teething periods with less disruption to sleep.
Growth spurt
Growth spurts make babies hungrier for 2-3 days. Babies need extra nutrition and calories during times of rapid growth. So it’s normal for your little one to want to eat more during the day and night.
If your toddler has had a sudden appetite increase with no other signs of fussiness, clinginess or restlessness- it could be a growth spurt. Increase the volume of solid meals by one tablespoon each meal. Or feed your baby a snack or milk more often during the day.
If your baby has been waking up hungry several times a night, for many weeks, it’s not a growth spurt. It’s a habit. Focus on feeding your 12 month old milk, solids or a snack every 2-3 hours during the day. Then start weaning off night feeds and teach them to resettle independently without a night feed.
Sleep Regression
If your 12 month old’s naps and night sleep have recently worsened out of the blue- and neither extra feedings nor pain relief seem to help- it’s probably due to a sleep regression.
This is especially true if many aspects of your baby’s sleep are affected, such as fighting naps and waking more at night. In this case, following the tips from this article will help your child sleep as well as possible during this rough patch.
Remember, the 12 month old sleep regression is a temporary phase of restlessness, clinginess and disturbed sleep. It stinks that it can coincide with your baby turning one and all the celebration that will ensue! But with a little bit of flexibility and following the 9 tips from this article, you can ensure this rough patch doesn’t completely ruin your little one’s sleep.
You can also download my brand new ‘Sleep Regression Survival Guide’ which explains exactly what to do to help your baby sleep well during a regression. It has proven tips that help each sleep regression pass as quickly as possible. It also explains the best ways to ease your little one’s separation anxiety and tells you what to do when your baby is standing or sitting up in the crib, instead of sleeping!
It’s totally free and you can get it here.
Final Thoughts
Your baby’s first birthday is a huge milestone, so firstly congratulations! For some parents the sleep regression at 12 months comes out of nowhere and disrupts your little one’s normally great sleep. For others, it has been a long 12 months of disrupted nights.
If your one year old won’t sleep all of a sudden but has been previously sleep-trained and sleeping well, follow the tips in this article and the regression should pass in just a couple of weeks. Sticking to your schedule and bedtime routine and getting out and as active as possible will really help your little one to ride out this regression.
But if the one year sleep regression is just yet another disturbance to your little one’s sleep, never fear, as it is never too late to sleep train! This is a great age to train your one year old to fall asleep independently and help your little one sleep a solid 11-12 hours every night.
My 21 days to Peace and Quiet program has detailed sleep training guides, personalized support and customizable sleep-training methods to suit every family. I strongly believe that one size does not fit all and that is why my program helps to find the right path for your family.
If just naps are your problem I can help you with my naps program for baby to help you get on track with day sleep.
FAQs
What is unique about the 12 month sleep regression?
At 12 months old your little one has a LOT going on developmentally, learning to walk, learning to talk and figuring out how the world works. That new independence in being able to move away also comes with a peak in separation anxiety as your little one can actually move away from you and is aware that you can do the same! ALL of these things going on result in a totally understandable disruption to sleep.
How long does the 12 month sleep regression last?
Like all regressions the 12 month sleep regression should only last for about 2 weeks. Sticking consistent to your routine and schedule can really help to keep your little one stay on track with their good sleep habits and come through the other side.
If you find yourself introducing methods to help your little one get back to sleep I can definitely help you get back on track with sleep training with my 21 days to Peace and Quiet Program.
How to deal with the 12 month sleep regression?
Coffee! But also stick to your schedule, get outdoors as much as possible and ask friends and family for help too. I am sure that friends and family would love to help out with your adorable 12 month old. Remember that like all phases of children this will also pass.
How to get a 1 year old to sleep?
Setting up a great sleep environment for your 1 year old that can help them to relax and switch off from the exciting world around them is vital to getting them to sleep. Introducing a consistent bedtime routine will help you 1 year old to feel safe and help with their separation anxiety. I can help you with all of this in my 21 days to Peace and Quiet Program.
