Do Developmental Milestones Disrupt Sleep?
Yes, developmental milestones in the first year can temporarily disrupt sleep. Let’s explore how these changes affect your baby and what you can do to support them during this time.
Motor Milestones
When babies develop new motor skills, such as rolling, crawling, or standing, they often want to practice them constantly—even during sleep. They may also become frustrated if they get “stuck” in a position they can’t yet adjust independently.
What You Can Do:
Prioritize daytime awake time for movement and motor skill practice.
Help your baby develop the motor skills that they are finding challenging (rolling from belly to back) so they can do this independently at night.
Floor time is the best way to offer these opportunities for early mobile babies. Older infants and toddlers will benefit from practice with moving from sitting to laying down and standing to sitting.
Cognitive Milestones
Around 4 months, babies become more aware of their surroundings, which can be overwhelming for babies that have a Sensory Sensitive Profile. By 6-9 months, they develop object permanence, realizing you exist even when out of sight, which can cause distress at bedtime.
What You Can Do:
Notice if your younger baby is overwhelmed by stimulation through the day and provide a calming “runway” prior to sleep time. This means dimming lights, lowering noise, and creating a more calm environment overall before bedtime routine starts.
Your older baby will learn a lot from playing peek-a-boo and encouraging short periods independent play during the day to build their confidence and work through the normal developmental stage of separation anxiety.
Teething
Teething can disrupt sleep, especially during the phase when gums swell before a tooth erupts.
What You Can Do:
Offer comfort with appropriate pain management (consult your healthcare provider).
Provide extra support and soothing. Once their discomfort subsides, return to your usual sleep routines.
Provide firm teething toys to mouth and chomp on during the day to ease discomfort and support the tooth coming through the gum.
While any or all of these developmental disruptions may feel challenging, they are temporary and reflect your baby’s incredible growth. With patience and proactive strategies, you can help your baby through these phases and maintain healthy sleep habits.
References
Atun-Einy, O., & Scher, A. (2016). Sleep disruption and motor development: Does pulling-to-stand impacts sleep-wake regulation?. Infant behavior & development, 42, 36–44.
Kelmanson, I. A. (2011). Separation anxiety and bedtime resistance in eight-month-old infants. Early Child Development and Care, 182(11), 1455–1464.
Ramos-Jorge, J., Pordeus, I., Ramos-Jorge, M., & Paiva, S. (2011). Prospective Longitudinal Study of Signs and Symptoms Associated With Primary Tooth Eruption. Pediatrics, 128 (3): 471–476.
Appleyard, K., Schaughency, E., Taylor, B., Sayers, R., Haszard, J., Lawrence, J., Taylor, R., & Galland, B. (2020). Sleep and Sensory Processing in Infants and Toddlers: A Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Study. The American journal of occupational therapy : official publication of the American Occupational Therapy Association, 74(6), 7406205010p1–7406205010p12.
