Colin Snow
Sleep is essential for your baby's development, but getting your 14-month-old to sleep can be challenging. Sleep regression, teething, illness, or separation anxiety could be the reasons why your toddler is struggling to sleep. It is important to remain consistent with healthy sleep habits and be responsive to your baby's needs. Understanding the cause of their sleep difficulties is key to developing a plan to get their sleep back on track.
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What You'll Learn
Sleep regression
Signs of Sleep Regression
You may notice that your 14-month-old is suddenly waking up at night, crying when you begin the bedtime routine, taking longer than usual to fall asleep, screaming when being laid down, refusing to nap, or waking up earlier than their usual time. These signs indicate that your toddler's sleep patterns have changed and they are experiencing sleep regression.
Causes of Sleep Regression
The primary cause of sleep regression at this age is the various developmental progressions that toddlers go through. Around 14 months, toddlers may be taking their first steps, walking independently, or climbing on furniture or stairs. Their understanding of object permanence also improves, leading to increased separation anxiety. Additionally, they may experience teething, which can further disrupt their sleep.
Tips to Manage Sleep Regression
- Consistency and Responsiveness: It is important to maintain a consistent and predictable bedtime routine. This provides a sense of security and stability, making it easier for your toddler to transition to sleep. However, be responsive to their needs and try to provide the least amount of intervention while still meeting those needs.
- Daytime Practice and Physical Activity: Encourage your toddler to practice walking and engage in physical activities during the day. This reduces their need to practice these skills at night, leading to better sleep.
- Safe Sleep Environment: Ensure the crib mattress is at its lowest setting, and consider using a sleep sack to deter crib climbing. Stay close and talk to them about their position to help them understand their surroundings and reduce the risk of falls.
- Encourage Skill Practice: Allow your toddler to practice their new skills during the day. Sing songs, stack blocks, and provide opportunities for them to explore and develop their coordination and problem-solving skills. This makes these activities less exciting at bedtime, improving sleep.
- Handle 'Fetch' Games Calmly: If your toddler throws their lovey or other items out of the crib, do not turn it into a game. Calmly return the item once and explain that it won't be given back if thrown again. This teaches consequences and discourages the behavior.
- Avoid Sneaking Away: Clearly announce when you are leaving the room and reassure your toddler that you will return. Sneaking away can exacerbate separation anxiety.
Remember, sleep regression is temporary, and with consistency and understanding, you can help your 14-month-old get back on track with their sleep.
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Separation anxiety
Sleep regression is common in 14-month-olds and can be caused by teething, illness, or separation anxiety. Separation anxiety is a normal part of a child's development and usually fades around the time they turn two. However, it can last for several months and cause difficulty with night sleep and naps, resulting in multiple night wakings.
The signs of separation anxiety include increased clinginess and crying, especially when you are initiating separation, such as putting your baby down or leaving the room. Your baby may also wake up crying multiple times during the night, even though their basic needs have been met. They may also seem more upset once you enter their room.
To help your 14-month-old sleep through the night, it is important to remain consistent with your sleep approach while also being responsive to their needs. This may involve giving them some time and space to put themselves to sleep or back to sleep. However, it is also important to assess whether your presence is helping or hindering their sleep and avoid creating new sleep associations that you are unable or unwilling to offer every night.
During the day, ensure your baby has plenty of opportunities to move their body and explore the world, as playing during active awake time is important for sleep. You can also encourage your baby to use their new physical skills, such as cruising along furniture or climbing stairs with supervision.
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Physical discomfort
If your 14-month-old is refusing to sleep, it could be due to physical discomfort. This could include teething, sickness, or an illness. For example, if your baby is teething, the pain could be disrupting their sleep. Similarly, if your baby is unwell, this could be the cause of their sleep regression. In this case, it may be worth taking your baby to the pediatrician to get checked out.
Another cause of physical discomfort could be that your baby is too hot or cold. In the colder months, consider dressing your baby in warmer pajamas. On the other hand, if your baby is too hot, this could also disrupt their sleep.
Your baby's sleep environment could also be causing physical discomfort. For example, there may be too much noise coming from another room. While toddlers can learn to sleep with some noise, a loud TV or excessive conversation could be disruptive. Similarly, too much light could be disrupting your baby's sleep. Keep the curtains or blinds closed to prevent sunlight from waking your baby.
