9 Month Sleep Regression Signs
There are some tell-tale signs that your baby is going through the 9 month sleep regression.
Some of those signs include:
- increased night waking
- difficulty falling asleep
- shorter naps
- irritability
- clinginess
- increased separation anxiety
- changes in appetite
If you notice your baby experiencing any combination of these symptoms, you can chalk it up to the developmentally normal and natural (yet exhausting!) 9 month sleep regression.
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What Causes The 9 Month Sleep Regression?
The 9 month sleep regression can be caused by one or a combination of factors.
Here are the top 4 causes of the 9 month sleep regression:
Developmental leap, as infants at this age are often learning new skills such as crawling, standing, or eating solids.
Teething can also disrupt sleep, because of the pain and discomfort. A slightly raised temperature (usually under 101F) can occur, swollen, tender gums, sporadic fussiness and crying, excessive drool, rubbing cheeks or pulling ears are typical indicators of teething.
Changes in routine or environment can be another cause – like dropping a nap, starting daycare, switching from breast milk to formula, etc.
Object permanence could be another cause of your baby’s sleep regression, or part of the cause.
Object permanence is the ability to understand that objects still exist even when they can’t be seen, and it typically develops around this age. Think – “when mommy leaves the room, she is still here, I just can’t see her right now.” Or, “when my ball rolls out of sight, it isn’t gone forever, I just can’t see it right now.”
This is object permanence and babies haven’t grasped this yet.
Some experts believe that babies may experience heightened anxiety or stress as a result of this cognitive leap, which could disrupt their sleep patterns.
However, it’s important to note that sleep regression can have many different causes, and not all babies will experience it at the same time or for the same reasons.
Yet, many experience it at and around the 9 month mark.
As the owner of a Montessori-inspired daycare and preschool, I have worked with dozens and dozens of babies over the past almost-decade, and nearly all the babies experienced the 9 month sleep regression.
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How Long Does 9 Month Sleep Regression Last?
The 9 month sleep regression typically lasts for a few weeks to a month.
However, every child is different and some may experience it for a shorter or longer period of time.
In my experience, most babies who have symptoms of the 9 month sleep regression have them for 1-3 months.
Many 9 month olds wake up at night crying. Other 9 months olds cry when put down for sleep. Some are fussier during the day. And many are clingier than usual.
There’s no doubt that a few weeks to a month can feel like a lifetime, especially if you have settled into a pretty comfortable routine for the past few months (finally after all the madness from the newborn stage!).
Many parents just started to “see the light at the end of the exhausting no-sleep tunnel” as new parents coming out of the newborn phase, so keeping in mind that the 9 month sleep regression, just like the sleepless newborn phase, is just that – a passing phase – can help you stay calmer while weathering it.
How your baby is during the 9 month sleep regression is not a indication of what type of sleeper your baby will continue to be. It is just an indicator of this passing phase.
Yes – your baby is not all of a sudden a ‘bad sleeper’ – no, they are just going through a rough developmental time, so their sleep is a little off. Think of when you were first in love, or had a big project due at work, or were stressing about family issues – your sleep was disrupted because you were going through something out of the ordinary.
This is what’s happening.
Because of their growing abilities, awareness, and the discomfort from things like teething and digesting solids, it is very normal to have some disrupted sleep for a bit.
How To Handle Each Cause Of The 9 Month Sleep Regression
You might be surprised at what is best, and best to avoid, during this time.
Handling the developmental leap:
- Recognize all of the new skills your baby is trying out and help them practice them during waking hours!
- Get curious about the solid foods you are giving your baby – are any maybe causing stomach upset or harder to digest?
- When feeding solids, give your baby at least 20 minutes before sleeping. Maybe more if you notice they struggle sleeping after eating solids.
- Remove all cool toys and possible stimulants in and around their sleep area. You may want to remove a mobile, toys in their view, and make their sleep space as non-stimulating as possible. Turning lights off and sound machine on before bringing your baby into the room can make a huge difference, too.
- Ensure they are not overtired. Instead, start winding down for naps and bedtime 15 minutes earlier. Easing into sleep with an alert and active 9 month old is far easier than grappling with an overtired, upset 9 month old.
