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Your sweet toddler, who’s been sleeping peacefully at night for months, is suddenly waking up a lot at night and crying. Your toddler, who’s been taking long naps each day for ages, suddenly begins resisting nap time, refusing to lie down and go to sleep. Sound familiar? You may be experiencing the 18 month sleep regression.
If you’re the parent of a toddler, then a sleep regression is something you’re probably familiar with. After all, you’ve no doubt experienced the following sleep regressions:
And if that’s not all, there’s a 2-year sleep regression, too!
So what’s a tired parent to do? This article will outline what the 18-month regression looks like, why it happens, why it can be one of the hardest, and steps you can take to survive it.
You May Also Be Interested In:
Toddler Sleep Secrets, a FREE e-Book by The Baby Sleep Site®
18 Month Sleep Regression Background:
What is a “Sleep Regression” Anyway?
Most people use sleep regression to mean that a baby or toddler, who’s been sleeping well, suddenly (often without any warning) begins waking frequently at night and/or refusing to nap during the day. These regressions usually last for a period of time (anywhere from 2 – 6 weeks), and then the baby’s sleep returns to its normal patterns. Toddler sleep regressions tend to be more challenging since toddlers are louder and more persistent.
18 Month Sleep Regression: Causes and Why 18 Months?
Every sleep regression can be connected to a baby’s mental and physical development at that particular age. The same is true of the 18-month regression. 18-month olds experience some developmental milestones that can, unfortunately, negatively impact their sleep. Of course, as with all sleep regressions, this one can start early at 17 months old or as late as 19 or 20 months old. All children develop on their own unique timeline.
- Teething could be to blame. Around 18 months, children are cutting the 4 canine teeth as well as their first molars. This can cause discomfort that leads to disrupted sleep.
- Separation anxiety is still an issue for toddlers at 18 months. Most babies begin experiencing separation anxiety around 7 or 8 months, and for most babies, the anxiety is strongest from 10-18 months. This can lead to disrupted sleep as well — your toddler might resist naps because he doesn’t want to be away from you, or he may wake at night and become upset that you’re not in the room with him.
- 18 month olds are gaining lots of independence and are able to do more for themselves. Children at this age are learning to feed themselves with a spoon, drink from a cup, build with blocks, and even take off some articles of clothing. This growing independence can lead to a stronger will, which means a baby may start exerting herself when she doesn’t want to go to sleep or stay in bed.
- In my 10+ years of experience as a sleep consultant, I find that toddlers start getting hungry at night sometimes, again. You might need to consider whether meals need to be bigger or you need a bedtime snack. Toddlers, this age can be VERY active!
- Schedules sometimes change around this age, too. While most toddlers are still napping 5 hours after waking up, there are some who can now stay awake a bit longer. Be sure to check out a few of our toddler schedules to make sure you are using the right one for your toddler.
18 Month Sleep Regression: Why It’s One Of The Hardest Sleep Regressions Of All
All sleep regressions are difficult and exhausting, but the 18-month sleep regression can be one of the hardest, for one simple reason — there’s a discipline factor involved in this regression that wasn’t present in the earlier ones. The previous regressions didn’t have anything to do with independence-seeking behavior on your baby’s part, but this one does.
Being sleep-deprived always makes parenting harder. Add to this the fact that your 18-month-old is likely starting to throw temper tantrums and exhibit plenty of challenging behavior as he strives for independence, and parenting can seem downright impossible! The stress of dealing with your toddler’s behavior compounds the exhaustion you’re already feeling.
What’s more, these two elements (your toddler’s newfound sleeplessness and your toddler’s more challenging behavior) can end up influencing each other. Your toddler’s willful behavior can lead him to refuse naps or to shriek stubbornly for you each time he wakes at night. And of course, the lack of sleep caused by this regression can make your little one cranky, which leads to more tantrums and more temper.
18 Month Sleep Regression Tips and Hints
While there is no way to “fix” any sleep regression, including the 18-month sleep regression, there are steps you can take to minimize your baby’s sleeplessness (and your own!)