thank you for sharing this beautiful article my baby is almost 12 month he used to sleep on his crib when he was 4 montgs and in a separate room but I am struggling with him now for about 3 days ge fall asleep with breastfeeding and whenever I try to put him down he wakes up and begin to scream badly I dont know what to do I strict to our routine as much as I can , he never felt comfortable falling asleep beside me so we were separated from day 1 , but my biggest problem that he is attached to breastfeeding and refused solids most of the time
Hi Nourhan! Thank you for your message, and we are so glad that you found this article helpful. It sounds like your son may be going through the 12-month regression. Don’t worry, usually, it passes in a matter of weeks. If you are still struggling at that time, please reach out to us at Support@BabySleepMadeSimple.com, and we would be happy to assist you in finding a program that would best fit your son’s sleep struggles. In addition, I recommend speaking to your pediatrician about your son not eating solids, they will be able to help you when it comes to this area of his health and wellbeing. Hang in there, I hope that the regression passes quickly and he gets back on track. Kind regards, Ingrid, BSMS Support Team
So grateful for this article, it definitely put my mind at ease! We are struggling with our new 1 year old – her sleep habits got so bad FAST. She will nap just fine during the day, will put herself to sleep, and take a great 1-1.5 hour nap and need to be woken up. She is fighting her nighttime sleep so much though – and she is the type of baby that will cry so hags that she makes herself throw up. We have been sticking to her normal nighttime routine, and trying to do extra wind-down time, but as soon as she goes in her crib she just sobs, and we end up having to rock her to sleep. She doesn’t calm down if we sit in front of her crib no matter how long we wait, and again, she gets to the point where she is almost throwing up. Any tips?
Hi Kate,
I’m so sorry to hear your daughter is struggling with her sleep; that can be so hard! There is a regression that happens at around 12 months, so I’m wondering if that’s part of your daughter’s issue. I’m not sure which method you used to coach her for nights, but if you continue to have an issue, I would suggest checking out our 21-Day program. Some methods work really well for LOs that tend to get so upset that they vomit (which can be so tough for LOs and parents!), and they can be found in the program. Here is the link: https://www.babysleepmadesimple.com/baby-sleep-consultant
We’re here if you need us!
Ingrid, BSMS Support Team
I’m currently going through this with my 11 month old who will be 1 in just under 2 weeks.
I’m currently sat in bed whilst he is fighting his sleep, so I quickly googled this to help before I tear my hair out!
I found your article reassuring, however, I’m resentful of the part that says “avoid bringing your baby into bed with you as it will be a guarantee for long term bed sharing”.
As it happens, I do co sleep with my little one and have done since he was less than a month old because that is what works for us.
With the platform you have, i think it is dangerous to judge or dictate to other parents on this subject.
I bed share safely and if you cared to do a little more research, you will find that there are many psychological benefits as well as physical benefits for both mother and child and I would say to anybody reading this article who does bed share – do not let negative insinuations in articles like these, to not feel judged and to keep doing what you think is best for you
Hello Jessica,
Thank you so much for reaching out to us. I know you are going through the 11 month old regression and this can be a tough couple weeks with night wakings! We are always here to help if you have any questions about how to improve your LO’s sleep.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, “We know that many parents choose to share a bed with a child, for instance, perhaps to help with breastfeeding or because of a cultural preference or a belief that it is safe. The evidence is clear that this significantly raises the risk of a baby’s injury or death, however, and for that reason AAP cannot support bed-sharing under any circumstances.”
As a Registered Nurse, my top priority and professional obligation is to give safe sleep advice. I have a duty to do so. I always aim to avoid judgement and instead present parents with safe, proven sleep advice. Of course, parents can choose the sleeping arrangement that suits them best.
Sincerely,
Jilly
Hi, same issues as above. As I write this my just turned one year old is screaming in his cot. I’ve put him down for morning nap 45 minutes ago and I’ve been in to him twice to give comfort but each time he just screams for me to take him out of the room. He is exhausted though and I know he needs sleep. Plus I don’t want to bring him out of the room for him to be tired and grumpy and for him to think crying will achieve this each time. I do feed him to sleep but as soon as I put him down he is standing up and crying before I can leave the room. He is also waking in the night doing the same. Do I just leave him to cry? I can’t stand listening to him being upset and he takes such a long time to settle himself.
Hi Jessie,
There ARE ways of getting your little one sleeping amazingly without having to endure this much crying. We have several sleep training methods for you to choose from in our sleep program, so I highly recommend you join it:
https://www.babysleepmadesimple.com/baby-sleep-consultant/
The program will get your little one sleeping peacefully all night, and set them up for great naps. I hope to see you in there.
