Why Is Sleep Falling Apart?
If your baby just nailed a big milestone—like rolling over, sitting up, or pulling to stand—and now sleep has suddenly gone off the rails, you’re not alone. These developmental leaps are amazing to witness… but they often come with a wave of bedtime battles, short naps, or middle-of-the-night practice sessions.
Here’s what’s really going on—and how to get things back on track.
Why Developmental Milestones Disrupt Sleep
When your baby is learning a new skill, their brain is on fire—in a good way! They're rewiring, practicing, processing. And while you might think all that crawling or sitting would tire them out (hello, deeper sleep, right?), it often does the opposite.
Babies can become so focused on mastering a new skill that their bodies have a hard time powering down—especially at bedtime.
It’s not uncommon to walk in and find your baby wide awake and grinning at 3 a.m.… sitting proudly in the crib.
Here’s why this happens:
Increased Physical Awareness – They’re learning how their body moves and works, and they want to use it as much as possible—even during sleep time.
Crib Practice Sessions – The crib becomes their training ground. If they’ve recently learned to roll, sit, or stand, they’ll try to do it over and over again (even if it means getting stuck).
Frustration or Confusion – Your baby may not know how to get back down once they’ve rolled or stood up, and that frustration can lead to crying or night wakings.
Sleep Cycle Disruption – These big brain leaps can make it harder to connect sleep cycles, leading to false starts, early wakeups, or short naps.
What You Can Do to Help
1. Practice During the Day
Give your baby lots of safe, supervised practice time during wake windows. The more confident they are in their new skill during the day, the less likely they are to feel the urge to practice at night.
Try mini “floor time” sessions between naps so they can get their wiggles out.
2. Don’t Rush In Immediately
If your baby is happily babbling, rolling, or sitting in the crib, you can give them a few minutes before intervening. They might surprise you and resettle on their own.
If they’re not upset, it’s okay to let them work it out for a bit.
3. Help Them Learn How to Lie Back Down
For babies learning to stand or sit, gently practice helping them sit down or lie down again during the day. This builds muscle memory so they’re not stuck upright at night.
4. Stick to the Routine
It’s tempting to throw your usual sleep habits out the window during a rough patch, but consistency is key. Keep bedtime routines predictable and respond to night wakings the same way each time.
Changing your approach too often can make things even more confusing for your baby.
5. Watch for Overtiredness
Disrupted sleep can lead to overtiredness, which makes falling and staying asleep harder. If naps are short, consider offering an earlier bedtime or an extra nap temporarily to prevent a sleep debt from building.
How Long Will This Last?
Like most regressions or transitions, this phase is temporary. Once your baby has fully mastered their new skill and adjusted to it, sleep usually improves—especially if you stay consistent with your routines and responses.
That said, if your baby never had strong sleep skills to begin with, this milestone might just be the thing that exposes the cracks. In that case, a gentle sleep plan may be the best next step.
Milestones are a beautiful part of your baby’s journey—but they can seriously shake things up in the sleep department. Keep offering practice time, stay consistent, and know that this phase doesn’t last forever.
Need a plan that supports your baby through leaps and sleep? I’m here to help you navigate every twist and turn—without losing sleep along the way.