One minute your bub's sleeping like an absolute champion. The next, they're up every hour, fighting arvo naps, or point-blank refusing bedtime.
Sound familiar? You've probably hit a sleep regression. The good news is, it happens to pretty much every Aussie family at some point, and it's not a sign you're doing anything wrong.
So What's Actually Going On?
A sleep regression is a temporary bump in your child's sleep, after a stretch of things going pretty smoothly. Despite the name, it's not really a backward step.
It usually means your little one's brain and body are hard at work on something new, and sleep takes the hit while that's happening. Most regressions settle down within two to six weeks.
Worth knowing too, not every bad sleep stretch is a proper regression. Teething, being sick, or a big change like moving house or starting care can all cause similar chaos. If it lines up with one of the ages below, chances are it's a regression.
When Do These Usually Hit?
Every kid's different, but there are a few ages where sleep tends to go sideways.
- 4 months: Usually the first regression parents notice, and it tends to stick around, because it's actually your baby's sleep cycles maturing into a more grown-up pattern, so more waking between cycles.
- 8 to 10 months: Around the time your bub starts crawling or pulling up, and separation anxiety often kicks in too.
- 18 months: Often the toughest one, thanks to a big burst of independence and a real determination to test the boundaries, bedtime included.
- 2 years: Language and imagination are booming, which can bring a fresh round of sleep hiccups, sometimes alongside new fears or the move to a big bed.
Why Does This Happen?
Sleep regressions usually tie back to a growth spurt in your child's development, physical, mental, or emotional. Separation anxiety is a big one at a few of these ages.
According to Raising Children Network, separation anxiety is totally normal and usually kicks off around six to seven months, peaking between fourteen and eighteen months.
Once you know it's developmental and not your child being naughty or difficult, it's a lot easier to ride out.
Getting Through It: What Actually Helps
- Stick to the routine: bath, book, cuddle, whatever your usual wind-down is, keep it consistent so your child has something familiar to hold onto.
- Comfort them, but don't start new habits: extra cuddles are fine, just try not to start anything you'll need to undo later, like feeding to sleep every single time.
- Keep an eye on wake windows: an overtired kid sleeps worse, not better, and how long they can happily stay awake changes as they grow.
- Cut yourself some slack: regressions are exhausting, and it's fine to let other things slide while you get through one.
- Remember it won't last: most regressions ease up on their own within a few weeks.
How Aussie Kindies Helps With Sleep
Our educators know that rest needs shift all the time in the early years, and our approach is shaped by our Lifelong Learning Curriculum, which sees good rest as part of how kids grow, not just downtime.
Every child has their own rest plan, and we're always happy to tweak it in partnership with you if things are a bit rocky at home.
Our rooms are set up for calm, low-key wind-downs, familiar comfort items, soft lighting, and consistent educators nearby, all the things that help when sleep's being tricky.
We'll always give you a heads-up if your little one's sleep changes while they're with us, so you know what worked and can keep things consistent at home too.
Want more tips? Check out our guides on safe sleep, happy days, and how our centres support restful routines and tips from an educator to help your child sleep better.
If things are still pretty rough after a few weeks, or something feels off, it's worth having a chat with your GP or maternal child health nurse.