Sleep Patterns

WHAT are sleep patterns?

In the first 3 months babies’ brain is essentially immature, and their circadian cycle is not yet developed. That is: day and night feel the same. The process where the baby stays awake when there’s daylight and goes to sleep when it’s dark, is still evolving. Roughly at about 4 months this process matures and babies start adapting to the “normal” rhythm of the day. These months are particularly tiring for the parents, whose circadian cycle is being terribly disrupted.

Changes in baby’s sleep patterns

There are expected changes in the baby’s sleeping patterns over time. These changes are more frequent and dramatic in the first 18 months. Some parents report their baby slept beautifully during his first 4 months, and then “something” changed and they can no longer do that. It’s true, something did change. Their body is more capable; the brain is functioning on higher levels; melatonin (sleep hormone) production goes through a second burst; at 6 months, they start eating solid food, which affects the digestive system; they are teething; they understand and respond more to the environments; and several developmental changes which are expected at this dynamic age. All these will impact your baby’s sleeping times and quality. Moreover, their bond with you deepens as your baby develops a sense of self and begins to understand the concept of “me”. This makes it harder for them to separate from you and be left on their own (separation anxiety).

Physical development affects the baby’s sleep in numerous ways. Their body learns how to move, behave and function. They are still mastering control over their body, and it takes time. A tired baby will sit up in their sleep, simply because their body learned how to do that. When they learn to stand up, you can often find them standing in the cot crying, and you wonder to yourself, “Why are they standing up if they are so tired?!”. And when the brain develops further and dreams start coming in a more coherent form, your baby might wake up with nightmares, which also cut their sleep short.

The physical and cognitive changes your baby goes through result in sleep regression. During sleep regression it’s harder for your baby to “stick” to their good old sleeping habits, they wake more frequently, they require more settling or resettling time, and they might accumulate sleep debt. The important thing to remember during these challenging times is, again, be observant. If your baby is going through changes, you will need to adjust too. As long as you remain consistent with your routine and settling technique, your baby will go through these changes quickly, and return to their good sleeping habits.

If your little ones habitually wake up before 6am, you can get my “5 Reasons for Early Morning Wake-ups” guide to fix this habit.

To find out about your baby’s sleeping patterns and help them sleep better, book your sleep consultation package or a free discovery call today.