Baby Sleep Regression 6 Months: What to Expect

It’s finally happened: your baby is starting to sleep through the night and you are, too!

But wait… You’ve started to see the light at the end of the tunnel when they suddenly start waking up every few hours again. Although rarely long-lasting, this sleep regression can provoke worry, confusion, and frustration. The good news is it’s completely normal, and we’re here to help you get through it!

What is the 6-Month Sleep Regression? 

A 6-month sleep regression is when a baby’s journey toward regular sleep is unexpectedly interrupted or takes a step backward. For example, you may notice that your baby goes to bed just fine but a few hours later starts fussing. Keep in mind, that your infant may not hit the regression at exactly 6 months, but perhaps a bit before or after. 

So, how long should a 6-month-old be awake for? 

Naps for a 6-month-old should be less frequent and they should stay asleep for longer stretches of time. The majority should be able to sleep for around 8 hours a night and around 12 to 15 hours per day. They shouldn’t be hungry for a snack during the night at this point, either. 

At 6 months, infants are going through significant physical and mental changes. Awareness of their surroundings and additional physical abilities is expanded, and they’ll gain an abundance of physical and mental abilities. As they’re busy learning new things, playing with toys, babbling, and moving around, it can affect their sleep. 

Why Does Baby Sleep Regression Happen? 

A number of factors can influence your baby’s sleep patterns, such as discomfort or general restlessness, leading to the sleep regression. Let’s take a look at some of the most common causes: 

Rolling Over

As your baby has likely learned to sit up and roll over on their own, they’re likely to do so while sleeping. It’s possible that your infant has been rolling over into an uncomfortable position and is unable to get themselves out of it. Alternatively, they may even get themselves stuck in the crib and cry to get your attention. 

Babbling

It’s not uncommon to hear your baby babbling away to themselves in the next room in the early hours of the morning. They’re likely having the time of their lives in there, entertaining themselves and it’s completely normal at this age. While it’s certainly cute, it likely isn’t quite as charming at 4 am. 

Crawling

As we mentioned briefly earlier, your baby is going to start crawling and rolling around at this age. As they’ve learned these new skills, they’ll often want to cruise around more or play with toys at night. 

Sitting Up

Yet another newly-acquired skill, as your baby starts to learn to push themselves into a seated position, they may be surprised and start crying. 

Separation Anxiety

Your baby likely has gotten used to being close to you late at night or early in the morning. As they’re not snacking away at this time, they may crave that closeness and cry to express this. 

Growth Spurt or Teething Pain

Both of these can cause babies to become restless. Teething can be extremely painful and growth spurts can cause them to become hungry more than usual. If they’re sick with something like a cold or ear infection, this could also cause them to be in pain or discomfort and wake up. 

Disruption in Routine or Travel

If you’re traveling and your baby is sleeping in a new environment or recently had a disruption in their regular routine, they could have trouble sleeping through the night. 

How Long Does the 6-Month Regression Last? 

After a couple nights of waking up in the wee hours again, you may be desperately wondering, “How long does the 6-month sleep regression last?!”. As with everything, it varies from baby to baby. 

The good news is that this usually only lasts from 2 to 4 weeks, max. 

This is around the length of time it will take them to get used to their change in routine, their new skills, or get over an illness. Again, the exact duration will vary based on the cause of the regression and the infant. 

In the meantime, you may notice your baby having a fitful sleep, being more fussy than usual, or taking longer naps in the daytime. You can use this time as an opportunity to start sleep training your baby and let them cry it out. Of course, if the cause of the regression is something like an illness then that’s not the best option, so use at your discretion. 

How Do You Manage the 6-Month Sleep Regression? 

Now that you know all about the 6-month sleep regression, how can you manage this time in the smoothest way possible? 

• Leave Them to It: As we just covered, offering your infant the opportunity to fall back asleep on their own is often the perfect solution. Checking in on them to make sure they’re okay is never a bad idea, but picking them up or talking to them may only awaken them further.
  
  If you notice they aren’t getting drowsy or falling asleep again after a few minutes, you can go in and comfort them. Stroking their head or arm or whispering gently can help soothe them back to sleep. 

• Stick to Your Schedule: Sticking to a consistent bedtime routine despite the regression will only help your baby get back on track. There’s no need to add any extra naps: this only makes it more difficult for them to sleep through the night. 

• Track Your Baby’s Sleep: To help make the process easier and leave out the guesswork, we recommend using a high-quality sleep tracker like the popular Baby Connect app.
  
  The app displays graphical charts of your baby’s activities, so you can see what they’re doing and when. During a sleep regression, you’ll appreciate how easy it is to track the average number of naps and duration of sleep per day, as well as their longest sleeping session. You can utilize the timer not only to track naps, but activities, feeding sessions, and even their mood. 

We hope these tips help you and your baby breeze through their 6-month sleep regression. Remember that each day they’re getting closer and closer to a normal sleep schedule!