A mom recently opened up about the amusing yet challenging experience of navigating sleep regressions with her little one. If you’ve ever been a parent, you know that no part of parenting is a walk in the park, but the first year can be particularly exhausting.
A survey by Snuz involving 1,300 parents revealed that on average, parents lose approximately 133 nights of sleep in the first year due to their newborns. Sleep regressions play a significant role in this disruption, often manifesting as frequent wake-ups, crying spells, and an aversion to bedtime, sometimes linked to developmental milestones.
Rachel Seward, a first-time mom from Bognor Regis, UK, knows this all too well. She noted that her son Thomas’s sleep regressions often fall into two main struggles: waking multiple times at night or the long battle of getting him to sleep in the first place. “Honestly, I’m not sure which is worse,” Seward confessed.
To share this nightly chaos, Seward posted a TikTok video showcasing her husband trying to get Thomas to settle down. “The 18-month sleep regression is definitely here,” she stated in the clip. While it’s a tough ordeal for the parents, she couldn’t help but find some humor in the situation.
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Seward explained that despite Thomas being tired, it often felt like his mind just wouldn’t switch off, leading to about an hour of bedtime wrestling each night. She regularly shares relatable content on TikTok, detailing both the highs and heartbreaking lows of her parenting journey, which includes challenges with conception and a miscarriage.
She aims to highlight the funny side of stressful situations, hoping her posts will reassure others that they’re not alone in these struggles. “My husband and I take turns at bedtime during these sleep regressions because the exhaustion can really test your patience,” she noted.
On a positive note, Thomas is now 20 months old and seems to have overcome some of his sleep regression issues. Seward’s best advice for new parents? “Everything is a phase.” She reassures them that the tough times eventually pass, and it will get better, even if it feels overwhelming in the moment.