Again, part of the challenge of the 18-month sleep regression likely has to do with the fact that your toddler is heading into the “Terrible Twos” and is starting to show some independence-seeking behavior. This is the time to begin setting limits for your toddler and enforcing discipline. Not only will this help minimize sleeplessness, but it’ll also help you develop a good foundation that will make your baby’s twos and threes a little less “terrible”.
Continue to follow your consistent bedtime routine as much as possible to promote good nights and longer naps. This is also a good time to reinforce a lovey or stuffed animal to ease any separation anxiety.
Should You Keep the Nap?
If your baby’s extremely resistant to naps during the 18-month sleep regression, you may feel tempted to just drop the nap altogether. Again, we recommend that you don’t. Most toddlers don’t drop their naps until between three and four years old, so don’t quit just yet!
Should You Stop Sleep Training?
If you’re in the midst of sleep training when the 18-month sleep regression hits, you may wonder if you should just throw in the towel for a while. We recommend that you don’t. Your toddler should still fall asleep as independently as possible. If your toddler wakes up in the middle of the night, they should fall back to sleep as independently as possible, too.
It’s true that sleep training likely won’t produce fantastic results during this phase, but remember that you don’t want to promote bad sleep habits during a stage that is ultimately temporary. As we tell many families, you don’t want to make or continue long-term habits for a short-term phase.
Fall back on old sleep coaching techniques, if necessary. If you have successfully sleep coached before, try implementing old sleep coaching techniques to get you through this phase. Sleep coaching techniques such as fading, check-and-console, or cry it out can help you survive the 18-month sleep regression without falling back into old patterns.
You May Also Be Interested In…
- Sleep Training Methods Explained
- 11 Cry It Out Dos and Don’ts
- The Ferber Method Explained
- 17 Month-Old Case Study – Transitioning from CoSleeping
- Sleep Regressions Audio Recording with Founder
- The 5-Step System To Better Toddler Sleep e-Book
- Chat live with a sleep consultant
Need a plan? Consider getting a Personalized Sleep Plan® with 10+ years’ experience created for you.
18 Month Sleep Regression Conclusion
Remember that the 18-month sleep regression is a phase that lasts for 3-6 weeks, on average. And, while it can feel like an eternity when you’re enduring it and may have you feeling even less confident as a parent, it won’t last forever. If your baby normally sleeps well and you feel confident that her recent sleeplessness is due to the 18-month regression, then be as patient as you can and wait it out.
For more details on handling the 18-month sleep regression, check out our special members-only resources in our VIP Members Area:
Did your toddler experience the 18 month sleep regression? How did you handle it? Scroll down to share your story and to hear from other parents!
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jeany christian says
Hi!!
i have 16 months old son who i still breastfeed and refuse bottle feed and any type of dairy less hidden. we recently went to seek some help on how to reduce the amount of breastfeed a day as he is very latched on at night. we also recently reduce his nap time down to 1 as 2 naps is too close to each one (as he wakes up at 8am in the morning)and therefore he is not tired enough to go for his night time sleep, since we reduce to 1 nap and 3 breastfeed a day, his night time sleep has been terrible from 12/1 AM on, he would wake up every hour and will not go back to sleep unless he’s latched on (he’s been co sleep since day 1) otherwise he will get wide awake and take up to 1 hour till he falls back asleep(latching). i dont know whats going on and i need more than help i think.
Danielle says
Hi Jeany,
Thank you so much for checking out The Baby Sleep Site – we’d love to help! Since it sounds like you’re dealing with multiple issues, like the sleep association with nursing and the scheduling issues, I would really recommend getting one-on-one help with a sleep consultant with a package. That way she can look at your son’s sleep schedule, help you wean nights, and help you sort out the night waking. You can review all of our sleep consultation packages here: https://www.babysleepsite.com/baby-toddler-sleep-consulting-services/
I hope this helps, and please let us know if you need any further help!
Cova says
Hello parents,
After reading this post I feel like we might also be in the middle of the 18-month-old sleep regression, mixed with other things too. I just want to share my story here, maybe another parent has gone through the same and there is hope for us!
