Sleep regressions are a major pain point for parents. I’ve covered there elsewhere
What is the first thing parents should do if their child is now having sleep issues?
Check and see if your sleep habits have slipped a bit. Is bedtime later or more variable? Are you being lax with your bedtime routine?
How long can we expect sleep regression to last?
Usually they are pretty brief— say, less than a week.
If your child’s sleep regression is so disruptive and doing nothing is just not working, what can we do to make it come to an end?
It’s time to go back to basics and make sure that you have a high quality bedtime routine and that you do the minimum you need to to soothe your child. I would also check in with your child’s pediatrician.
Can they be prevented? For example, when you’re about to potty train your child, can you prepare for a possible sleep regression and stop it from happening?
I would double down on your high quality bedtime routine and also make sure that you going to be extra careful about respect your child’s bedtime and sleep schedule.
What can we avoid doing so we don’t make sleep regression worse or last longer than it needs to?
Make sure that you are not inadvertently causing the regression by giving too much attention. For example, if your baby starts crying at night and you then start giving him a bottle every night, you will likely cause the problem behavior to continue.
Are kids going to go through a sleep regression? Are some more likely than others?
There’s very little research on sleep regressions— as noted above, the term is poorly defined. As a parent, I can tell you that children frequently regress in many domains, just when you think you have things figured out.
What are medical causes we should be on the lookout for?
Often the common cold may present with a sleep problem first. I’ve asked myself on many occasions, “why is my kid doing this weird thing?” and then a day or two later he will get a cold.
Snoring and complaints about legs can represent medical causes of sleep disruption and should be discussed with your pediatrician.
How do you tell the difference between “regression” and an issue like teething or a fever that might cause interruption in sleep patterns?
Often, it’s not obvious until a day or two later, as noted above.
What are good sleep practices for kids that we should make sure to faithfully implement so we all get a good night’s sleep?
Bedtime, bedtime, bedtime. I almost called my book The Bedtime Habit as your child’s bedtime is the foundation of their high quality sleep, and thus, your own.
