If you're already in the heat of it, you already have a list of things to know about sleep regression in 18-month-olds, like making sure you never run out of coffee and also implementing lots of bathroom breaks so you can cry out of sheer exhaustion. But that doesn't make this time in your child's life any easier. Let's face it, sleep regressions suck, but in 18-month-olds, it's a fresh new h*ll for all parents.
At this point, your little one has already been through a few infant sleep regressions, but your 18-month-old is nothing like a 9-month-old. Instead, The Baby Sleep Site noted that this regression is one of the hardest because your baby is stubborn, willful, and the regression is often the result of defiant behavior. Your child simply doesn't want to sleep. They want to get up and play, they want to get in bed with you, they want to watch Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, they want to eat blueberries and play blocks — your child is learning that they can have control over certain situations and sleep is no longer a thing they want to do.
But there are a few other factors that might be at play, so when you know these nine things about your 18 month old's sleep regression, you can figure out the best way to get your little one back to sleep. (Just keep the coffee coming, mama.)