My 17-month-old son has been sleeping through the night since he was 1 year old, waking up once or twice at night once in a blue moon, and taking good naps too during the day. Until he was 11 months old he’s been a terrible sleeper but then he got better all of a sudden. Before last summer he would take two naps and then we cut down to one long one. Until 3 weeks ago, I would put him down to sleep for his nap very easily, just leaving him in the crib and he would fall asleep on his own easily. Actually, he would be the one letting me know he was tired by pointing to his crib and asking for his pacifier. At night, I would nurse him to sleep for less than 10 mins and that was it until next morning. All was good and peaceful until 3 weeks ago. Then, he got very sick with an ear infection, a virus that made his mouth full of blisters, sore throat, cough and mucus, and other stuff. On top of that, his 4 molars started coming out. So one day about 2 weeks ago, he refuses breastfeeding, refuses the pacifier and refuses going to sleep. I have tried to nurse him back many times with no luck, same for his pacifier (I have even bought different brands to try). As of today, he does not want to go to sleep EVER, even though I see he is really tired -rubbing his eyes, ears, cranky as hell, etc. I have tried everything for his nap (rocking him to sleep, leaving him in the crib crying…) and nothing. The same for sleeping time, even if he hasn’t slept during the day (because I gave up trying), he is refusing to go to sleep, big time. Now I rock him to sleep and sometimes it takes me 1 hour to calm him down so he finally collapses and falls asleep. And then he wakes up between 3 to 8 times during the night so my husband and I are taking turns. The worst is that during the day, if I take him somewhere, the second he is in the car he falls asleep, but if I try to put him back to his crib he wakes up. So I know he is really really tired but he does not want to sleep, not even in my arms or my husbands. What can I try…??! I am EXHAUSTED.
Debbye @ The Baby Sleep Site says
Hi @Cova –
Thank you for writing and for sharing your story with all of us! I know that SO many other families have been where you are, so hang in there! Have you had your little guy checked at the doctor again to be sure that all is well now? If so, and it’s not a lingering illness or those molars causing this new sleep disturbance, then you may very well be in the depths of the 18 month sleep regression! Keep offering those naps, and keep working on bedtime! Since he will fall asleep in the car, I’d recommend checking out the tips on our blog here on this page:
https://www.babysleepsite.com/how-we-sleep/baby-wont-sleep-crib/
I know how exhausting this is Cova, so again – hang in there!!
If you’d like one on one help with this (or with anything else!), our expert consultants are ready and waiting to assist! Please contact us for more info at any time!
Rachel says
Hello! So can this regression hit a little earlier? My daughter is 17 months and I think she hasn’t been sleeping well for a couple weeks now. It’s interesting because she seems fine during the day, happy, playful, takes a normal nap (usually 2 hours). She’ll be happy right up until bed sometimes and then she just freaks out when we put her to bed. It’s extremely difficult to calm her down. Sometimes she’ll go to bed fine but then wakes up screaming in the middle of the night. And again she’s inconsolable. She used to sleep so well!! Help! We’re having another baby in a couple of months and we can’t be up all night with 2 kids! Thank you!!!
Debbye @ The Baby Sleep Site says
Hi @Rachel – Thanks for writing to us and sorry that you are dealing with some new sleep issues! Yes! This 18 month sleep regression can definitely start at 17 months too! Hang in there, keep being consistent and using the tips form this page, and I hope this passes quickly!! Good luck!
Brittany says
My 20mo old has been waking up every night for the past 3 weeks or so screaming and almost not able to be comforted. It isn’t always around the same time, but mostly around 1:00am (give or a take an hour) she is usually in bed for 8:30 and typically gives us no trouble there and wakes around 7 rather happy and ready to start the day. but these nightly wakings have been horrid! She wants to be held then doesn’t and is just screaming for me (Mommy) but wont really let me hold and comfort her. I dont understand and I dont know what to do. She does eventually fall back to sleep, but it’s frustrating not understanding what is even causing it and how to fix it.
Debbye @ The Baby Sleep Site says
Hi @Brittany – Thanks for writing and so sorry that your toddler is struggling with these night wakings! We know how tough this is, so hang in there!Babies and toddlers wake up crying for so many different reasons! It’d be hard to say why without speaking with/emailing with one of our consultants! You might want to check out this series of articles to see if she might be waking from confusional events?:
https://www.babysleepsite.com/night-terrors-nightmares/baby-toddler-night-terrors-nightmares-series/
Good luck and please contact us if you find that you need more help!
