Toddler sleep regression refers to a behavioural change in very young children when they reach approximately 18 months of age. It is characterized by a change in their sleeping patterns where, having previously slept soundly on a regular schedule, the child suddenly refuses to sleep or wakes up intermittently through the night and cannot go back to sleep of their own accord. This behaviour is referred to as ‘sleep regression’ where the child returns to sleep patterns they had as a baby.
Sleep regression can occur at many points in a child’s early development but often with children when they approach two years of age. It is usually associated with periods of rapid growth and development but can also be associated with other factors such as teething, responding to a change in routine, during periods when the child is sick (such as with a fever), as a result of travel or due to other stresses.