13 month sleep regression: Myth or real?

Now that your child has celebrated their first birthday, you may be eager to put any previous sleep challenges behind you. Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon for toddlers to continue experiencing ups and downs when it comes to sleep in their second year. However, this isn’t the case for every child and there’s no predetermined “13 month sleep regression” lurking in the shadows. Sleep bumps can happen at any age! 

In this article, we’ll guide you through how to help your child get the rest they need, answer frequently asked questions about sleep at 13 months, and give you insight into common toddler sleep challenges. 

IN THIS ARTICLE:

Is there a 13 month old sleep regression?

If your 13 month old had been sleeping through the night and began calling out at night again or taking short naps, we’d consider that a sleep regression. We define a sleep regression as a sudden, significant decline in sleep patterns. 

It’s not uncommon for children to experience sleep challenges following their first birthday. (We’ll take you through a few common reasons why below.) However, a “13 month sleep regression” isn’t something all children go through. Every kiddo is different and sleep regressions can happen at any age for various reasons, like travel, illness, developmental milestones, and life changes such as moving or starting a new daycare. 

Why do 13 month old babies have sleep issues?

Reason #1: They’d prefer to work on milestones, not sleep

Toddlers at 13 months are often working on like walking, whether they’re cruising along sturdy furniture or taking independent steps. Walking is much more interesting than sleeping — at least for a while. It’s pretty typical for toddlers to resist sleep while mastering these exciting milestones. 

Reason #2: They need more time between sleep periods 

If your little one is suddenly fighting sleep or skipping naps, this may signal that they need longer wake windows — they’re not tired enough to fall asleep at their usual nap times. At 13 months, toddlers often need of awake time before they’re ready to sleep again. However, all children are different and some may have higher or lower sleep needs. 

While some children may be ready to at around 14 months, we find that 13 month olds often benefit from a 2-nap schedule. A 1-nap schedule requires a child to stay awake for 5+ hours at a time, which may lead to overtiredness. When toddlers get too tired, this often makes it harder for them to fall asleep and stay asleep. Most little ones are typically ready to drop their second nap between 14 - 18 months.  

Reason #3: They’ve developed sleep onset associations 

If a child is used to being fed, rocked, or otherwise helped to sleep, we call this a sleep onset association. Children typically rely on this support and protest if it’s taken away, which makes sense — it’s part of their sleep ritual! Sleep onset associations may also lead to more sleep challenges [] like increased overnight waking and less sleep overall. 

Reason #4: They’re waking due to hunger

There may be an adjustment period sometime after your child’s first birthday when solid foods become their primary source of nutrition. If your child isn’t eating enough during the day, it’s common to see increased night waking, early waking, and/or short naps — sleeping on an empty stomach is tricky for adults too! 

How long does a 13 month sleep regression last?

It would be so much easier if sleep regressions had definitive start and end dates! However, it doesn’t quite work that way. Instead, how long a period of challenging sleep lasts typically depends on what’s causing the poor sleep and the steps taken to improve it. For example, teething may suddenly disrupt sleep for a week before things return to “normal.” On the other hand, if you make a change to the way your little one falls asleep (e.g. you no longer feed them to sleep), it may take a longer time for them to adjust to receiving less help before bed. 

My 13 month old won’t nap. Does 13 month regression affect naps?

Sleep regressions don’t only impact overnight sleep. If your 13 month old had been napping well then begins regularly resisting or skipping naps, we would consider this a “13 month nap regression.” One possible reason for nap challenges at 13 months is a child’s wake windows are too short before bedtime. Consider a schedule adjustment to get their daytime sleep back on track. Try lengthening wake windows to 3.75 - 4 hours so it’s easier for them to fall asleep during the day. 

If your 13 month old is struggling with daytime sleep, you may be tempted to transition them to a . However, we find that dropping a child’s afternoon nap too soon can lead to overtiredness, which usually makes it harder for toddlers to fall asleep and stay asleep. Most children are developmentally ready to switch to one nap between 14 - 18 months.

If your toddler is approaching 14 months and seems ready for a new schedule, note that it’s common for children to sometimes flip-flop between 2-nap and 1-nap days during a nap transition. They may be able to comfortably handle a few consecutive days with one nap before becoming overtired, which often leads to more sleep issues (and meltdowns!). If your schedule permits, try offering your toddler two naps every few days — or just on the weekends — to help “reset” the sleep pressure that builds up as they adjust to a new schedule.

4 tips to handle 13 month old sleep issues or regressions

Tip #1: Promote practicing new skills during awake times

Walking and talking are so exciting to toddlers. Sleep? Not so much. Give your child lots of opportunities to practice their new skills during the day, that way they’re (maybe) more inclined to wind down to sleep at bedtime. Some lost sleep is likely inevitable during these big milestones and that’s normal. Once new skills are mastered, the hope is your little one will return to their typical sleep patterns.   

Tip #2: Reevaluate your 13 month old’s sleep schedule 

At this age, we expect around 13.25 hours of total sleep per day, which usually looks like 11 - 12 hours overnight and 2 - 3 hours of daytime sleep, split over 2 naps. Ideally, each nap is around 1 - 2 hours long. Most toddlers need around 3.25 - 4 hours of awake time between sleep periods at 13 months.

However, every child is different and some toddlers may have higher or lower sleep needs. If your child doesn’t seem tired at naptime and bedtime, they may require more awake time before sleep and that’s OK! Consider lengthening wake windows to 3.75 - 4 hours. Typically, toddlers should be able to comfortably stay awake for 5 hours or longer before switching to a 1-nap schedule. Most children drop their second nap between 14 - 18 months. 

In general, we recommend paying attention to your child’s overall mood and energy levels when evaluating if they’re getting enough sleep. 

Tip #3: Move bedtime earlier if your toddler skips a nap

Skipped naps happen! If your little one has opted not to nap on a particular day, we suggest offering an earlier bedtime (but not before 6:00 PM) to limit overtiredness. If your child regularly skips naps (especially their second one of the day), this may be a sign that they’re ready for a . However, we caution that switching to a 1-nap schedule prematurely often leads to overtiredness, which presents its own set of sleep challenges.

Tip #4: Consider teaching your child to fall asleep independently 

There are various you can implement to teach your child to fall asleep without your support. Some are more gradual and “gentle,” while others tend to be quicker and may involve more short-term crying.  

If you’re feeling stuck, we can help! With you can submit for a personalized, step-by-step Sleep Plan for your child.

Takeaway

• Sleep regressions can happen at any age and don’t have predetermined start and end dates. Toddlers around 13 months often go through periods of poor sleep for various reasons, including wanting to work on milestones, needing a sleep schedule adjustment, and/or falling asleep with support.

• Daytime sleep is often impacted during sleep regressions. Consider lengthening the time your child is awake between sleep periods if they don’t seem tired at naptimes and may need more awake time. 

• It may be tempting to switch your child to a 1-nap schedule if they’re struggling with daytime sleep and skipping naps. However, dropping the afternoon nap prematurely often leads to overtiredness, which may make it harder for your toddler to fall asleep and stay asleep. Most children are ready to move to 1 daily nap between 14 - 18 months.