Amber Albertson says
For the last two almost three months my 18 month old refuses sleep so bad. To the point he makes himself throw up in his crib. Every night. I’m so tired of listening to him scream for hours, and having to clean up vomit every day.
Debbye @ The Baby Sleep Site says
Hi @Amber – Thanks for writing, and so sorry that your little guy is having such a tough time! We know how heartbreaking it is to see your 18 month old fight sleep so much, especially because he vomits when upset! Keep working on finding a calming bedtime routine and finding the right bedtime, and hang in there! We’d love to dig in much deeper and find out what’s going on and create a plan with you to help! If interested, please consider talking to a consultant in our VIP Members Area (https://www.babysleepsite.com/diy/), or with a consultation package (https://www.babysleepsite.com/baby-toddler-sleep-consulting-services/)
Hang in there Amber!
Lp79 says
My 18 my old would only fall asleep in her chair & then we would move her into her cot but after a few hrs she would wake to get into the bed with me or back into her chair. This was going on for weeks. Over the last 5 nights we have been sleep training her, putting her to bed in her cot, going in after 5, 10, 15 mins etc. She eventually calms down but refuses to lie down in the cot….night 5 & she is still sleeping standing up & crying out nearly every hour. We’re at our wits end & have 2 other children who are suffering from lack of sleep as well…help
Danielle says
Hi Lynne,
Thank you for checking out The Baby Sleep Site. I’m so sorry to hear that sleep coaching your daughter has been so challenging. My daughter also reacted to sleep coaching by falling asleep sitting up for a good two weeks before she would finally lay down in her crib, and it was really hard, but it is worth it to be persistent. She slept so much better, and I slept so much better, after we sleep coached, even though it was a huge challenge during the process. I would encourage you to stick with it and give it a good two weeks, and if you’re still having trouble at that time, send us an email at [email protected] and let us know what’s going on. It may be that there’s something with her schedule or a different sleep coaching method that we can help you adjust to improve her sleep. Please hang in there, and good luck!
Katie says
My 17 month old has recently been waking up crying around 5:15 every morning like clockwork. Recently he has also added at least one middle of the night wake up too with the same hysterical crying. I’ve tried laying on the floor and sitting in the rocking chair to reassure him I am there but he just starts crying and standing up as soon as I leave. I have tried going in every minute and just laying him back down and saying, “It’s night night time,” and leaving, trying to not give the behavior a lot of attention, but after 20-30 minutes of this the other night, I have reached my limit. ANY recommendations are appreciated. Thank you!
Debbye @ The Baby Sleep Site says
Hi @Katie 0 Thanks for writing! So sorry to hear that your toddler is waking so early and has been waking in the night as well! We know how tough this is so hang in there!!! it sounds like you are doing a good job of handling this while not giving too much attention! Keep being consistent and hopefully this will pass soon! The tips on this page should help, and please do contact us if you find that things so not smooth out and you’d like one on one help! Good luck Katie!
Kristy says
My son is the same age and has been doing the exact same thing for maybe 1.5 months or so? I can’t even remember at this point. We moved to a new house 2 months ago and he now shares a bedroom with his 3 yr old brother. A bottle was they only thing that made him go back to sleep and now he wakes 2-3x per night so it’s gotten worse! I’ve tried everything and can sometimes give him a bottle of water and get him back down but it’s hit or miss. So frustrating!
Alexis says
Bold of you to assume my sons have ever slept peacefully through the night. They are 18 months and have slept through the night less than 10 times. Usually it is only once or twice a night or early morning. But the last few nights have been 3, 4, 5 times, EACH (I have twins). I’m at my wit’s end. I’m an anxious mess. I can’t even enjoy “me time” when they go to sleep at night because I’m too tired to do anything. I’ve abandoned all of my hobbies. I have a horrible eczema flare up as well which prevents me from sleeping when I get woken up at night. Stress probably isn’t helping that either.
