As your child grows and develops, their sleep habits can change—sometimes dramatically. Toddlers and preschoolers who have previously slept through the night often begin to experience sleep disruptions. Then, before you know it, your toddler is smack bang in the middle of a sleep regression. And you’re left wondering “What happened to my awesome sleeper?”
Toddlerhood is a milestone event, and it’s not for the faint hearted. Today we’ll explore seven reasons for your toddler’s sleep regression. Then I’ll give you some tips to get them back on track with sleep again.
Why does toddlerhood cause sleep regressions?
Sleep regressions can occur at any stage throughout your child’s life. But it’s definitely more common during the ages of 18 months to 3-4 years (aka toddlerhood).
Toddlerhood is an exciting yet challenging time for both children and parents alike. And it’s a time when sleep can go astray. A study published in Sleep Medicine Reviews highlighted that as toddlers assert their growing independence, they also delay bedtime, seek more attention, and wake up more during the night. So, breathe mama, these behaviours are considered normal, even if they aren’t ideal. They are often closely tied to the developmental changes happening around the toddler/preschooler stage. Let’s break them down.
Here are seven common factors that could be affecting your toddler’s sleep:
1. Attention-Seeking Behaviour
Children in this age group may crave extra attention, especially if they have experienced recent changes at home. Common changes are starting daycare or welcoming a new sibling. This change can lead to bedtime resistance and frequent night wakings as your child tries to process the disruptions and seeks additional comfort or company. Toddler’s HATE change, and they’ll often seek extra attention by screaming to be noticed.
2. Developmental Milestones
As toddlers grow, they experience major developmental changes, particularly around language and cognitive abilities. These milestones, though exciting, can temporarily disrupt sleep patterns. If your child is learning to speak or mastering new skills, they may have a harder time settling down for sleep because they just want to practice, practice, practice. You’ll know it’s a milestone moment if you have a wee one who is always taking their clothes off (such a fun stage). Or one who is adding more words and lengthening their sentences daily.
3. Increased Independence
Toddlers love to test boundaries! As they gain more independence, they may resist bedtime or nighttime routines, simply because they have discovered they can! This can manifest in tantrums, defiant behaviour, or waking up multiple times at night.
4. Transitioning to a Bed
Moving from a cot to a bed is a major milestone. And yes, it can also cause sleep disruptions. The newfound space and freedom may tempt your child to get out of bed. Thus, making bedtime more difficult and leading to frequent night wakings. Because they just Keep. Getting. Up.
5. Nighttime Fears
As a child’s imagination grows, so do their fears. Imagination has a tendency to kick in around 2.5-3 years of age. Nightmares, a fear of the dark, or monsters under the bed, may start to creep in with imagination. This can make bedtime feel like a daunting experience for your child, as they struggle to differentiate what is real, and what’s not.
6. An Inconsistent Bedtime Routine
If your toddler’s bedtime routine is inconsistent, their sleep habits can suffer. Remember how I said toddler’s hate change? Well, routine is the key to helping them feel secure and calm as they wind down for the night. Creating a predictable, step by step, bedtime routine can help signal to your child that it’s time to sleep.
7. Illness
It’s no surprise that illness can disrupt a child’s sleep. It tends to disrupt everyone’s sleep. Whether it’s a cold, ear infection, or teething, any physical discomfort can cause difficulty with both falling asleep and staying asleep (ie, leading to night wakings).
If you know what is derailing sleep for your little one, you’ll be able to address the concern directly. Most of the above have a fix. But you can also try these sleep solutions.
Sleep Solutions
Don’t panic —there are steps you can take to get back on track with sleep. Here are a few general tips to help:
- Stick to a Consistent Bedtime Routine: Establishing a consistent routine can signal to your child that it’s time to wind down and go to bed. Include calming activities like reading a book or taking a warm bath.
- Set Clear Boundaries: While it’s normal for toddlers to test limits, setting clear and consistent bedtime rules will help reinforce good sleep habits. This is a game changer when dealing with toddlers.
- Limit Screen Time: Try to reduce screen time in the evening, particularly in the hour or two before bed. I’ve written more about this here.
- Monitor Diet: Keep an eye on what your child eats and drinks, especially before bed. Reducing sugar intake and avoiding hidden sources of caffeine (like chocolate) can improve sleep quality.
- Encourage Physical Activity: Ensure your toddler gets enough exercise during the day. Then avoid overly stimulating activities right before bedtime.
Final Thoughts
Sleep regressions and disruption in toddlers and preschoolers can be super frustrating. However, they are often temporary and can be managed with a few adjustments from you.
By understanding the factors that are impacting your child’s sleep and implementing some simple strategies, you can help them (and yourself!) get the rest they need.
If you’re struggling with your toddler’s sleep, I’m here to help! Book a free initial call to discuss what’s happening with your family. I’m here to offer you personalised support and guidance for all things sleep (at any age). Because sleep during childhood should be the best sleep of your child’s life.