Can Milestones Mess with Your Baby’s Sleep? What Every Parent Should Know

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Aug 11
5 min read

Updated: Aug 12

Hello, moms and dads!

As parents, we all know how fast babies and toddlers grow. One minute, they are learning to roll over, and the next, they are walking and talking! While these milestones are exciting and wonderful, they can also cause some challenges when it comes to baby sleep.

As the lead pediatric sleep expert at Your Zen Baby Sleep, I've worked with families for years, helping them navigate sleep through these exact milestones. In this blog, I will walk you through how managing developmental milestones can impact your little one's sleep schedule, what to expect during these phases, and how you can keep their sleep environment peaceful and supportive.

Understanding the Connection Between Baby Sleep and Milestones

Baby sleep can be tricky at the best of times. But add in the excitement of new skills like rolling, crawling, and walking, and it is easy to see how sleep can get disrupted. We might start seeing sleep regressions, short naps, or even more night wakings. The thing is, normal sleep patterns can be affected during these milestones.

When a baby or toddler is going through significant changes, their brain is working overtime to process all these new skills. You might notice them practicing their new skills during nap time or in the middle of the night. It's common to hear babies babbling at 2 AM or trying to crawl while still half asleep. That's just their brain on overdrive, excited about what it's learned during the day.

As a sleep consultant, I can tell you that these milestones are a normal part of your baby's growth and development, but that doesn't mean they don't make sleep more difficult. Let's look at how we can keep sleep on track while your little one navigates these big changes.

The External and Internal Milestones Affecting Sleep

There are both external and internal milestones that can impact sleep. It is easy to notice the external milestones, like crawling or walking as you can see them physically. But there are also internal milestones, like understanding cause and effect or developing separation anxiety, that might be harder to spot. These internal changes are equally as important and can lead to disruptions in sleep patterns.

Babies and toddlers are learning so much, which can sometimes interfere with their sleep routine. And when they experience these developmental leaps, their ability to shut down and fall asleep at night can be challenged. So, what can we do as parents?

Helping Your Baby Through Sleep Disruptions

When we are in the thick of these major milestones, it's not uncommon to see some bumps in the road with baby sleep training. You might notice shorter naps, longer times to fall asleep, or even the return of night wakings. That's especially true if your little one is still adjusting to a consistent sleep routine or hasn't yet fully learned to sleep independently.

These developmental phases usually won't disrupt sleep too much for babies who have already learned how to fall asleep independently. However, for babies still learning independent sleep, you might need to offer a little more help as they go through these milestones. Keep in mind that sleep training methods and recognizing sleep cues are crucial to helping them get back on track.

Managing Developmental Milestones with Consistency

The best advice I can give during these times is to practice, practice, practice during the day. If your baby is learning to crawl, give them plenty of time to practice crawling during the day. This way, they won't be as excited about practicing it in the middle of the night. The same goes for talking. If they are learning new words, try to spend time during the day practicing those skills, so they don't wake up in the middle of the night, babbling away.

Another important part of managing developmental milestones is maintaining your consistent sleep routine. Even if your baby isn't sleeping as well or waking up more frequently, it's essential to stick to your routine. Keep everything structured, even during these big leaps. This helps reassure your baby and keeps their brain from getting too overstimulated.

If your baby has independent sleep habits, don't feel the need to rush in, and help them get back to sleep every time they wake up. You've taught them to self-soothe and fall asleep independently, and that skill is still there. They're just working through some new development. Stick with the methods you've used for baby sleep training, such as offering a little comfort without reintroducing full assistance to sleep.

When to Seek Extra Help

If you're finding that sleep disruptions are lasting longer than you'd like, or your little one is really struggling, it may be time to reach out to a sleep consultant. A professional can help you identify the root of the sleep issues and offer specific strategies for managing developmental milestones that might be causing the disruptions.

Sometimes, with assisted sleepers, it can be harder for them to self-soothe during these changes, and they might need more help getting back to sleep. A sleep consultant can help you navigate this by helping you build a plan that's aligned with your baby's developmental needs while still maintaining healthy sleep habits.

Patience is Key!

As parents, we're naturally excited when we see our baby reach new milestones. But it's also important to remember that this excitement can come with a little bit of sleep disruption. Be patient with your little one and yourself as you work through these phases. The more consistent you are, the more your baby will thrive.

As a sleep consultant, I aim to help you find balance—between allowing your baby to develop and ensuring they get the sleep they need to grow and thrive.

Get Your Sleep Back on Track

I hope this post gave you some insight into managing developmental milestones and keeping baby sleep on track during these exciting changes. Keep practicing, stay consistent, and remember—you are not alone in this journey.

If you are still feeling overwhelmed by the changes or need help creating a sleep plan that works for your family, I am just a call or message away. I offer one-on-one consultations to guide you through the sleep training process, help you navigate these milestones and much more.

Book your free discovery call today, and let's get started.

Until next time, sweet dreams to you and your little one!

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I work with families one-on-one all the time who are experiencing issues with their babies' naps, overnight sleep, and more. If this sounds like you, please book a 15-minute sleep assessment call just so I can understand a little bit more about your child's sleep and then explain ways that I can work one-on-one with you to get it in order.

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