Dr. BabySleep · Free tools from Dr. Baby
Sleep Regression Ages & Sleep-Change Diary
When the rhythm changes, start with what you notice.
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The little guide · By Dr. Baby
What parents mean by sleep regression
Parents often use “sleep regression” for a period when sleep becomes less settled after an easier stretch. It is a description of a change, not a diagnosis this website can make. The diary compares two amounts you enter and records the context you observed.
Is there a fixed calendar of sleep regression ages?
A calendar cannot reliably predict a difficult week for an individual baby. Around four months, sleep cycles become more regular, according to the AAP; that does not mean every baby has the same disruption then. Searching for four-, six- or eight-month regressions can be a starting point for questions, but the age label alone does not explain a change.
Write down the difference, not a verdict
Use total sleep over a comparable 24-hour period for both fields. The result is current minus previous, in minutes. Add night-waking counts and a short note about the day. The tool cannot tell whether a difference is normal, why it happened or how to treat it. Persistent concerns, illness, feeding difficulties or a change that worries you are reasons to speak with your pediatrician.
Sources & further reading
A useful place to start
How to use this tool
- Enter a previous usual total and the current total for comparable 24-hour periods.
- Add observed night wakings and context.
- Save the difference as a conversation note, not a diagnosis.
Questions about sleep regression ages & sleep-change diary
Will the diary identify a regression?
No. It summarizes sleep data you entered. It cannot diagnose the reason for a change.
Content updated · Methods, sources & limitations