So, you finally got your baby sleeping through the night—hallelujah! But suddenly, around 7, 8, or 9 months old, the peaceful nights vanish.

Your baby is waking up multiple times, bedtime has become a battle, and naps? What are those?

If this sounds like your current situation, don’t panic! You and your baby are likely experiencing the 7-9 month sleep regression. In this post, we’ll break down why this regression happens, what you can do to navigate it, and how to ensure your baby gets back to restful sleep as soon as possible.

---

Why Does the 7-9 Month Sleep Regression Happen?

This particular sleep regression is typically triggered by a combination of factors, including:

1. Object Permanence: The Game-Changer

At this age, your baby is going through major cognitive leaps. One of the biggest developments is the concept of object permanence—the understanding that objects (and people) still exist even when out of sight. Up until now, when you left the room, your baby assumed you had vanished. But now, they realize you’re still around, and they don’t like it when you leave!

This newfound awareness often results in separation anxiety, making bedtime harder. They know you’re somewhere nearby, and they want you to stay with them.

How to Help Your Baby with Object Permanence:

• Play Peekaboo: This classic game helps reinforce the idea that even when you disappear, you always come back.
• Try the Cup and Ball Game: Hide a ball under one of three cups and shuffle them around. Let your baby find the ball. This strengthens their understanding of object permanence in a fun way.
• Keep Goodbyes Short: When you put your baby down at night, leave with confidence. Avoid repeatedly going back in, as it can make separation anxiety worse.
• Make Bedtime a Little Longer: Extend your bedtime routine by five extra minutes for extra bonding time. If your current routine is 25 minutes, stretch it to 30 minutes with some extra snuggles and eye contact to help your baby feel secure.

---

2. Major Physical Milestones Disrupting Sleep

Your baby is growing and developing at an astonishing rate. Around this time, they may be learning to crawl, pull up to stand, or even cruise along furniture. These exciting new skills often mean they want to practice—sometimes even in the middle of the night!

What Can You Do?

• Allow Practice Time During the Day: Instead of keeping your baby in swings, bouncers, or walkers, give them ample time on the floor to explore and develop their motor skills. Scatter toys around them to encourage movement.
• Expect Extra Playtime in the Crib: If your baby is suddenly crawling around or pulling to stand instead of sleeping, don’t panic! This is normal. Give them some extra time to move before they settle down. If needed, you can put them to bed 15 minutes earlier so they have time to burn off extra energy.
• Resist the Urge to Intervene: Unless they’re in distress, let them practice and settle on their own.

---

3. Teething: Another Layer of Discomfort

Many babies start cutting their first teeth around this time, which can cause discomfort and lead to more wake-ups. However, teething alone doesn’t usually cause a full-blown sleep regression—unless it coincides with these other big changes.

How to Help Your Teething Baby:

• Cold Relief: Give your baby cold washcloths or mesh pouches filled with ice chips to chew on. This numbs the gums naturally.
• Talk to Your Pediatrician: If teething pain is severe, your doctor may recommend baby-safe pain relief like ibuprofen.

---

How to Get Through the 7-9 Month Sleep Regression

1. Stick to Your Routines

Consistency is key! Even though your baby is struggling with sleep, it’s important to maintain their familiar sleep routines and schedules.

• Follow your usual bedtime and nap routines.
• Keep sleep associations the same (e.g., white noise, dark room, sleep sack).
• Try not to introduce new habits that could become long-term sleep crutches.

2. Teach Independent Sleep Skills

If your baby relies on rocking, nursing, bouncing, or being held to sleep, this regression may hit even harder because they haven’t learned to connect sleep cycles independently.

How to Help Your Baby Sleep Independently:

• Start practicing self-soothing techniques (gentle sleep training methods can help).
• Put your baby down drowsy but awake so they learn to fall asleep without help.
• Avoid reintroducing sleep crutches. If you previously weaned off rocking to sleep, don’t start it again.

If your baby already sleeps independently, this regression will likely pass on its own within a couple of weeks as long as you stay consistent.

---

When to Adjust the Nap Schedule

Many babies at this age transition from three naps a day to two. If your baby is taking two solid naps and a short third nap, but bedtime is becoming a struggle, it may be time to drop the third nap.

Signs your baby is ready to drop the third nap:

• They refuse the third nap multiple days in a row.
• They take a long time to fall asleep for naps or bedtime.
• Night wakings increase due to too much daytime sleep.

If you suspect your baby needs a nap transition, adjust wake windows gradually and observe how they respond.

---

Need Help? Let’s Get You Sleeping Again

Sleep regressions can feel overwhelming, but remember: this is temporary. If your baby is struggling and you need personalized support, I offer one-on-one sleep consultations to help you create a customized sleep plan.

📌 Click here to schedule a sleep consultation and get expert guidance.

Also, if you’re wondering whether your baby is waking up due to hunger or just comfort nursing, check out my brand-new Hunger vs. Comfort Guide! It’s packed with helpful strategies to determine if your baby truly needs a feed or if they are just seeking comfort.

📌 Grab your copy of the Hunger vs. Comfort Guide here.

Remember, you’re doing an amazing job, and this phase will pass. Keep consistent, support your baby’s development, and soon enough, you’ll all be back to sleeping soundly. 💕