Was your baby sleeping just fine and then all of a sudden there was a change and you're thinking "What the heck? What happened??"
Well, you're not alone!
Babies learn and change at a rapid rate, and we usually don't get the memo until after the change ;)
Here's a rapid-fire checklist to review if your baby's sleep has all of a sudden and you don't know where to start:
1) Do wake windows need to be adjusted?
This may seem obvious, but the number of conversations I have about this is significant.
Common things I see:
>Sleep cues are being missed- early sleep cues: slightly less active, staring off into space, and maybe an eye rub.
>>Late sleep cue: red eyebrows, fussiness, and some crying.
>>>Really late sleep cue: Arching back, hysterical crying, difficult to settle.
We want to watch for those early sleep cues, and prior to naptime, we want to get baby down within 5 or so minutes of seeing those cues.
Overtired baby = worse sleep (most of the time)
Key point:
Start watching your baby closely around the end of their wake window (if you have no idea where to start, check out this chart).
Once you see the sleep cue, get them down for sleep within 5-10 minutes.
2) Naps are shorter all of a sudden? Increase the wake windows.
We don't get a text message when our baby needs longer wake windows (though that would be nice!).
So, we need to watch for the signs such as naps getting shorter all of a sudden.
If that's the case, then increase the wake windows by 15-20 minutes at a time, usually to a maximum of a 30-minute increase.
P.s. The morning and before bed are the hardest wake windows to increase, so that it easy with that. Midday wake windows are a good place to start!
Key point:
Wake windows increase by 15-20 minutes at a time, usually to a maximum of a 30-minute increase.
Take a couple of days to test this out!
3) Baby needs to drop a nap
Another common reason for 'all of a sudden change' would be a baby needing to drop a nap.
A quick review of common signs:
>Bedtime is getting later, past 8 pm
>Early mornings accompany the late bedtime
>Huge struggle to get last nap in
>Last nap of day is late/awkward timing
(Here's that chart again to review wake windows and common nap transitions)
Reminder: Most infants aged 4-18 months need a bedtime between 6:30-7:30 pm, latest is usually 8 pm.
Key points:
Review common signs of needing to drop a nap and see if it would be appropriate for your baby's schedule.
4) How is daytime intake?
If you find that your baby's daytime intake is decreasing, and the nighttime intake in increasing- let's stop that in its tracks!
{Reverse cycling} is the official term, and I have met no parents who prefer to feed their baby all night long vs. the daytime!
For context:
Babies 3-6 months: Need 5 daytime feeds and some, 0-2 at night.
Babies 6-9 months: Depending on solid food intake, still need 4-5 daytime feed (5 especially if solid food intake is low), and usually 0-1 at night.
Babies 9-12 months: Solids take a heavier focus, and we do 'Solids first, then milk'. Ideally, no night feeds and 3-4 daytime feeds (meaning milk) during the day.
Babies 12-18 months: 3 solid meals, up to 2 snacks, and 2 servings of milk (500 mls max. per day). If breastfeeding, usually 2-3 BF's max a day.
Common problems I see:
>Too much milk intake during the night
>Not enough solid food intake (older babies) relies too much of milk
>12 months +: Way too much milk and relying on bottles/breastfeeds
Key points:
Take inventory of what your baby takes during the day and evaluate what's going on at night.
Too many night feeds are a thing and can compromise your baby's night and overall sleep.
5) Milestones?
Yes, milestones can disrupt sleep!
Be patient and give them lots of floor time and space to practice those skills during the day!
6) Regression?
The 4-month sleep 'regression' (is poorly named if you ask me), as your baby's brain is permanently changing from newborn sleep >> to adult type sleep!
If this is happening, common signs would be:
>Short naps
>Difficulty going down at bedtime
>Many night wake ups
>The way you helped your baby to sleep isn't helping anymore
>Baby is between 3-5 months
This is the time to work on independent sleep skills! (And that's exactly what I help parents like you with!)
Babies don't "go back" with these changes, and everyone gets tired out REALLY fast at this point.
Most of my clients see a massive improvement in their baby's sleep within a few days of working together!
Here's what Anna had to say about our time together:
I absolutely loved working with Melody! She gave me a plan to deal with my little one's frequent night wakings, and she was sleeping through the night in less than 2 weeks. The plan worked better than I expected and I'm so glad I did my part to stick to it.
Book a quick 15-minute chat to see if we are a good fit! Click the button below!
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