Artemis, BSMS Support Team
Hi! I am honestly losing the will to live at the moment. I’m pregnant with my second and my 11.5 month old won’t nap she just cries ever though she is fed bathed cuddles sometimes I even try and rock her. She is refusing to sleep at night now too, I’m exhausted, she’s exhausted but I have honestly ran out of things to do! Please help’
Hi Olivia,
I’m so, so sorry to hear this. We’re not mental health professionals, so I highly recommend you to reach out to your loved ones, your community, and to a mental health professional regarding your well-being.
We do specialise in baby sleep, and we’d love to help you. Email us at support@babysleepmadesimple.com so we can find a solution that works for you.
We’re here for you,
Artemis, BSMS Support Team
Hello, my LO is starting daycare and they only do one nap a day for her age. She has not been in daycare before this and has been home with me with me, my husband, or my mom. Also, as a side note, I work long hours so earlier bedtime is not always an option, 7:30-8 is earliest I can hope to get her to bed on days I work and she is at daycare. I figured since babies thrive on consistency, I would transition her to one nap a day before she starts daycare. It honestly has been going fine until this last week. She wakes up between 7-8, takes a 2-3 hour nap starting at 11:30-12, and goes to bed usually by 8. She goes down for her nap easily and independently. Sometimes she will stand but eventually lays down and sleeps. Bedtime has been a struggle though. I try to put her down and she becomes hysterical. I’ll lay on the floor next to her, I’ll rub her head, I shhh her, but the only thing that works is if I pick her up and rock her. I’ll try again to put her down drowsy but awake and she becomes very awake and hysterical again. Usually, I can leave her for a minute and she’ll calm down and go to sleep but not lately. I’ve had to rock her to a hard sleep to get her to stay down. Now, after she goes to sleep, she’s out for 12 hours. It’s just the going to sleep that has suddenly become an issue. She’s been on one nap a day for 3 weeks now so I’m afraid to go back to 2 based
On the article and make this situation worse. I can ride it out if it’s temporary but I’m just afraid I’m doing the wrong thing.
Hi Justine,
You’ve been doing great so far. Good work.
Bedtime is probably a struggle because she’s overtired, that’s quite a long awake time she has! I recommend you get a private consultation with us so we can help you figure out how to balance this new schedule, and how it fits into your life:
https://programs.babysleepmadesimple.com/30-minutes-private-consultation-checkout/
Good luck,
Artemis, BSMS Support Team
Hi, my little one turned 1 a week ago. For about 3 weeks now she’s been fighting her naps. Morning nap is usually okay (she only fights it maybe 2-3 times per week), but she will just play through her afternoon nap in her crib. Her wake windows had been 3/4/3.75, but now that she fights her afternoon nap, some days she’s only taking one nap and then going to bed early. She will take the afternoon nap if I snuggle or rock her, but I don’t want to make this a habit. She won’t sleep in the stroller or car.
For about a week, we tried transitioning to one nap (because with fighting this second nap, she was really only taking one nap. So we tried pushing the one nap later in the day), but I don’t think she was ready—she seemed really overtired and her nights got worse. So we went back to two naps, with me snuggling her for the second nap for a few days now. But how in the world can I get her to take her second nap on her own? She gets tons of attention, is really active during the day, eats a lot (with a snack 30 minutes before her nap), we have tried capping the first nap, adjusting wake windows, but absolutely nothing seems to be working. The only options I can think of are 1) transition to one nap or 2) keep snuggling her for the second nap. Any advice please? Thank you!
Happy birthday to your little one, Elaine!
That’s good that you went back to 2 naps. Definitely don’t drop a nap until your little one is at least 14 months old!
Sleep training is definitely the answer here. We start sleep training at night time first, and then move to naps. So the first step would be joining our night time sleep program here:
https://www.babysleepmadesimple.com/baby-sleep-consultant
This will then pave the way for great naps!
We have a new years sale now where you get 15% off when you use the coupon code ‘2022’ at checkout, so try to be fast!
Artemis, BSMS Support Team
Hi my baby feeds to sleep I know horrible! I didn’t know this would affect her now that she’s 1 it’s so hard because she sleeps around 9-10 wakes up at midnight either 12-1 and won’t sleep till 4-5 am she also takes two naps during the day but what concerns me is that she drinks more than 2 bottles during her waking up till 4-5 she eats 3 meals two snacks 3 8 ounces bottles during day including bedtime bottle this is hard because it’s impossible for me to wake up early and continue our usual routine when she wakes up and sleeps until 5 I’m mentally exhausted 🤭
Hello Yessica,
Please know that it is completely natural to feed your children to sleep! I nursed both of my girls to sleep until they were sleep trained. However, your LO is now developmentally ready to learn how to self-soothe and fall asleep independently! I am attaching our 12 month old sleep guide for helpful tips!
