Now that you're out of the baby sleep phase, it's easy to think you're out of the woods and it'll be nothing but good sleep habits from now on.
Toddlers have other ideas, however. Less talked about than the 4 month sleep regression or the 6 month sleep regression, toddlers do still experience sleep regressions.
In some ways they can be easier to survive than a baby sleep regression. And in other ways, a toddler's sleep difficulties can be even more challenging.
But what does a toddler sleep regression look like, and how are they different from an infant sleep regression?
Table Of Contents
What is a toddler sleep regression?
Just like a baby sleep regression, a toddler sleep regression is a period of time when your child experiences sleep disruptions.
Although changing sleep patterns are a totally normal part of your child's development - for example, dropping a nap - sleep regressions trigger very sudden changes in your child's sleep.
They may have difficulty falling asleep (or actively refuse to sleep) or staying asleep at night, and show signs of fussiness or irritability at night.
Everything you need to tackle sleep regressions in one e-book
- What is a sleep regression and what causes them?
- A breakdown of each regression
- 3 key strategies to tackle sleep regression
Sign-up to get your free copy of
The Ultimate Guide to Baby Sleep Regressions
What causes sleep regressions in toddlers?
There are several potential reasons why sleep regressions happen; the most common is a jump in your child's development.
Some parents fall foul of assuming that most of our children's developmental milestones come in the first year, and therefore baby sleep regressions are much more common than toddler sleep regressions.
Experts agree that our development is fastest it will ever be during the first three years of life. So, although you now have a toddler, they are still developing at an accelerated rate.
However, it's not just development. Sleep regressions occur for a number of reasons, especially in toddlers...
Their environment
You may have noticed your baby's sleep habits change when their environment changed. Perhaps it was when they moved from a moses basket to a crib, or moved to their own room.
The same can happen for toddlers. It might be moving to a 'big bed', moving house, going on holiday, having a sleepover with a relative, or even redecorating. It could even be seasonal issues like longer summer nights letting more light into their room.
Sleep cycles
Sleep cycles - the amount of sleep we need and how we get it - change as we get older. A change in your child's sleep cycle may trigger a regression.
Fear of the dark and nightmares
Babies aren't born with a fear of the dark. They spent months in total darkness and were totally content.
Instead, it's something that usually develops as a result of exposure to different media - books and stories, TV programmes and films.
It's understandable that being scared of the dark or having nightmares can cause sleep problems for toddlers.
Change in circumstances
Sleeping patterns are often affected by what's going on in our lives - that goes for adults as well as children.
By now, both parents have probably returned to work after parental leave. Maybe you've changed jobs that requires you to travel a lot, or you were working from home and have been asked to go into the office more often. Maybe you've changed their daycare. Maybe you've got another baby on the way (or already here!).
Children at this age can struggle to fully understand or process what is changing and why. They may also not have the ability to communicate how they're feeling.
Separation anxiety
Although babies and toddlers can experience separation anxiety at any time, it tends to peak around nine months and 18 months.
Potty training
This does come under the developmental milestones we mentioned earlier, but it's worth highlighting on its own.
Potty training is a significant step in your child's development. We all know it can be difficult, and accidents could cause a bit of anxiety at night.
Teething
We tend to think of teething as something that affects a baby's sleep. But it can continue to cause problems well into the toddler years. Your little one's sleep may not be disrupted by teething, but it's certainly possible.
For more information and advice, check out our guide on teething.
Signs of sleep regression
The clearest sign that your child is experiencing a sleep regression is a sudden and dramatic change in their sleep patterns
But what does that look like?
Struggling to fall asleep
Despite their tiredness, your little one may struggle to fall asleep. You've read their story, calmed them down, maybe even rubbed their head a little. And yet the moment you say goodnight and leave the room, they're wide awake.
Beyond struggling to sleep, your toddler may actively refuse sleep. Toddlers have a growing sense of independence, understanding that they have their voice and an ability to make their own decisions. That can lead to some defiance when it comes to bedtime.
Delaying tactics
If separation anxiety is an issue, you may notice your toddler using delay tactics to get you to stay with them. Another story, another goodnight hug, another goodnight kiss, another drink, another request...
Frequent night waking
It's the middle of the night. You've just woken up, got your little one back to sleep, returned to bed and nodded back off, only to be woken up 30 minutes later.
Just like a baby's sleep regression, struggling to stay asleep at night is a common indicator.
