A good night sleep for an infant is the desire of any new parent. However, when a baby is about eight-month-old, when they are just settling in the infancy sleep routine, they usually experience 8 month old sleep regression. This is a condition whereby a baby who has been having good night sleep start experiencing short naps and frequently waking up at night. This condition is not a stage of infancy period as perceived by others. It happens to some babies and some it does not.
Moreover, just because a baby is experiencing sleep disturbances does not make it sleep regression. Other sleep disorders can be distinguished based on duration they occur and how long they last. Some appear to four-month olds, others 8 month old sleep regression.
Causes
Change in sleep schedule
Changes in the sleep schedule of a baby can be a contributor to sleep regression. A baby would sleep about three times a day, but when they reach eight months old, they tend to have longer days and take a nap twice during the day. This means that they stay awake longer during the day. This may influence their night sleep and causes them to have these disturbed nights.
Rapid development
This is the age where a baby is learning a lot of things such as crawling, scooting and pulling themselves up. They are also trying to understand what people are saying as their language is also rapidly expanding. This can be a major cause of sleep disturbance since the baby has a busy mind.
Duration
They do not actually stay for long as most of them stay for about three to six weeks. Sometimes these troubles resolve very quickly. When such happens, it means that the baby was being disturbed by other things like illness or teething. However, when they last more than they should, it is essential that you visit a paediatrician to have your baby checked.
Treatment
It is recommended that you keep up with the same routine you have been using. If it is singing, rocking the baby or patting them, then continue with it. If it worked before it will work again, only that it may take longer. Sometimes verbally soothing a baby while putting them to sleep works. This has been found by many parents to be accurate and makes the baby recognise the voice of the parent or caregiver. Other methods, such as cry-it-out have also been found useful in putting a baby to sleep.