We can definitely help you get your LO’s sleep on track and get your entire family sleeping better! We can provide the best support to your family in our 21 Days to Peace & Quiet program.
In this program we offer 4 step-by-step sleep training methods. You choose the one that feels best for your LO. We have super gentle & gradual all the way to quick & efficient. Each step of the way you get advice based on your baby’s developmental stage, energy levels, and temperament.
Two of our package options include personalized support and I find this to be so beneficial during the sleep training journey! Jilly and members of our support team answer questions 7 days a week in our private FB group and we host 3 Zoom calls per week! You will always feel like you have the support you need every step of the way.
You can find out more info on the program here: https://www.babysleepmadesimple.com/21-days-to-peace-quiet-program
When you are 100% consistent in following the steps of the program, your baby will be sleeping amazingly within 1-3 weeks. It depends on the method you choose as well as your baby’s adaptability, but we cover all of this in the program!
Happy to answer any questions you have. We hope we get the chance to help you and your LO on this sleep journey!
Have a great day!
Alyssa, BSMS Support Team
Hi there,
Your ideas and suggestions are fantastic. We are struggling with our 12 month old waking at earliest 4.30am and latest 5.15am. It’s been a few weeks now.
He has a short morning nap of 30mins at 9am (if we can make it till that time) and an afternoon nap of 1 1/2-2 hours around 1pm. Bedtime is 7pm.
He always goes down to sleep fine, doesn’t fight anything and he self settles throughout
the night. It’s just the early wake time as it means he spends a large portion of the day irritable because he started so early. Any suggestions.
Thank you
Hello Catherine,
Those early mornings can be tough! I would move your bedtime earlier. For a 12 month old, we don’t want the awake time to be longer than 3.5 hours before bedtime (and that means asleep by that time). An earlier bedtime can often mean that your LO will sleep in longer!
Best,
Alyssa, BSMS Support Team
Hi Andrea, my daughter is 13 months and about 2 weeks ago she’s started to wake at night around 2-4am and unable to fall back to sleep on her own. Previously has always been able to self settle in the night without any feeds. We dropped her morning nap and she’s now on one 2 hour nap a day but still wakes at night. I assume this is a regression. I will usually leave her to try to self settle for 15 mins and she’d fall back to sleep but in the last 2 weeks she hasn’t been able to do that so I’ve had to give her a milk bottle and put her in her crib awake and she’d fall back to sleep. I don’t know if I’m creating a habit here? She eats well during the day 3 meals and 2 snacks, we’d feed her until she’s full and she’s quite good at showing signs when she is.
I’m just wondering if this is the 12-15 month regression and whether me giving her a bottle at night has now created a habit of waking, despite me putting her down awake. Are there any tips you can give? Thank you!
Hello! It could definitely be the 12 month sleep regression. The best thing you can do is allow your LO the space to fall asleep independently at the beginning of the night and resettle independently when she wakes in the night. Regressions will normally pass in 2 weeks. Also, was your LO showing all the signs of being ready for 1 nap? We often see babies transition closer to 15 months. If your LO is overtired and still needs a second nap to make it to bedtime, this can cause night wakings. Check out this guide too for helpful tips! Alyssa, BSMS Support Team
https://www.babysleepmadesimple.com/transition-to-one-nap-when-how
https://youtu.be/bcX1EzhTltw
Hello, another tired Mumma looking for advice. My little girl turned one one 11 Feb, has always been a solid 11-12 hours a night kinda gal other than the odd few nights here and there when teething. However, about 2 weeks ago she just decided that sleep is for losers. She does exactly what Padma describes above. When I put her down she rolls over and stands up crying as soon as I leave her room. If I leave her she falls asleep in the frog position which doesn’t last long. We have 1-3 hour battles to get to sleep and/or awake for 1-4 hours in the night wanting to play or waking every 1-2 hours. We previously sleep trained but this time round I have caved and brought her into our bed a couple of times as it’s the only thing that stops her crying. Weirdly, it’s not every night that she does this maybe only 3/4 out of 7 the rest of the nights she still has a solid 10-11 hours. Because she’s been such a good sleeper and it isn’t every night I don’t know whether it’s a sleep regression or not? Any advice/help/reassurance would be appreciated!!