Fighting sleep at nap time
This may be a natural development in their sleep cycle, as most children tend to drop to one nap around 18 months. In fact, some babies begin their nap transition as early as nine months old.
However, a sudden resistance to naps is usually a sign that your child is about to experience sleep regression.
Fussiness or irritability at night
Your child's sleep pattern may not change - in that they don't have problems falling asleep, or don't wake more often than usual. Instead, the quality of their sleep may be affected by tossing and turning or thrashing around. And, they may become more irritable when they do wake up - crying for seemingly no reason or whinging.
Common sleep regression ages in toddlers
Sleep regressions are typically fewer and further between as your child gets older. And hopefully they have less of an impact on your own quality of sleep.
But when do the toddler sleep regressions happen, and what are their characteristics?
15 month sleep regression
The first toddler sleep regression comes just a few months after their turn one.
Hopefully your toddler's sleep is otherwise fairly settled, meaning you're starting off this sleep regression in a good place. In fact, is your little one has mastered self-soothing, you may barely even notice like, just like Lawrence...
"[He started waking up] around 11ish then again at 1ish and sometimes between 3-4am. We’d hear a couple of cries over the monitor and then he’d get himself back off to sleep. It was only when we read up on it that we realised it was the 15-month regression and he was just able to self-soothe."
Let's look at some of the common causes of sleep regressions at this stage:
Physical development - Their gross motor skills are really taking off, whether it's walking, running, climbing, or standing. It all expends a lot of energy. Your toddler may have even mastered the art of climbing out of their crib in the ultimate act of defiance
Independence - Your child is recognising that they have a growing independence, and that may materialise in a refusal to sleep
Talking - Your baby's cognitive development jumps as their speech and vocabulary improves. So, you might hear calls of 'mama' and 'dada' instead of crying
Toddler sleep patterns - A lot of toddlers go through a nap transition around this time, going from two daytime naps to one, which naturally disrupts their sleeping habits
Fear of the dark - Not all babies develop a fear of the dark, but it generally starts to happen right around now. So, your baby may be reluctant to fall asleep
18 month sleep regression
A few months later and another sleep regression may be upon you.
Kubanych Takyrbashev, MD, Health & Wellness Advisor at NAO, says: "The 18-month regression often coincides with significant cognitive leaps and increased physical mobility. These developmental changes can increase nighttime wakings as [children] process new information and test their newfound skills.
"It's crucial to remember that each child is unique, and what works for one may not work for another."
The primary causes of the 18 month sleep regression are:
Separation anxiety - Although it may have been a persistent issue over the past 12 months, separation anxiety tends to peak around 8-10 months and at 18 months
Teething - The first toddler canine teething might be cutting and disturbing sleep patterns
Growing independence - Their independence grows by the day, and perhaps so does their insistence that they do what they want to
Fear of the dark - Their imagination is improving all the time, which means they may be thinking up new, scary things
Two year sleep regression
By this point, your child will almost have certainly dropped to just one daytime nap (usually in the afternoon).
If they're in a sleep regression, they may be waking more regularly in the night all of a sudden, trying to delay going to bed, fighting sleep (especially at nap time), or waking up much earlier than usual.
Janine Orford, founder of The Bedtime Champ, describes sleep generally at this age as a "battle of wills". She says: “Your little one starts to really assert themselves and it’s often where boundaries start to break down, and parents may become less consistent."
Let's look at the common causes of sleep regressions at this age...
Over-tiredness - Because they're no long taking two naps, they're not getting as much sleep and it's leaving them overtired and unable to settle down as quickly as normal
Mental/emotional development - A whole host of skills are taking another development leap, from language and communication to their understanding of different emotions
Physical development - All those gross motor skills they've picked up over the past year or so are really being mastered, but it's taking up a lot of energy
Teething - It may seem a never-ending problem, but plenty of toddlers tend to get their first molars around the time they turn two. So teething can be a factor here, too
Nightmares - Growing exposure to books, games and TV, combined with an increasingly creative imagination means your little one might start having their first nightmares
Three year sleep regression
Image: Ivan Redic under (Creative Commons License)
Not every child will experience a sleep regression at this stage, but if they do it can feel like an absolute killer. You may have enjoyed a relatively peaceful few months. Your sleep schedule is consistent and your toddler has no trouble falling asleep. In fact, you may have totally forgotten what a sleep regression feels like, or fall into a false sense of security that they're a thing of the past.
