The 12-month sleep regression is a change in a baby's sleep schedule that occurs around the time they turn one year old. Sleep regression can seemingly appear out of nowhere. Even with consistent sleep training, a baby can suddenly develop adverse sleep habits that lead to crankiness, fussiness, and sleep deprivation.

Signs of 12-month toddler sleep regression include altered sleep patterns, frequent night wakings, inconsistent naptimes, and cranky behavior during awake times. Such behavior is natural, and learning how to handle your toddler’s short-term sleep problems will help you develop better napping and bedtime routines.

A true sleep regression typically involves at least three days of consistent behavioral changes, and it can affect a young child's sleep for days or even weeks. By describing the changes to your child's physician or to a sleep consultant, you may be able to better anticipate further changes that await your one-year-old's sleep habits.

The causes of sleep regression stem from a baby’s rapid development over the first year of their life. Infants of this age go through growth spurts and rapid mental development, and they learn new skills nearly every day. This promotes growth and transformation in the infant brain, which, in turn, causes changes in sleep behavior.

New parents have many tools at their disposal for addressing a child’s 12-month sleep regression.

1. __Establish consistency__. Newborn babies thrive on routine, and a reliable way to develop a good sleeper is to put them to bed at the same time every day. This includes morning naps, afternoon naps, and nighttime sleep.
2. __Proactively plan for tiredness__. The cause of much infant crankiness is a lack of sleep. Take proactive steps to ensure your child always gets enough sleep, whether this means setting an earlier bedtime or adding a second short nap to your child's routine.
3. __Monitor separation anxiety__. Your child instinctively craves your presence, so offer cuddles around naptime and tend to your crying infant in the middle of the night.
4. __Keep the child stimulated during the day__. A child needs mental stimulation and physical activity during the day to build up the fatigue needed to sleep through the night. Keep your baby active in order to encourage healthy sleep.
5. __Build positive sleep associations__. As part of a bedtime routine, establish certain behaviors, like a warm bottle, a bedtime story, cuddles, and familiar songs. This sets the child's mind at ease and mentally prepares them for sleep.
6. __Seek medical advice as needed__. If you’re concerned by your baby’s sleep regression, consult a pediatrician for specialized advice.
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The 12-month sleep regression is a developmental milestone that begins around a child’s first birthday. During this phase, a baby's sleep schedule changes, often resulting in crankiness and difficulty sleeping.


The 12-month sleep regression is a developmental milestone that begins around a child’s first birthday. During this phase, a baby's sleep schedule changes, often resulting in crankiness and difficulty sleeping.


12-Month Sleep Regression: How Infant Sleep Patterns Change

The 12-month sleep regression is a change in a baby&#39;s sleep schedule that occurs around the time they turn one year old. Sleep regression can seemingly appear out of nowhere. Even with consistent sleep training, a baby can suddenly develop adverse sleep habits that lead to crankiness, fussiness, and sleep deprivation.Signs of 12-month toddler sleep regression include altered sleep patterns, frequent night wakings, inconsistent naptimes, and cranky behavior during awake times. Such behavior is natural, and learning how to handle your toddler’s short-term sleep problems will help you develop better napping and bedtime routines.

What Is 12-Month Sleep Regression?

A true sleep regression typically involves at least three days of consistent behavioral changes, and it can affect a young child&#39;s sleep for days or even weeks. By describing the changes to your child&#39;s physician or to a sleep consultant, you may be able to better anticipate further changes that await your one-year-old&#39;s sleep habits.

How Long Does 12-Month Sleep Regression Last?

The causes of sleep regression stem from a baby’s rapid development over the first year of their life. Infants of this age go through growth spurts and rapid mental development, and they learn new skills nearly every day. This promotes growth and transformation in the infant brain, which, in turn, causes changes in sleep behavior.

What Causes 12-Month Sleep Regression?

New parents have many tools at their disposal for addressing a child’s 12-month sleep regression.<ol class="mc-m-4"><li class="mc-my-4"> 1. Establish consistency. Newborn babies thrive on routine, and a reliable way to develop a good sleeper is to put them to bed at the same time every day. This includes morning naps, afternoon naps, and nighttime sleep. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 2. Proactively plan for tiredness. The cause of much infant crankiness is a lack of sleep. Take proactive steps to ensure your child always gets enough sleep, whether this means setting an earlier bedtime or adding a second short nap to your child&#39;s routine. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 3. Monitor separation anxiety. Your child instinctively craves your presence, so offer cuddles around naptime and tend to your crying infant in the middle of the night. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 4. Keep the child stimulated during the day. A child needs mental stimulation and physical activity during the day to build up the fatigue needed to sleep through the night. Keep your baby active in order to encourage healthy sleep. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 5. Build positive sleep associations. As part of a bedtime routine, establish certain behaviors, like a warm bottle, a bedtime story, cuddles, and familiar songs. This sets the child&#39;s mind at ease and mentally prepares them for sleep. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 6. Seek medical advice as needed. If you’re concerned by your baby’s sleep regression, consult a pediatrician for specialized advice. </li></ol>

6 Tips for Dealing With 12-Month Sleep Regression

Saw some of the best darn logs of your life with a <a href='https://www.masterclass.com' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com","linkCopy":"MasterClass Annual Membership","category":null}'>MasterClass Annual Membership</a> and exclusive instructional videos from Dr. Matthew Walker, the author of Why We Sleep and the founder-director of the Center for Human Sleep Science at the University of California, Berkeley. Between Matthew’s tips for optimal snoozing and info on discovering your body’s ideal rhythms, you’ll be sleeping more deeply in no time.

Want to Learn More About Catching Those Elusive Zs?

The 12-month sleep regression is a developmental milestone that begins around a child’s first birthday. During this phase, a baby&#39;s sleep schedule changes, often resulting in crankiness and difficulty sleeping.