Sleep regressions are completely normal in growing babies and toddlers. They typically occur around 4, 8,12,18, and 24 months as your child develops new physical, mental, and emotional skills. The 18-month sleep regression is one of the most common (and one of the last major regressions) before age two.
What is the 18-Month Sleep Regression?
During this stage, your toddler’s sleep may suddenly change. Bedtime resistance, night wakings, and shorter naps can make it feel like all your sleep progress has disappeared overnight. For the first two years of your child’s life, they are constantly learning new skills and developing socially, mentally, and physically. All of these new skills can be frustrating, but they are actually a sign of developmentally healthy growth. You may know the feeling already- you’ve worked so hard on a sleep schedule, and all of a sudden it feels like you’re back to square one.
Sleep regressions are a challenge for both your little one and you. While they’re struggling with their own sleep, it wreaks havoc on your sleep as well. It’s important to keep in mind that these phases aren’t forever, and while they’re difficult, they are a sign that your toddler is progressing. Sleep regressions may sound negative, but they reflect healthy growth and development and are essential stepping stones in your child’s life. With consistency and patience, you will be able to make it out on the other side without losing all of the sleep progress you’ve made. Today, I’m dedicating this post to discussing the 18 month sleep regression and tips to help make it easier!
18 Month Sleep Regression Signs
- Resistance to naps or bedtime
- Crying during naps
- Taking a long time to fall asleep
- Trouble falling asleep and falling back asleep
- Increased fussiness and irritability
- Waking during the night
- Separation anxiety
- Expressing new fears ⠀⠀⠀
What Causes 18 Month Sleep Regression
Around 18 months, toddlers go through a period of rapid social, emotional, and physical growth. They’re learning and wanting to do everything independently, developing new fears, and testing boundaries – all of which can disrupt sleep. Here are the most common causes of the 18 month old sleep regression.
Separation Anxiety
Separation anxiety commonly impacts sleep in babies and toddlers. It’s normal for babies to experience separation anxiety, and then for those feelings to return around the 18 month mark. Toddlers begin to understand object permanence and may struggle being away from you at bedtime. As you work through these feelings with your toddler, they will be able to develop a secure attachment and know that even when they cannot see you, they’re safe.
Teething
Teething can be super painful for your little ones, and the discomfort may wake them up in the night. There are many ways to soothe your child while they’re teething. It may feel like a disruption to your sleep progress, but working through these milestones and practicing empathy can go a long way. Sleep disruptions typically produce milestone eruptions!
Illness
Having a sick kid can feel like you’re going backwards in terms of sleep progress. The good news is that you can get back on track- after they’re feeling better. Focus on recovery, and then you can get back to sleep training.
Physical Milestones
As your toddler hits big developmental milestones and continues to gain more and more freedom in their skills, bedtime can feel like a downer. It can be hard to relax when they’re thinking about running around and playing with toys! Walking, running, and climbing can make it hard for toddlers to settle down. Consistency with boundaries and expectations combined with patience is the way to work through your toddler testing bedtime.
Fear
Your toddler may be afraid of being alone in their room or may be experiencing nightmares. Night terrors and nightmares in toddlers can cause a lack of sleep during the night, or may make your toddler dread bedtime. Even if they’re not experiencing nightmares, they could be afraid of the dark or have other fears surrounding bedtime. There are many ways to help your little one combat these fears.
Changes at Home
Your toddler is very perceptive to the world around them and can pick up on big life changes at home. A new sibling or a big move could send them into confusing emotions as they adapt to these adjustments. They may be fussier and test boundaries as a result of anxiety or mixed emotions.
How To Handle 18 Month Sleep Regression
There are many different sleep training methods that you can use to get through these tough times with your toddler. If you want to offer your toddler more support, you absolutely can. Cry it out (or Extinction) is not the ONLY option. Even during a sleep regression, you can continue to create healthy habits that will support them as they learn the skill of sleep. Consistency is KEY. Remember- sleep regressions are a sign that your child is learning, growing, and progressing.
Conquer Bedtime Fears
If your little one fears the dark or has nightmares, try a night light, or fun “fear spray” (a bottle of water and essential oils) to make bedtime feel safer. Reading books about bravery can also help your child manage fears. Giving them the tools to feel more equipped to work through their fears can help avoid a distressed toddler at night. There are also many sleeping products for toddlers to help create an environment that feels safe and calm to them.
Create a Safe, Calm Sleep Environment
Ensure your toddler’s room is toddler-proof and cozy. This is especially important if your toddler is trying to escape their crib. With developing motor skills comes a new sense of freedom- they may be tempted to get up and play when you’re not around. Secure furniture, cover outlets, and remove distractions. A calm sleep space helps prevent bedtime battles and early wakeups.
Maintain a Consistent Routine
Toddlers thrive on predictability. Keep their routine as consistent as possible despite the challenges you may be experiencing. This will keep them from veering too far off the course of normal, and once you’re through the regression you won’t have to re-establish your routines. The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry says that the best way to minimize sleep problems in children is to have consistent bedtime and sleep routines.
Limit Screen Time Before Bed
Avoid screens for at least 60 minutes before bedtime. Blue light interferes with melatonin production, making it harder for toddlers to fall asleep. Replace screen time with quiet activities like reading or gentle play. Not only will this cause fewer issues going to bed, but your toddler will also be much more likely to stay in bed too.
Consider Nap Adjustments
Between 12 and 18 months, many toddlers transition from two naps to one. If your child resists bedtime, experiment with dropping a nap to adjusting nap length. Managing nap transitions can feel difficult, and every child is different. When you find a routine that meets your toddler’s needs, their overall sleep will become much smoother.
Stay Calm and Patient
Regressions can be tough…especially when your toddler is up all night. Stay calm, keep interactions minimal, and consistently guide them back to bed. Setting clear boundaries and expectations without overreacting is the best way to shorten the length of a sleep regression. Celebrate good sleep habits with positive reinforcement or small rewards. Let your little one know how proud they made you for following bedtime rules!
Sleep Shore Sleep Consulting
Are your toddler sleep issues making naps and nights difficult? If your child is unable to independently engage in self-soothing behaviors, fall asleep, stay asleep, or wake up at a normal time, it may be time to consider sleep training. Sleep Shore offers personalized solutions for each unique sleeping situation to get your little one on track- whether they’re a newborn, infant, or toddler. We also offer in home sleep training services in the Boston, Massachusetts, Central Michigan (Midland, Clare, Mt. Pleasant) and Traverse City, Michigan. Sleep training offers babies and children with the skills to fall asleep on their own so they can wake up feeling more well-rested- and in turn, you’ll feel more energized, too! See what this mama had to say about our sleep services below:
“I cannot express enough how life-changing it has been to work with Molly at Sleep Shore. Before hiring Molly, my baby was only napping in her swing and was waking up every 2-3 hours in the middle of the night. Bedtime was always such a struggle, with me rocking her to sleep and hoping she wouldn’t wake up as soon as I laid her in the crib. The anxiety of going out was overwhelming because I knew I had to rely on the swing for naps, and I felt stuck in this cycle of frustration and exhaustion.
After I hired Molly, everything changed. Molly’s expertise and gentle approach helped my baby transition from the swing to napping in her crib for 1 to 2-hour stretches, and we completely eliminated the swing! Not only did my baby start sleeping better during the day, but she also began sleeping through the night!”
Mom of 4-Month-Old