Getting babies to sleep is one of the most difficult challenges new mothers face. It often takes hours of breastfeeding, soothing, and rocking to get the baby to sleep for a few hours, before suddenly waking up and having to repeat the process all over again.
As difficult as it is, the problem can sometimes escalate without warning, to the point where the child is unable to sleep for even one hour at a time. This condition, which affects children under the age of two, is known as "sleep relapses."
What are sleep relapses in infants?
A baby may gradually begin to establish a healthy sleep routine for weeks or even months, only for mothers to find that everything suddenly changes. Sleep becomes a difficult and challenging task, as the baby wakes up several times during the night and has difficulty falling back asleep.
This condition is called "sleep regression" or "sleep relapses," and it refers to a period of decline in sleep quality over a period of time usually ranging from two to four weeks, in which a child who sleeps well suddenly has difficulty falling into deep sleep, or wakes up more frequently than usual.
Various reasons and multiple factors
Pediatrician Ali Abdel Aziz says that there are a number of factors that can cause discomfort in a child or make him anxious or agitated, leading to a decline in the quality of his sleep, including:
- Babies go through what are known as "growth spurts," which are periods of rapid growth that occur in the first months of life, making them extremely hungry and in need of constant feeding and care.
- Teething pain that can keep babies unable to relax and rest.
- Experiencing new cognitive and perceptual developments.
- Disruptions to normal daily routines, such as traveling or changing homes.
- Suffering from illnesses, such as colds, ear infections, or vaccinations, can cause bouts of fever and pain that can disrupt your nighttime sleep routine.
Common ages for sleep relapses
From 3 to 4 months: During the first months of a baby's life, after he has developed a basic pattern for his nightly sleep routine, everything may suddenly change due to developmental developments at this stage.
For example, if your baby has already learned to fall asleep without parental assistance (i.e., is placed in his crib while still awake and falls asleep without assistance), growth spurts at 3 to 4 months of age probably won't significantly affect your baby's sleep cycles.
On the other hand, if your baby is breastfed and rocked to help him sleep, you will likely notice an increase in nighttime waking and frequent restlessness during his short daytime naps.
At 6 months: While 6 months is not a common age for growth spurts, sleep regression in babies can occur at this time for no apparent reason.
Between 7 and 10 months: Around this age, babies begin to become more mobile, their teeth begin to appear, and they transition to needing only two naps during the day, instead of three or more. As a result, they may experience bouts of extreme fatigue due to the change in nap times.
Separation anxiety also often peaks at this age, and the quality of nighttime sleep can be affected by these changes. Without warning, children who used to lie down and fall asleep peacefully without parental support may begin to reject the bedtime routine that once worked well.
14 to 18 months: When toddlers reach 14 to 18 months of age, they experience a major wave of growth spurts and behavioral and cognitive developments.
Children may also experience other changes in their daytime nap routine, limiting themselves to just one nap. This change can cause overtiredness due to the longer periods of awake. What makes this period particularly challenging, however, is that children begin to seek greater independence and may reject any attempts to calm down and fall asleep at the end of the day.
Best ways to deal with sleep relapses
If your baby sleeps well and suddenly starts waking up during the night, you may be concerned that something is wrong. It's good to know that this is completely normal and nothing to worry about, even after your baby has been sleeping soundly and soundly throughout the night.
Among the steps that can be tried to help the child, according to the pediatrician, are the following:
- Establishing a consistent bedtime routine: This helps your child know that bedtime is approaching. Stick to the same routine as much as possible, even if their sleep patterns change. You can give them a warm bath, read a story together, cuddle and sing to them, or play certain music that they associate only with bedtime.
- Make sure your baby is comfortable: Check the room temperature and add or remove layers of clothing to keep his body temperature moderate, not too hot or too cold.
- Help your child distinguish between night and day: When putting them to sleep at night, make sure the lights are dim or off, talk to them in as low a voice as possible, and keep the house quiet and calm.
- Ensure your baby is full: As your baby grows, they will likely need more milk during the day, in addition to solid foods starting around 6 months of age. So, make sure they get enough feedings before bedtime so they don't wake up hungry.
- Avoid screen time before bed: The light emitted from phones, tablets, and TVs can disrupt a child's sleep rhythms and make it difficult for them to relax.
- Sleep training when needed: If your baby is 6 months old or older, you can try teaching him how to fall asleep when he is restless during the night. This is called sleep training.
There are a number of techniques you can try, many of which do not involve leaving your baby to cry alone.
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