Here’s an all-too-common scenario: you’re finally getting into a little groove with your newborn where they are sleeping reliably for most of the night and you couldn’t be more grateful for your newfound Zzzs. Then, baby hits six months and suddenly it’s like the clock turns back to the earliest days! You’re rubbing your eyes and shaking your head and wondering, why does my baby wake up crying?

Welcome to the 6 month sleep regression.

When it comes to figuring out how much does a 6 month old sleep, it’s impossible to discount the importance of the common 6 month sleep regression. It doesn’t happen to all babies, but if you’re dealing with this sleep disturbance right now, you’re far from alone. What do you need to know about the 6 month sleep regression? Follow along for some important background information.

In this article:

This temporary—and thankfully usually short-lived—disturbance is a setback in baby’s process toward a normal, healthy night’s sleep. The sleeping difficulties that rear their ugly head around this time include:

Not every baby will experience every one of those symptoms during a 6 month sleep regression. And, not all babies will experience them for the same amount of time. Usually, these sleep problems resolve within a few weeks, especially if mom and dad implement healthy sleep routines. (If your baby’s sleep regression lasts more than a month or two, contact your pediatrician to discuss.)

The six-month mark is a time of great development for babies, who hit many new milestones at this point. At this age, your little one is learning new motor skills, starting with baby talk, experiencing significant physical and mental growth, becoming more aware of their environment, and even gaining physical abilities like rolling over or sitting up. All of this stimulation, experts say, can lead to changes in your baby’s sleep patterns.

These newfound skills and abilities are exciting to baby—maybe more exciting than sleep! So, causes of the 6 month sleep regression include baby’s desire to be awake and experience these new sensations, as well as their heightened sensitivity to things like overstimulation, separation anxiety, and other things that impact the duration and quality of their sleep.

When you’re not dealing with the 6 month sleep regression and endlessly asking yourself, Why does my baby wake up crying?, your 6 month old can actually be a pretty good sleeper. Most babies at this age go through sleep consolidation, giving up a few hours of daytime sleep for greater nighttime sleep. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends between 12-16 hours of sleep in total each day for babies at 6 months.

When you’re in the midst of a 6 month sleep regression, it’s normal to be desperate for a solution. Overall, promoting healthy sleep habits in baby will help both with the regression stage, and moving forward. Here are some helpful tips:

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