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Tips to Conquer Toddler Sleep Regression (From Parents Who’ve Been There)
Tips to Conquer Toddler Sleep Regression (From Parents Who’ve Been There)

Tips to Conquer Toddler Sleep Regression (From Parents Who’ve Been There)

Four tried-and-true tips for surviving a surprise sleep regression from real Babylist parents.

By Babylist Team
Published Oct 22, 2024|Updated On Dec 5, 2024
Published Oct 22, 2024Updated On Dec 5, 2024
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By the time your baby hits the toddler stage, they will have likely already gone through a few bouts of infant sleep regression. But toddler sleep regressions? Those are their own unique experiences—with their own unique solutions.

Where infant sleep regression is usually caused by teething, hunger brought on by growth spurts, changes to environment or routine and reaching developmental milestones, toddler sleep regression can be caused by all that and other things like: increased physical activity (aka toddlers know how to escape), the ability to use language to communicate (usually their desire to stay awake and chat with you) and an expanding imagination (that can sometimes cause nightmares). In short, toddler sleep regressions happen because your kiddo is going through a lot of new challenging and exciting experiences. And as their parent, so are you.

The good news is that you’re not the first parent to go through it. We’ve teamed up with Hyland’s—they’ve just released a new line-up of sleep and relaxation support for toddlers—to ask Babylist parents how they navigated their toddler’s sleep regressions. From calling in the reinforcements with a kid-sized serving of melatonin to restructuring their bedtime routine, get their real tips that can help make your toddler’s sleep regressiona little easier to manage.

In this Article

How to spot the signs of toddler sleep regression

Whether it feels like it’s coming out of nowhere or is prompted by something significant like potty training or going from a crib to a toddler bed, toddler sleep regression can start between 12 months old and 18 months old and continue up until 4 years old. You may notice increased fussiness around bedtime, more frequent wakings at night and fighting naps during the day, which can last anywhere from one to six weeks. The sooner you discover the cause of a toddler’s sleep regression, the sooner you can adjust their routine.

Tip #1: It might be time to lose the sound machine

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The blissful hum of white noise or the sound of gentle waves may have lulled your little one to sleep when they were younger, but it could actually be keeping them awake or waking them up from their slumber as they approach the toddler years. If you think this might be the culprit, start by slowly phasing it out of their routine to see if silence might bode well for their new bedtime routine.

Tip #2: Consider a child-safe sleep aid

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Grown-ups have used melatonin for years as a way to ease into sleep a little more easily. For toddlers, the American Academy of Pediatrics says a low dose (0.5 or 1 milligram) can be helpful when taken 30 to 90 minutes before bedtime as occasional, short-term relief for sleeplessness in children.

To incorporate melatonin into your toddler’s bedtime routine, a formula like Hyland’s sugar-free liquid with melatonin can be an easy place to start. With clear recommended dosing (a dose of 1 mg for children 2-3 years of age and 2 mg for children 4 and older) and a blend of zinc, vitamin D, magnesium and organic botanicals, it supports restful sleep and your kiddo’s immune system.

If you prefer, there’s even an organic melatonin-free herbal formula with lemon balm leaf and chamomile extract (think: a kid-friendly version of the chamomile tea you drink before bedtime) that can pave the way for a better night’s rest. Bonus: you can get ‘em both as tasty gummies, too. As with any supplement, just make sure to ask your pediatrician for guidance about dosage and timing.

Tip # 3: Try a new sleep pattern

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Most families will fall into a tried-and-tested sleep schedule that typically works for their toddler—right up until it doesn’t. As we mentioned, all those changes your kid is going through might call for some changes of your own. Whether you opt for an Eat-Play-Sleep schedule like Monika or go for something a little more tailored to your toddler’s new habits, revisiting the order of your bedtime routine (or adding a new complementary element) can be the reset you need to tackle a sleep regression. Here are some ideas to get you started:

  • Add storytime to their pre-bed routine: And if you already do storytime, try starting it earlier to give them time to transition between being engaged in a book and relaxing for sleep. For example: if you do Bath-Book-Bedtime, swap storytime before the bath.
  • Communicate new sleep expectations: By being clear on the updates to their sleep routine, they know what’s expected of them while feeling like they have an important part to play (rather than feeling like it’s an unexpected change to reject). An interactive sleep chart can help with this, too.

Tip #4: Add more structure to your soothing methods

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Bedtime can be a sweet moment to bond with baby, but as they grow into toddlerhood, extended pre-bed cuddles can actually be disruptive to them. When a sleep regression hits your household, look at how much time you spend with your toddler during your existing routine. If you spend a good chunk of that time soothing them, try cutting back a few minutes and keeping cuddles and bedtime stories within that set time. They might rail against it at first, but if you can keep it consistent, they’ll catch onto the new rhythm of bedtime.

Want to dig deeper into the wonderful world of baby and toddler sleep? We asked a sleep expert to answer your most burning questions—including more info on sleep regressions and how to handle them. Plus: find out how you can use Hyland’s Sleep Calm + Immunity to get more restful Zzzs for the whole family.

This article is sponsored by Hyland’s. Babylist’s free site, apps and emails are made possible by our sponsors. We limit our sponsored content to relevant partners that offer products and services we believe in and use ourselves.

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