✔ Increased night wakings (even if they were sleeping through before)

✔ Shorter or more unpredictable naps

✔ Fussiness, crankiness, and extra clinginess at bedtime

✔ Sudden difficulty falling or staying asleep

✔ More crying when put down for sleep

Several factors contribute to this sudden change in sleep patterns. Here’s what’s likely going on:

🌟 Developmental Milestones

At this stage, babies are learning big skills like sitting up, crawling, and even babbling more. Their brains are working overtime, and that excitement can make it harder to settle down at night.

💕 Separation Anxiety

Around 7 months, babies start understanding object permanence—the idea that when you leave, you’re still somewhere (but not with them!). This can lead to more crying when put down and extra night wakings, just to check if you're still there.

💤 Changes in Sleep Cycles

Babies shift to more adult-like sleep cycles, meaning they wake up between sleep stages and may have trouble falling back asleep on their own.

😬 Teething Discomfort

Teething pain can peak around this age, making babies fussier and waking them up more often at night. If you notice extra drooling, chewing on everything, or swollen gums, teething might be the culprit.

The million-dollar question: When will this end?!

For most babies, the 7-month sleep regression lasts anywhere from 2 to 6 weeks. However, the duration depends on:

• Your baby’s ability to self-soothe

• Whether any new habits (like rocking to sleep) are introduced

• How consistent sleep routines are during this phase

If your baby’s sleep doesn’t improve after 6 weeks, it might be time to look at sleep habits or check for other underlying causes.

Wondering if your baby is dealing with true sleep regression or just a few bad nights? Look for these telltale signs:

🛏 More night wakings—sometimes every couple of hours

😴 Shorter naps or resistance to nap time

🥺 Fussiness and clinginess, especially at bedtime

🔄 Sudden changes in sleep patterns, like waking up way earlier than usual

Okay, so sleep is a mess—but what can you do? While you can’t “fix” sleep regression overnight, these strategies can help smooth the process:

🕰 Stick to a Consistent Bedtime Routine

A predictable routine (bath, book, snuggles, sleep) helps signal that it’s time to wind down.

😴 Encourage Independent Sleep Skills

If your baby relies on being rocked or fed to sleep, try gradually teaching self-soothing techniques, like putting them down drowsy but awake.

⏰ Adjust Nap Schedules

Overtired babies have a harder time sleeping, so watch their wake windows and adjust nap times if needed.

🤗 Provide Comfort, But Avoid Sleep Crutches

It’s okay to reassure your baby, but try not to introduce new sleep dependencies (like always nursing to sleep) that will be hard to break later.

🎵 Use White Noise or Sleep Cues

White noise machines, sleep sacks, or a favourite bedtime song can create strong sleep associations that help during regressions.

Track Your Baby’s Sleep Patterns: To better understand the changes in your baby’s sleep cycles during this regression, check out our Sleep Cycle Calculator. This tool can help you monitor sleep durations and patterns, enabling you to fine-tune your sleep strategies.

This is a tricky one. Sleep training during a regression can be tough, but it’s not impossible. If you’re already in the middle of sleep training, stick with it, but if you’re just starting, it may be best to wait until the regression passes.

Here’s a breakdown:

✔ Pros of Sleep Training at 7 Months:

• Babies are old enough to learn self-soothing skills.

• It can help establish healthy long-term sleep habits.

❌ Cons of Sleep Training During a Regression:

• Increased fussiness and night wakings can make it extra challenging.

• It might take longer to see progress.

Gentle methods like the "Ferber method" or "pick-up, put-down" approach can work well if your baby is struggling.

Sometimes, we try to fix the problem but accidentally make it worse. Watch out for these common mistakes:

❌ Inconsistency – Switching up bedtime routines too often confuses babies. Stick to a predictable pattern.

❌ Over-Reliance on Sleep Props – If you start rocking or feeding your baby to sleep every night, they’ll expect it every time they wake up.

❌ Ignoring Sleep Cues – Putting your baby down too late or too early can backfire. Pay attention to sleepy signals!

❌ Frequent Sleep Strategy Changes – If you keep trying different techniques every few nights, your baby won’t have time to adjust to any of them.

While sleep regressions are normal, there are times when medical issues could be affecting sleep. Talk to a doctor if your baby:

• Has excessive night wakings that last beyond 6 weeks.

• Seems to be in pain (e.g., arching their back, refusing to eat, or showing reflux symptoms).

• Stops gaining weight properly or has other health concerns.

Once the regression passes, help your baby get back to a healthy sleep routine:

✔ Be consistent – Stick to the same bedtime and wake-up time.

✔ Encourage daytime activity – More movement during the day leads to better sleep at night.

✔ Use sleep cues – White noise, a favorite blanket, or a dark room can reinforce good sleep habits.

✔ Give it time – Sleep regressions are tough, but this phase will pass.

The Bottom Line

The 7-month sleep regression is rough, but it’s just a phase. Your baby is going through major developmental leaps, and sleep disruptions come with the territory. While it can feel exhausting, consistency, patience, and gentle guidance will help your baby return to better sleep patterns. And remember—you’re not alone in this! Grab that extra cup of coffee, and hang in there. Better sleep is on the horizon! 🚀