Over a year and a half of no sleep, because once I hit 27 weeks pregnant I barely slept. I’ve gone mad. I envy the parents who had perfect sleepers until recently. Don’t take those wonderful nights of sleep for granted. Then again, my sons are still nursed and most I know with kids who sleep through the night have been fed formula since infancy so if that’s the reason I’m glad they are at least this way because of a good reason. At least you have had sleep within the last two year. It’s 2019 and I haven’t had a peaceful night of sleep since 2017. I’m 25 and have always looked so young for my age, and now I’m not even carded on the rare occasion that I go out because I’ve aged 10 years from no sleep. It’s maddening. How people have kids back to back is beyond me. I never want to go through this again.
Wish me luck, I may put a hole in the wall after hearing over an hour of whining.
Debbye @ The Baby Sleep Site says
Hi @Alexis – Thanks for taking the time to write to us! I am so sorry to hear how tough sleep has been for you and your toddlers! Please know you’re not alone! We know how tough it is with just one little one not sleeping well, and we understand how much tougher it is with twins! Do you have anyone at home for support, or someone you can call? Even just a little break can for some time for yourself can help! For sleep help for your little ones – we can definitely help with those night wakings! We’d love to help – please just contact us here, and we’ll help you get started with a consultant who can walk you through your journey to better sleep. Hang in there Alexis!!
Bailey says
Hi! My almost 18 month old suddenly began refusing naps and bedtime. She will just stand in the crib crying and eventually falls asleep standing and then ends up sliding down into a siting position. She almost seems really scared to sleep. When she sees milk or her pajamas she starts to cry and resist. Is this normal for 18 month sleep regression?
Debbye @ The Baby Sleep Site says
Hi @Bailey – Thanks for writing, and so sorry that your daughter is having such a tough time with naps and bedtime! Yes, what you describe is quite common with the 18 month sleep regression! Toddlers often will anticipate that sleep time is coming by the routine, and resist accordingly! Hang in there and use the tips in this article. Changing up the bedtime routine and working hard to make it positive may help a little too! I hope things smooth out quickly! If you find that you need more help, please reach out to us!
Jennifer Benigno says
Help! My 18 month old daughter has been a night waker since she was 6 months old. When she was little I would rock her back to sleep. As she started catching on to that she began resisting being rocked. So then I started the middle of the night car ride. Bad habit but worked like a charm for a few months. Once that stopped working I began probably the worst habit of all. Giving her a bottle in bed. I know how bad this is but I need my sleep! Anyway, just 3 nights ago this ace up my sleeve stopped working as well and now she’s just up. Sometimes for 2 hours at a time. I’m a teacher and I go back to school in a week and a half. I’m desperate to find a solution that is both happy for her and allows me to get enough sleep at night!!
Debbye @ The Baby Sleep Site says
Hi @Jennifer – Thanks for writing, and so sorry to hear that your 18 month old has had such a tough time with sleeping at night and that she is now resisting sleep even with the bottle and is awake for so long in the night too! This is so tough and we understand completely! She likely needs some help learning how to fall back to sleep independently, and we can help! Since it’s been so tough for so long, I would recommend that you consider our e-Book, The 5 Step System to Better Toddler Sleep. It is written specifically to help parents of toddlers with sleep issues. The book includes a number of detailed sample schedules, as well as an explanation of the various sleep coaching methods you can try at home, with your toddler. It also contains several sleep planning worksheets and sleep logs.
You can find out more about this ebook, and order the book directly online here: https://www.babysleepsite.com/5-step-system-toddler/
Good luck and hang in there Jennifer!
Rosie says
My 17 month old is refusing to go to sleep and bed time. We usually take her up at about 7pm, as soon as we get into her room she cries. If we put her in her cot she screams until she struggles for breath. I have no idea what to do. She is absolutely exhausted but refusing to go down. She is fine through the day.
Debbye @ The Baby Sleep Site says
Hi @Rosie – Thank you for writing! Sorry to hear that your having bedtime and sleep issues with your 17 month old! This time, around 18 months, can be a tough spot for sleep, so you’re not alone!! It may be time to step back and re-work your bedtime routine, as well as work to remind your little one that her crib is a safe and happy place to be! This article may have some helpful tips: https://www.babysleepsite.com/sleep-training/bedtime-baby-toddler/
And if things do not smooth out, please consider getting more help with us! You can contact us at any time to learn more about the options and what would be a good fit for you and your family! Hang in there Rosie!