10 month sleep regression might be dreaded by any new parent. Moreover, this might be the time that you have done everything to ease your baby to no avail. Besides, this is often attributed to teething, even though it is not always so. This change in sleeping patterns in babies is a normal part of their development. Moreover, even in twins and multiples, their sleep patterns may vary and their sleep regression may not happen at the same time.
What is 10 Month Sleep Regression?
This sleep regression in babies does not only happen during your baby’s 10th month. It is common for babies to experience sleep regression at 8, 9 or 10 months old. It is a distinct change in sleeping patterns in babies. However, there are also times that babies experience sleep regression at 3 or 4 months old, but that is caused by a variety of other factors.
The sleep regression is a period wherein your baby gets more fussy than usual and is the developmental opposite of babies dropping to one nap. Sleep regression is caused by developmental changes in your baby or separation anxiety. Sleep regression occurs because your baby’s body is adjusting to the changes in physical and cognitive activity.
Sleep regression in babies occurs for about 3 to 6 weeks. However, if you are a working parent it may be a very long time because it can greatly affect your sleeping patterns, as well as your baby, gets fussy about various things that you can’t resolve. Nevertheless, it is just a part of growing up for your baby and it is only temporary. Sleep regression is also a developmental milestone for babies.
How to Help Your Baby go Through the 10 Month Sleep Regression?
Sticking to a good sleeping routine appropriate for your baby’s age may help your baby go through the sleep regression well. Moreover, sleep patterns changes depending on your baby’s age. It is normal and just like these changes in sleeping patterns, sleep regression is also normal and it is an important stage in your baby’s development.
Sleep regression is just a short-term phase in your baby’s life and whether you address it with drastic measures or not it is bound to go away on its own. It is just your baby’s way of coping up with the different physical and cognitive demands that are part of development.
What Causes the 10 Month Sleep Regression?
Babies may fight sleep for various reasons. However, with sleep regression, it is your baby changing his or her sleeping patterns based on his or her physical and mental needs. Moreover, as your baby begins to perceive things differently, it is also the most frequent time that the baby experiences night terrors or laughs in his or her sleep. Here are the common causes of sleep regression in babies:
Physical development
As your baby grows, physical demands also change. This means that when you baby used to just sleep or lay down all day long, your baby now begins to sit, stand or attempt to walk. All of these are important signs of development and it is natural. However, all of this physical activity leads to physical changes in your baby’s body to make way for the appropriate development to support your baby’s activities. That is why sleep regression needs to occur as your baby’s body needs to adjust to all of these physical demands as part of physical development.
Separation anxiety
Separation anxiety may trigger the onset of sleep regression in babies. However, it can be separation anxiety towards a twin or a parent. This separation anxiety may trigger a change in the sleeping pattern of your baby. Moreover, this can also happen right after you initially separate your twins. Even at a young age, babies are immediately aware of the presence of his or her twin or a parent. This sleep regression may also occur when there is a sudden change in the primary guardian of the baby as it may trigger separation anxiety.
Nap transition
When babies go through nap transitions, it may also be linked to 10 month sleep regression. This usually happens during the 8-10 month regression of sleep in babies. Besides, when babies become very fussy before naps, it might be because they require a change in sleep schedules. Nap transitions might be when your baby drops to one nap or changes from 3 naps to 2 naps in a day. Nap transition usually occurs with sleep regression and it is totally fine.
How to Know if the 10 Months Sleep Regression Has Gone?
There is no sure way to tell whether your baby has gone through the sleep regression stage. However, once you notice that your baby has adapted to the change in physical activity and gets enough rest to regain his or her strength, you are probably on the right track. If you notice that your baby is sleeping better with less fuss.
Since there is no way to determine once the sleep regression has finally gone, supportive measures is that can help your baby go through it. Also, this is just a developmental milestone and a phase that every baby goes through. An indication of the end of sleep regression is when a baby drops to one nap and becomes more physically active. Moreover, when babies can walk well, it might also be an indication of the end of sleep regression.
Conclusion
10 month sleep regression is a normal phase that all babies go through. However, there are ways to ease your baby through this phase. Also, this milestone is a good indication of the physical and cognitive development of your baby. Once this sleep regression sets in, it means that your baby may then be capable of more things.
