The moment when you thought your toddler’s sleep finally becomes predictable, everything can change suddenly. The night wakings return, bedtime becomes a struggle all over again and nap times are refused without warning. If these scenarios feel familiar for you, you could be experiencing the 18 month sleep regression. Amongst all the sleep regression stages, this could be considered as especially frustrating one since many parents expect that their little one’s sleep will steadily improve by the first year and not for it to fall apart again.
Like any other sleep regression stages, the 18 month sleep regression has a good reason behind it, and it’s mainly caused by the intense developmental growth. It’s at this point that toddlers have increased independence, expanded their language skills, and developed a stronger emotional awareness which are all happening at the same time. During the day, families of toddlers that goes through this regression period they find that soothing tools like a baby swing help in letting them unwind before resting times and also regulates their emotions. Although baby swings aren’t really meant for sleeping, these are a great help when calming your child during the day and it can positively influence the nighttime resting during regression periods when sleep becomes more fragile.
Why the 18-Month Mark Is a Major Sleep Milestone
By the time a toddler has turned 18 months, there is a notable shift with their development. Their skills with problem-solving, emotional regulation and stronger connection that relates to memory are formed which in turn could highly affect how well they could stay asleep and how fast they could fall asleep.
Their once somehow stable sleep cycle can become lighter and more adult-like, this means that waking could likely happen in between cycles. During the 18 month sleep regression, it’s common for children to struggle to reconnect those cycles without help, but a good thing is that they have a stronger sense of routine. They could easily recognize that bedtime is approaching with consistent routine. Resisting nap and bedtimes are common since with the increased awareness and eagerness to explore they would do anything just to stay awake. Remember that this not them developing bad habits, bit rather caused by their increased awareness.
Navigating the Peak of Separation Anxiety and Independence
It’s often during at the 18 month period that separation anxiety peaks again, bedtimes can feel scary and lonely as toddler now fully understand that caregivers exist even when they’re not in the room. It’s also at the same time when independence is booming. Toddlers may want to control over their choices more, their bodies and environment. Somehow bedtime could feel like the ultimate loss of control, which then leads to tears and protests.
During the 18 month sleep regression, toddlers may,
- Call out repeatedly at night
- Cry whenever you leave the room
- Demand for some extra reassurance
What they portray could easily frustrate a parent who’s unaware of what their child is going through. These signs are usually a signal of emotional growth not them just wanting to be up and give you a hard time. A consistent response to these kinds of behaviors can help your child feel emotionally secured while they learn to be more independent with sleep.
The Impact of Rapid Language Development on Brain Activity
It’s around 18 months that a toddler’s language skills increased at a rapid rate. New words may appear almost everyday, and toddlers also begin to combine sounds and gestures when communicating. The language explosion can keep the brain active, even during the night.
While lying in bed, toddlers often talk, babble or mentally rehearse new learned words during the day, which stimulates their brain at night, that delays sleep and increase the chances of night wakings during the 18 month sleep regression.
Being able to create a quiet, predictable bedtime routine can act as signal to the brain that it’s time to slow down. It’s important to reduce stimulation during the night at phases when regression happens.
Recognizing the Signs of a True Regression Versus Nap Resistance
For many parents one of the most confusing parts of a 18 month sleep regression is refusal of naps. It can easily be confused whether a toddler is ready to drop naps altogether. A true sleep regression usually includes,
- Early morning wake-ups
- Difficulty in getting to fall asleep at bedtime
- Increased wakings at night
- Emotional sensitivity is heightened
The nap resistance on its own usually looks like fighting naps but still needing them, at most, 18 month olds still needs one nap daily. Naps that are dropped with the wrong timing, it can lead to overtiredness and can make nighttime sleeping worse as well. Keep tabs on their moods, levels of energy, and night sleep to tell the difference.
Dealing with Boundary Testing and Bedtime Battles
Toddlers who test boundaries are just a normal part of their healthy development, and bedtime is a high time and a prime opportunity for them to practice it. Toddlers will stall, protest, or right out refuse to stay in bed just to simply see what would happen. And during the 18 month sleep regression, most bedtime battles may include,
- Refusing to lie down
- Repeated requests for books, stories or water
- Crying when the lights are turned off
Setting boundaries especially during bedtime is a must. You can put it in a way that’s loving and nurturing to your bond as parent and child. A great example of practicing safe boundaries could look like, letting them to choose the type of pajamas they could wear or the story they wanted to read for bedtime makes them feel in control. It is important that there be consistency for whatever boundaries that are set. As children thrives with predictability, having things consistent everyday can help reinforce feelings of safety and just being calm.
Adjusting Daytime Routines to Meet Higher Energy Needs
Babies that are at their 18 month have significantly more energy than they did compared to the months that have passed. They require more physical movement especially during the day to build a healthy sleep pressure. Not being able to meet their movement needs could easily result to restlessness during the night, while overstimulation too close to bedtime can also be the reason for sleep disruption. Getting to that balance is the key during the 18 month sleep regression. Daytime strategies that could help,
- Lots of outdoor plays
- Consistent nap and meal times
- Calmer activities in the evening
The Importance of Maintaining Consistency and Clear Boundaries
Your consistency is your most powerful tool to survive the 18 month sleep regression. Predictability is a child’s peace, this is especially helpful at times when their emotions are at high. A consistent bedtime routine, along with soothing environments, and a calm response to night wakings highly impacts their thoughts on nighttime rest and connecting these bedtime routine activities to safety and rest.
Setting clear boundaries doesn’t mean ignoring their emotional needs, but rather being able to respond in calm and confident manner that still reinforce bedtime routines to stay the same even to a point when their emotions are at high. Over time, this consistency will help your little ones to get back to their restful sleep.
How Long the Regression Lasts and When to Re-evaluate
It usually takes about two to six weeks to push though the 18 month sleep regression period, even though there are still some variations by child. There are some children that experience only brief disruptions, while there could also be cases when a child could go through waves of progress and setbacks.
If at some point their sleep struggles are starting to affect their daytime mood and energy, they struggle continues for several weeks and shows no improvement, it could be a great help to reassess their nap timings, bedtime routine, or daily schedules. Making small adjustments can make a huge difference with their sleep.
If you feel like their sleep issues are severe or unmanageable, consulting with a pediatrician or a sleep specialist can help guide you through what you need to know and provide reassurance to you.
Conclusion
The 18 month sleep regression can be exhausting but remember that it’s a temporary phase that’s interconnected with healthy development. Your toddler is learning independence, developing emotional awareness, and enhancing communicational skills, all essential to a healthy growth of a child.
When you’re keeping up with your consistent routines, providing reassurance, and setting clear boundaries, are some steps that you could take to help your child build lifelong skills for sleeping. Although there are times when progress can feel slow, rest assured that it’s happening.
Going through sleep regressions isn’t a sign of failure. These are transitions to a more matured and stable sleep. With patience, consistency, and time, your toddler will surely return to those restful nights of sleep with more confidence, and really ready to take on the next steps of growth and development.
Angela Spearman is a journalist at EzineMark who enjoys writing about the latest trending technology and business news.