Teething:
- Massage your baby’s gums throughout the day if they seem to like it
- Let them gum on a cold, wet washcloth – highly supervised
- Use a cold teething toy
- Give baby-safe pain medications as directed by pediatrician
- Show your 9 month old empathy and give extra cuddles and soothing time each day
Changes in routine or environment (like dropping a nap, starting daycare, switching from breast milk to formula, etc.):
- Give them time to adjust to changes and comfort along the way. Change can be hard for anyone.
- Make them as comfortable as possible during waking hours – ensuring they aren’t overtired, have lots of play with minimal frustrations (think noisy toys with lots of lights or toys they struggle with and get frustrated by).
- Send a lovey, some favorite toys and snacks from home, a family picture, and maybe one a t-shirt that smells like you to tuck under baby’s mattress at daycare for familiarity and comfort.
- If switching formulas or from breast milk to formula, do so slowly. Try adding just 1/4 of the new milk and gradually increasing how much you mix in until it’s fully the new formula. This will be easier on your baby’s palette and tummy.
Object permanence (the ability to understand that objects still exist even when they can’t be seen):
- Practice leaving and coming back during waking hours. For example you can say, “mommy is going to the bathroom for a minute. You won’t see me, but I am still here in the house with you. You will see me in a minute”.
- Introduce a couple lovey options that help soothe your baby instead of you. Try a few different things and tell your baby to hug it when they are feeling sad of scared. Show them how to hug it and hold it. Offer it to them during the day when they are upset so they get used to using it as a soothing tool. Babies can understand far more than most parents realize so talking to your baby and using tone to give directions can be very helpful. For example, you might hand them a plush penguin every time you leave the room during waking hours when practicing leaving and coming back. This can get them in the habit of holding that lovey when you are gone.
- Make their bed a safe cozy place. Maybe you do story time in their bed, leave for a minute and then come back. Maybe you leave them with their lovey in their bed during waking hours for a few minutes and then come back. This will help create a positive, comfortable association with their bed.
- Give them a heads up a few minutes before resting time and describe what is going to happen. For example, “couple more minutes and we are going to head of for resting. Let’s do some cuddles now and get your lovey”.
- Sit in a chair next to their bed singing or talking about sleep, until they are calm and laying for sleep. “Shhh, let’s rest now, night night. Close your eyes, cuddle your lovey, shhhh. Everyone is sleeping now….” There are many strategies that can help you slowly phase this out later as needed, just as you phase out formula or breast milk to regular milk at 12 months plus. Remember, this is naturally a hard time for them, so a little added support in the way of your presence while they doze off can really help.
- Get a step-by-step plan from a baby sleep expert who has helped millions of families with the 9 month sleep regression and beyond! Just like your baby needs added support, we parents need it along the way, too! How different does life feel when we have a little more support, am I right?!
Things to avoid during the 9 month sleep regression:
Remember, your baby is already experiencing all this developmental newness. More change could make things harder for everyone, now and in the long-term. Additionally, changes now could become habits that you may have to put effort and time into undoing after this phase is over.
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Final Thoughts On The 9 Month Sleep Regression
Knowing that this is a normal -and temporary- developmental stage, not a flaw in your child, can reassure you and help keep you calmer, more patient, and more compassionate during this time.
Discussing a game plan, and any tweaks you want to make to your current routine, with your partner, can ensure that you are feeling more supported and each of you have the breaks that you need.
It will never be perfect parenting with another adult, but sharing responsibilities and asking for help when we need it can get more of our needs met and create more balance in our home life.
Keep in mind when talking with acquaintances and even friends and family, that they often skew the truth about their baby’s sleep because they are embarrassed, want to appear to have it all together, don’t want judgments, or are remembering it differently than it actually was. So, never compare your experience now to someone else’s story or memory.
Instead, talk about other things, identify your unique challenges, find solid and positive solutions that align with the parent you want to be, and lead with empathy and curiosity so you can enjoy and find peace parenting through each phase, more.
Consider working with a sleep expert who has a money-back guarantee, so that you can have more peace of mind, do less guessing and piecing it together on your own and well, get more much-needed sleep! The added benefit is, you will have support through future sleep struggles you might encounter until age 6.
Wishing you all the best, more peace at sleep times, and more joy in parenting, despite the challenges you’re facing.
Xx, Poppy
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