Sleep Regression er en periode, hvor en baby (der måske tidligere sov relativt godt), pludselig begynder at vågne oftere, have svært ved at falde i søvn og generelt virker mere urolig omkring søvn. Regression betyder “tilbagegang”, men det er faktisk ikke en tilbagegang – det er en udviklingsmæssig forandring, hvor babyens søvn bliver mere kompleks og moden. Sleep Regression sker ofte første gang ved 4 måneders alderen, hvor man, paradoksalt nok, ofte forventer, at ens baby så småt begynder at kunne sove længere stræk om natten.

Derfor er situationen ofte en kilde til frustration for både forældre og barn, og der kan dukke mange overvejelser op omkring, hvad man bedst kan gøre for at fremme en mere stabil søvn. Mange tænker på, om det vil hjælpe at begynde på overgangsmad, selvom det egentlig er en del tidligere end anbefalet. Fordi man pludselig er et sted, hvor amningerne om natten er tiltagende fremfor aftagende, hvilket naturligt kan give en bekymring for, om ens barn har brug for mere at spise for at kunne sove.

Hvis din baby pludselig skruer op for antallet af amninger (dag eller nat), så er det selvfølgelig vigtigt at afdække, om han / hun får den mængde mælk, der er behov for.

Her kan du se på:

• Hvordan tager din baby på i vægt? Spørg din sundhedsplejerske eller læge til råds
• Spiser din baby hyppigere hele døgnet igennem, eller er der mere et mønster, hvor en stor del af døgnets amninger ligger om natten og færre om dagen?
• Hvordan har din baby det ellers?

Hvis ikke situationen har afsæt i et behov for mere mad, så læs med her og lær mere om, hvad Sleep Regression skyldes.

De biologiske ændringer ved Sleep Regression

Sleep regressioner skyldes primært hjernens udvikling. Der er to hovedfaktorer, der spiller ind:

Ændringer i søvnstrukturen

• Babyer bliver født med en simpel søvnstruktur, hvor de hovedsageligt skifter mellem aktiv søvn (REM-lignende søvn) og stille søvn (dyb søvn).
• Ved omkring 3-4 måneder sker der en omstrukturering af søvnen, så babyen begynder at opleve mere komplekse søvnfaser, ligesom voksne. Dette betyder, at de nu har lettere og dybere søvnfaser, og de begynder at vågne mere op mellem søvncyklusser.
• Før denne ændring kunne babyen ofte bedre (men bestemt ikke alle) glide fra en cyklus til den næste uden at vågne – men efter regressionen kan de vågne helt op og have svært ved at falde i søvn igen.

Udviklingsspring og neurologisk vækst

• I perioder med stor hjernemæssig udvikling (fx når baby lærer nye motoriske eller kognitive færdigheder), øges aktiviteten i hjernen, også når babyen sover.
• Dette kan føre til hyppigere opvågninger, sværere indsovning og mere urolig søvn generelt.
• For eksempel, hvis en baby lige har lært at rulle, kravle eller stå op, vil de ofte vågne op og instinktivt forsøge at øve denne færdighed, selv midt om natten.

These two factors are the biological basis for the different sleep regressions that occur in certain age ranges.

What does Sleep Regression look like?

Baby’s sleep can be disrupted in various ways during a regression, but the most common signs are:

• More frequent nighttime awakenings (baby wakes up every 1-2 hours, even if they previously slept for longer stretches).
• Difficulty falling asleep (may take longer to be put to sleep, even if baby seems tired).
• Shorter naps (if baby used to sleep for 1-2 hours at a time, they may suddenly wake up after 30-40 minutes).
• Increased restlessness when putting the baby to sleep (crying, protests, baby tosses and turns, seems uncomfortable).
• Increased need for closeness (baby prefers to sleep on the arm, in the sling or only fall asleep at the breast).
• Multiple awakenings for no apparent reason (baby doesn’t seem hungry, but wakes up anyway).
• Changed appetite (some babies start eating more at night, even if they used to eat less).
• More irritability during the day (baby may seem tired, grumpy, or overstimulated).

When does Sleep Regression happen?

Regressions occur at certain age ranges because they are associated with developmental leaps. The most common are:

4-month sleep regression (the largest and most significant)

• What happens? Sleep patterns become more adult-like, sleep cycles become more distinct, and baby begins to wake up more often between cycles.
• How long does it last? Approximately 2-6 weeks.
• What does it look like? Baby wakes up more often at night and has difficulty falling back asleep.

6-month sleep regression

• What happens? Baby becomes more aware of his surroundings and may begin to experience separation anxiety.
• How long does it last? 1-3 weeks.
• What does it look like? Baby sleeps more easily, wakes up more often to make sure the parents are still there.

8-10 month sleep regression

• What happens? Baby develops motor skills like crawling and pulling himself up to stand.
• How long does it last? 3-6 weeks.
• What does it look like? Baby wakes up in the middle of the night to practice skills, has difficulty settling down.

12-month sleep regression

• What happens? Baby may start walking, develop a larger vocabulary, and have a cognitive explosion.
• How long does it last? 2-4 weeks.
• What does it look like? Baby may have difficulty falling asleep, seem very energetic and may wake up early in the morning.

Not all babies experience sleep regressions to the same extent. Some babies have milder regressions , where they only sleep a little worse for a few days, while others experience drastic changes for several weeks. In general, the 4-month regression is the most universal because this is when sleep patterns change fundamentally.

How do you get through Sleep Regression successfully?

Sleep regressions can be frustrating, but they are temporary, and there are several things you can do to help yourself get through them.

1. “It’s a phase” – but….

Regressions don’t mean you’ve done something wrong – they’re a natural part of your baby’s development. And they’re a phase that’s temporary. However, it’s still important to be aware that any new habits that have been incorporated during the phase can stick around. Even after the phase is over.

2. Support your baby in falling asleep independently

If your baby wakes up often and generally needs a lot of “sleeping aids” such as being rocked to sleep for every time he/she is put to sleep and wakes up, it can be beneficial to work quietly and calmly on getting him/her back to sleep. This way, your baby can better help himself/herself to continue sleeping after waking up between two sleep cycles.

3. Use sleep-promoting routines

Regular cuddle routines and winding down before sleep can help create the expectation of sleep in your child and can help him/her go to sleep with a more calm body and nervous system.

4. Adjust expectations for naps and nighttime

Baby may need shorter or more/fewer naps during this period to meet his needs for both sleep and wakefulness. If your child’s sleep schedule is not in balance, feel free to start there.

5. More peace and quiet during the day

If your child has settled into a routine where they breastfeed a lot at night and less during the day, do what you can to create a calm environment for meals during the day. Your child is probably full of exciting things happening in their body and brain, but also in their surroundings, and this may overwhelm their need for food, so that your child instead “catches up” at night when there aren’t as many other stimuli around.

The sleep compass

If sleep is a problem and you want to be held by the hand and guided all the way, then we are here for you. We have developed our sleep course The Sleep Compass , where you will get help to balance your child’s sleep account , balance your child’s nervous system and reduce motor restlessness , establish a good putting routine and work on reducing your child’s sleeping gear for shorter putting, fewer awakenings and generally better sleep both night and day. We will create a tailored plan for you and follow up on our weekly online Q&As, so you never feel alone on the journey towards better sleep.

You can read more about the Sleep Compass and sign up here ⇒