The reality, however, is that three-year olds can experience them, and they bring with them a whole new set of issues because they're that much further along in their development, as Jon from the DaddiLife team knows...
"My daughter Eden was a brilliant sleeper until she went into her 'big girl bed'. We didn't realise she was going through a regression because she'd always been so good, and we assumed something was really wrong when she'd wake up. So we'd go to her to comfort her in whatever way she needed.
"Over time certain bad habits set in and are still a problem more than 12 months later."
Common reasons for the 3-year sleep regression:
Potty training - Whether they've started or not, accidents and waking to go to the toilet can lead to a regression
Delay tactics - Three-year olds are coming to terms with their independence and their ability to speak their mind. They might want another drink, another story, another hug, another goodnight kiss, another teddy etc
Screen time - As our children get older, we may allow TV time which can overstimulate their minds before sleep
Over-tiredness - They're more physically and mentally active than ever before. Coupled with dropping their daytime nap altogether and you've got one overtired toddler
Environment - Perhaps you've redecorated because they're not a baby anymore, and most children will move out of their crib and into a 'big' bed around this age
Worries - They're more aware of what is happening in their life and how they feel about it - perhaps your child is worried about a new sibling who is on the way or starting pre-school
How to survive the toddler sleep regressions
Some will argue that the first year of sleep regressions are hardest, simply because they're so frequent and because your baby's sleep patterns are naturally less settled - it can feel like one long year of sleep deprivation.
However, the counter argument is that the amount and quality of sleep you're getting is the best its been since your child was born, so toddler sleep regressions cause a greater change in your own sleeping habits.
Whatever your view or experience, sleep regressions are difficult to cope with as a parent. Thankfully, there are a number of strategies you can put in place to maintain healthy sleep habits and mitigate the impact.
1. Maintain your child's routine
We know some changes to your child's daily routine are inevitable and unavoidable. But you should try, where possible, to maintain a steady routine, especially at bedtime.
Having that familiar bedtime routine helps a child's mind and body recognise that it's time for sleep and help them prepare.
Good bedtime habits include minimal screen time and a calm and quiet activity like reading.
2. Tackle separation anxiety
If your child's separation anxiety stems from rarely having any time away from you and your partner, consider having some more regular child-free time. Spending time with other people, whether it's childcare professionals, close family members or friends, will help them to feel more comfortable being without you at night.
In desperate times, giving your child something of yours (like a t-shirt) can help to comfort them in the short-term.
3. Manage pain and discomfort
If you've got a teething toddler, try to manage it the best you can. We tend to think of teething toys being used for babies, but they can still help to soothe pain for toddlers.
You can also use pain relief medication if needed.
4. Sleep training
You may well have used sleep training to help you baby fall asleep and self soothe when they wake up.
It could be valuable to revisit your preferred sleep training method or remind yourselves of the key principles.
5. Look after yourself
We cannot overstate the importance of looking after yourself when trying to cope with a sleep regression. We all know they importance of sleep, good diet and exercise at the best of times; and that only increases when there's a risk of sleep deprivation.
Try to maintain your own healthy sleep routines - get to bed at a reasonable time, don't go on your phone in bed, don't drink caffeine or alcohol too late.
Although you'll be tired and won't want to cook a fresh, healthy, balanced meal - junk food and takeaways aren't going to help. Try batch cooking some meals.
Get exercise in when you can. This will help your physical and mental health, as well as your sleep quality.
6. Ask for help
Asking for help is important, especially when you're struggling.
Whether it's asking your partner to take over when you're feeling tired, exhausted or stressed at night, or it's asking for someone to babysit so you can have some time to yourselves for a bit.
That help can help you to refresh and reset, leaving you better positioned to tackle the regression.
FAQs
What are the most common sleep regression ages?
Sleep regressions can happen at any time, however, for toddlers they typically happen around 15 months, 18 months, two years and three years.
Do all toddlers experience sleep regressions?
Not necessarily. Some children will experience all of them mildly, while other may only experience one but in a significant way.
Every child is different and the way they cope from regression to regression may change.
Can I sleep train my toddler?
You can sleep train a child at any time. However, it can be harder the older they get because their sleep habits are more engrained. If you sleep trained your child as a baby, you may want to reinforce some of the principles if your toddler is having sleep problems.
