How to Handle the 8-10 Month Regression Like a Pro
The dreaded 9 month regression can happen anytime between 8-10 months, and is typically associated with the development of separation anxiety, which is actually a really fun and exciting sign of development! It means your baby has developed object permanence, which means they understand objects (or YOU) still exist, even when they can’t see it. Basically, it means your baby is a genius now:)
When this happens, it can sometimes disrupt sleep because your baby knows you’re around here somewhere, but the fact that you aren’t right there, right now can feel upsetting at first. This usually presents itself with sudden night wakings, fighting bedtime, or early morning wakings.
So, what can you do about it?
Maintain a consistent nap schedule during the day. Making sure your baby is getting plenty of day sleep during the day will help set them up for better sleep at night.
Start the bedtime routine a little earlier than normal, knowing their might be a little battle going to bed. This will give your baby plenty of time to settle and fall asleep within the appropriate bedtime window.
Give your baby space to fall back asleep if night wakings do happen. If your baby has been sleeping through the night up until this point, the chances of them suddenly waking up needing to eat are slim to none. Rushing into their room and offering a feed during a sleep regression not only doesn’t stop the regression from happening (which you can’t do), but it starts to create a new habit of waking. This means once the regression is over, your baby will likely continue to wake up wanting a feed that didn’t exist before. Instead, wait 10-15 minutes before intervening. If your baby still isn’t asleep, go in, replace the pacifier or pat their back, say I love you, lay them back down and leave the room. This reassures them that you are there, but that it’s time to sleep.
Spend plenty of time during the day cuddling, holding your baby, and spending time with them in their world. Read books, join playtime on the floor, go for a walk, anything to increase bonding time during the day to reinforce the relationship and remind them that you are there for them.
Consistently remind yourself this is temporary. Your baby did not forget how to sleep, nor is this going to be the new normal! If you simply let it pass, sleep will happen again very soon.
Just like any regression, the 9 month regression can bring a little bit of stress and overwhelm, on top of sleep deprivation. You might start questioning what you’re doing wrong or what messed up their sleep! Hopefully this helps gives you peace of mind that this is, indeed, a healthy part of development. Give these 5 tips a try to make this short period of time easier for both you and your baby.