Additionally, your baby's crib mattress may be causing physical discomfort. Ensure that the mattress is in the lowest position to prevent your baby from climbing out. A sleep sack can also deter crib climbing. If your baby is still trying to climb out, consider transitioning them to a toddler bed or "big kid" bed with a side rail.
Finally, physical discomfort could be caused by your baby's sleep position. Toddlers often push off their covers at night, so make sure they are dressed appropriately and consider using a light blanket or security item like a small soft toy or stuffed animal. However, do not put extra-large soft toys or stuffed animals in the crib as they could pose a safety risk.
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Screen time
While there could be many reasons why your 14-month-old is not sleeping, one of them could be screen time. Excessive noise, too much light, and too much time in front of screens could trigger sleeping problems in toddlers.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that babies and young children avoid exposure to all screens, other than video chats, until they are 18 to 24 months old. However, a Common Sense Media study found that children under 2 spend an average of 49 minutes a day using screens, with a third of them watching TV or videos daily. The study also found that screen exposure in babies as young as 3 months affects their sleep. For 3-month-olds, daytime screen exposure was associated with less daytime sleep but longer nighttime sleep and fewer middle-of-the-night wakings.
Another study focused on 13-month-olds and found that every minute of daytime touchscreen use resulted in one minute of lost nighttime sleep. For 3- to 6-year-olds, the study found that those who spent more time using screens had worse behavior, but only when they were sleep-deprived. Screen use was specifically linked to behavior issues when kids averaged less than 9.94 hours of sleep a night.
A meta-analysis of 20 previous studies found that toddlers and preschoolers who logged more daily screen time generally got less sleep, took longer to fall asleep, and also tended to go to bed later. While the AAP recommends that screen use be limited to one hour a day for kids ages 2 to 5, the Common Sense Media study showed that 2- to 4-year-olds logged two-and-a-half hours of overall daily screen use, with TV and videos accounting for 80% of this.
Therefore, if your 14-month-old is not sleeping, it may be beneficial to reduce their screen time and ensure that their sleep environment is free from excessive noise and light.
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Inconsistent sleep habits
Sleep regression is common in toddlers aged 14 to 15 months. During this period, your toddler may be taking their first steps, walking independently, or even climbing on furniture or stairs. This increased physical development can lead to increased separation anxiety, making sleep challenging. Your toddler may cry when entering their room, cry when laid in the crib, or stand in the crib and fight sleep.
To help your toddler develop healthy sleep habits during this time, it is important to remain consistent with your approach to sleep while also being responsive to their needs. Ask yourself, "What is the least amount of intervention I can provide while still meeting their needs?" If your toddler has independent sleep skills, give them some time and space to put themselves to sleep.
- Ensure that your toddler is getting enough physical activity and stimulation during their wake windows. Allow them to practice their new physical skills, such as cruising along furniture, toddling around, or climbing stairs (with supervision).
- Engage in activities that promote hand-eye coordination and problem-solving, such as stacking blocks.
- Avoid starting new habits that you don't want to maintain long-term. For example, if your presence is hindering their sleep, try to provide only what they need to feel better and be able to sleep independently.
- If your toddler is taking two naps a day, consider reducing the second nap to 45-60 minutes.
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Frequently asked questions
There could be several reasons for this. Firstly, it could be that your baby is experiencing physical discomfort due to sickness or teething. Secondly, your baby might be overtired, which can make it difficult for them to fall asleep and stay asleep. Additionally, increased separation anxiety around this age can make sleep challenging. Finally, your baby's wake windows might need to be lengthened, as they need to be longer as babies get older.
It is important to remain consistent with any healthy sleep habits your baby already has. You can also try to encourage your baby to use their new physical skills during the day, such as cruising along furniture or climbing stairs with supervision. This will make them less excited when it's time to sleep. Additionally, you can download a sleep guide or use a sleep training app to help your baby establish good sleep habits.
Yes, most toddlers at this age sleep best in a crib. They are not yet developmentally capable of understanding the need to stay in bed or resisting the urge to get out. However, make sure the crib mattress is in the lowest position to prevent them from climbing out.
