Why ‘drowsy but awake’ doesn’t work

What is a sleep regression?

During their first 2 years of life children develop at a very fast rate. There are some ages where they go through a leap in their development. These can cause a shift in sleep patterns and this can result in new issues with sleep, such as protesting, shorter naps and more night wakes.

Kids, as with all people, have a natural rhythm when it comes to sleep. Our bodies secrete hormones to keep us up and running during the day, and different ones to help us rest at night. They’re dependant on a variety of factors, but timing is the most prevalent. So what happens when your little one stays awake past the time when these natural cues to sleep are activated?

So what is a wake window and why is it important? A wake window is the amount of time that your baby can cope with being awake. This time gradually increases as the baby gets older. So if your little one is fighting their naps or is overtired at bedtime, then try following their appropriate wake window. Going to sleep at the right time for their age might just make it a bit easier for them (and you!).