The 6 Month Old Sleep Regression – How To Help Your Little One

In this article, we’ll examine the frustrations often faced when adjusting a newborn into a sleep routine and our best and most researched tips to help. We’ll get through this dreaded 11 month sleep regression together.

Sleep regressions can feel like a useless wrench thrown into your baby’s sleep routine just as you’ve nailed it down. However, there is a purpose to these mysterious setbacks. Sleep regressions happen for a reason and occur when your child is hitting their developmental milestones.

While this is positive overall, dealing with the effects of sleep regression can be extraordinarily exhausting. The more your curious tyke begins to discover some of the joys of life, like crawling, being social, or using their newfound voice, the less they’ll want to miss out on all this fun when they go down for bed.

With all these new stimuli, our little ones can’t help but be excited to experience and interact with the world. As they gain new skills, they’ll want to use their newfound knowledge to explore and communicate. So, while sleep regressions are undoubtedly challenging, they are ultimately a positive marker in the grand scope of your little tot’s health.

You may have thought you nailed the baby bedtime routine. You mastered the art of putting your night owl to sleep and even taught them to self-soothe. They’re prepared to be put down for a full night’s sleep; they’ve been fed, no longer need mid-night feedings, and had a diaper change right before being put down.

So it’s natural to be puzzled when your infant is suddenly wailing at 2 AM, hours after they’ve gone to bed. If you’re confused as to what’s going wrong, you’re not alone; the six-month sleep regression is natural and to be expected. While this is a phase they will grow out of, it doesn’t make up for lost sleep. Read on for some sleep-destroying culprits.

Developing new skills opens a brand new world for our busy-bodies. Before gaining motor skills, your tiny tot has been entirely reliant on others. Achieving this freedom opens up new possibilities for our little adventurers; even if they don’t fully grasp what those are, the practice of independence alone is reason enough to dive in.

With their newfound abilities, they naturally feel excited, stimulated, and want to explore. They may start rolling around in their crib, thoroughly entertained by merely practicing their new mobility. However, when bedtime comes around, they may be so jazzed on their skills that they don’t want to stop.

Everybody wants to feel heard. Whether it’s voicing your opinion as a teenager, your thoughts on a project at work, or singing happy birthday to a dear friend, having a voice and communicating makes life a lot more fulfilling, even if it’s just as a babbling six-month-old.

Hearing your baby’s voice is a massive moment for parents, and now that they’re babbling, you might be surprised at how much they have to say. For them, finally being able to express themselves is hugely liberating. Having the skills to do this is something we adults frequently take for granted.

Now that your chatty-cathy can make noises, their brain will be on full-steam ahead, constantly babbling to themselves, singing, screaming (oh, joy), and mimicking the sounds they hear in their home.

No matter how much you love your children, a teething child can be a bit extra fussy than usual. When your munchkin has teeth growing in, it can be uncomfortable. Their gums are delicate, and as infants, they have almost no autonomy to get what they need themselves, or methods of communication to express what they want.

The added dependency on caregivers to do everything for them can be frustrating for little ones. Teething causes slight physical pain but should not interfere with night’s sleep too much for most kids. Body temperature can rise slightly (although not at fever range), so you can dress them in soft, lightweight, breathable clothes to assure that they are comfortable.

If you think your baby is teething, you can offer them teething toys to chew on, or even a damp washcloth, as it’s soft and malleable. A particularly inconsolable baby could be a sign of something more serious, so be sure to talk with your doctor to rule any illness out.

Need help? Check out our tips on how to soothe a theething baby at night.

Growth spurts aren’t something adults often consider because we haven’t experienced them for many years. However, they frequently occur in our tiny tots as they develop into young children. Growth spurts aren’t only physical; they can be exhausting mentally for babies as well.

Often during a growth spurt, a newborn will need more rest to accommodate all the changes happening inside their body. Just like we need nutrients, water, and sleep to function correctly, our tiny angels need this as well, and during a growth spurt, they need even more.

Growth spurts can’t happen properly all on their own. Your growing bean will need supplemental help to fuel these bursts in development. They might nap longer, sleep later, or be a bit fussier as they grow tired more quickly.

They could also sleep less. Have you ever been so tired you couldn’t sleep? This is similar. Make sure to cut your babe some slack, during these critical times, they could be just as worn out as you.

Separation anxiety is exhausting when you feel like you can’t leave your child alone for five minutes without a meltdown. However, the onset of separation anxiety in a youngster is a good indicator of a healthy developing mind.

Naturally, tots bond strongly with their parents; however when they’re newborns, they don’t yet understand that when a parent leaves the room, they still exist. As children grow older, they begin to understand the idea of object permanence.

This is why tiny newborns are content to be handed around by family and friends. Once they’re handed from Mom to Dad, they can no longer conceptualize that Mom still exists—what newborns don’t see, they don’t know.

Object permanence is also why kiddos love playing peek-a-boo, because if they can’t see you, they don’t think you’re there! In their minds, you’re performing a real magic trick.