The progression is not one specific thing but rather a multitude of things happening in a baby’s life that are affecting sleep. The sleep training industry often refers to progressions as “regressions” but in reality, it’s all of the developmental growth and changes happening in a baby’s life that are progressing them forward. So, while sleep may suffer, we can understand that a baby is growing and developing.
Just like all things in infant sleep, every child is unique but some common signs of a progression are:
- Increased waking
- Shorter naps
- Clinginess
- Irritability
- Difficulty getting baby to sleep
Contrary to what the sleep training industry will tell you, sleep progressions are not “make or break it” moments where you need to teach your child something about sleep. There are times when we need to respond with empathy and love while also taking time to take care of ourselves.
Progressions often go hand in hand with developmental milestones happening at certain ages. Some common causes are:
- Changes in sleep pattern
- Rolling over, crawling, walking, etc
- Teething
- Separation anxiety
- Starting solids
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