Hello Rebecca, there is often a regression around the first birthday but we only typically allow up to 2 weeks to any regression and then consider it a habit. If you previously sleep trained you can do a few nights of tune-up to get back into your normal routine. If you need more support you can opt to join our clients by purchasing our sleep training program 21 Days to Peace and Quiet. If you opt for the Essential or Premium package we can also give you our daily support. https://www.babysleepmadesimple.com/21-days-to-peace-quiet-program/
Hope this helps you!
Micaela BSMS Support Team
Hi! My son turned 1 on 2/7 and had been a great sleeper. 4 nights ago it all has gone out the window, waking crying several times a night. Luckily naps are still great. He is chewing/biting a lot. Also has never been through what I’d call a regression. He has had the occasional bad night but never more than 1-2 nights. I’m at a loss as to what to do. I don’t want to start a bad habit but because he rarely wakes crying, it’s hard to let him be upset. Any thoughts/suggestions? Thank you!
Hi Andrea, ohhh it’s so hard when they go through a regression. Each baby handles every regression in a different way. My boy, for example, got the 4mo sleep regression sooo badly but since we sleep trained we only noticed the 18mo sleep regression and nothing more.
If you have sleep-trained him before, I would strongly encourage you to be super consistent and to do your best not to start any bad habits. Also, keep in mind any regression can last up to 2 weeks so if this has been going on more than that you can consider it a habit. If he is waking, fussing, and crying on and off it’s ok to give him some space. If you want to comfort him a little bit try to be as hands off as possible so it’ll be easier to remove it once the regression is over 🙂
Micaela BSMS Support Team
Hi there,
My 12 month old (1 next week) has been a great sleeper. 2 naps a day, independent crib sleep and 11-12 hours at night. All of a sudden last week, the minute we put him down for naps/night sleep on his back he immediately rolls over and stands up and cries. We assume it is the 12 month regression? We are staying consistent with our routine and schedule. His naps are now a mess. He ends up falling asleep in frog position and wakes withing 40 mins. Previously he would stay on his back and sleep for 1hr – 90 minutes. Staying aware of wake windows… exhausted mama here. Any suggestions?
Hello!
Thank you so much for your message. It sounds like your LO was doing great and definitely hit the 12 month regression. You are doing everything right! Continue to follow your routine and schedule and wake windows. Try to get outside for fresh air and make sure your son is very physically active. Regressions normally pass in just a couple weeks so hang in there!
Best,
Alyssa, BSMS Support Team
Hello, my baby may be teething (ear rubbing and can feel molars) but has been categorically refusing to nap in her crib for nearly two weeks, but will fall asleep in the pram or car almost instantly. My question is – do I just keep trying to put her down in the crib and leave her there until she falls asleep, as my HV says not to pick her up if I decide to do crib nap, as she’ll cry longer and harder next time expecting to be ‘rescued’. Or do I just only do pram sleeps?!
Hello Amy,
If your LO is going through the regression, then it should be just a couple weeks of interrupted sleep. I would try to comfort your LO with some cold teething rings before nap for teething, but continue to put your LO in the crib for naps since regressions will pass in 2 weeks and you don’t want to introduce any habits. Hang in there!
Alyssa, BSMS Support Team
Hi my daughter has been a wonderful sleeper from 8weeks sleeping right through the night on the odd occassion she would wake once but back to sleep quickly but since turning 1 she wakes on average 5 times a night. She naps well during the day. Only got her 1st teeth thru on her birthday and they seem to keep coming nonstop so dong know if its teething or sleep regession or everything all at once. She is a very happy girl and also just started trying to walk i think its the whole trifecca any idea? Many thanks
Hi there mama. Sorry to hear that your little one is struggling. Teething can disrupt sleep, but not for very long periods of time. This video will help you comfort your LO, and help her sleep better –> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jdjE1TAgMn0
Also, please check out our 1 year old sleep guide here –> https://www.babysleepmadesimple.com/1-year-old-sleep-tips-toddler
Try implementing the tips from these guides for a few days and let us know how things work out. Good luck. Panagiota, BSMS Support Team