Parenting
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5-month sleep regression: Is it real, and how to cope
Medically Reviewed Arielle Greenleaf, a pediatric sleep consultant and founder of Expect to Sleep Again Sleep Consulting
Written by Cradlewise Staff
Many sleep experts say that there is really no 5-month sleep regression. Most often, sleep disruption is a spillover from the fourth month. And plenty of babies sail through this age without a hitch.
If you are a parent who is awake in the middle of the night patting a baby who refuses to sleep for a few hours straight, this may not sit well with you.
Hence, in this guide, we will cover what a 5-month sleep regression is, whether it’s normal, its signs, what may be behind it, how to cope and what helps, with insights from Arielle Greenleaf, a pediatric sleep consultant and founder of Expect to Sleep Again Sleep Consulting.
What is the 5-month sleep regression?
A sleep regression is a stretch of days or weeks when a healthy baby who was sleeping well starts waking more at night, fights naps or needs more time and help to settle. It is described as a step back in a baby’s progress toward a steadier and predictable sleep pattern, but its timing may vary from baby to baby.
Cradlewise Note: A 5-month sleep regression is a term coined for a period when babies around 5 months of age experience disrupted sleep. However, it is not an experience that every baby would have.
Is a 5-month sleep regression normal?
It’s normal for some babies to experience a change in sleep patterns around 5 months, and just as normal for it to stay steady.
What, according to Arielle, drives sleep changes is development, illness, travel and anything new in your baby’s life. In her words, “sleep disruption can happen at any time based on each baby’s individual timeline and sensitivity to changes.”
How much sleep does a 5-month-old need?
Babies from 4 to 12 months need about 12 to 16 hours of sleep in every 24 hours, naps included, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
You’ll find a sample schedule and wake windows in our 5 month old sleep schedule guide.
However, Arielle suggests a logical way to see how much sleep your 5-month-old baby actually needs:
5-month sleep regression signs
If your baby’s sleep has changed suddenly, you may notice:
- More night wakings, sometimes with crying or fussiness
- Trouble falling asleep at bedtime or naptime
- Shorter naps
- Irritability when waking
- Needing more help to fall back asleep
You may recognize these signs from the 3-month sleep regression or 4-month sleep regression, if you went through them.
Cradlewise Note: You don’t need to assume that every waking period is a regression. Many babies don’t sleep through the night even at 12 months.
How long does the 5-month sleep regression last?
Sleep regression usually lasts a few days to a few weeks, according to the Sleep Foundation, depending on the cause. A sleep regression because your baby is unwell or you are traveling often settles faster than a big developmental change.
When does 5-month sleep regression end?
5-month sleep regression ends in a few weeks. However, there can be more sleep regressions in the later months too. These are the sleep regression months that parents usually hear about.
Cradlewise Note: Your baby may or may not experience all these sleep regressions. If wakings keep going or you’re worried, talk with your pediatrician.
What causes sleep regression at 5 months?
There’s usually no single cause. The most often seen causes are:
- Development. New skills such as rolling and reaching, and a baby’s growing awareness of the world, can disrupt sleep for a while.
- Sleep maturing a little later. Arielle explains that the 4-month regression is when erratic newborn sleep becomes more organized, and that this is often when what helped your baby sleep in the newborn weeks stops working. Some babies mature a little later, so it can spill into the fifth month.
- Needing help to fall asleep. A baby who cannot fall asleep without help, or with only light help, is more likely to need a caregiver to help them back to sleep when they wake overnight.
- Something new. Illness, travel and any change in your baby’s world can add to it.
- Teething. Most babies start teething around 6 months, though some may start earlier. Some teeth come through with no discomfort at all, while some disrupt your baby’s sleep a day or two around the tooth eruption, as per Arielle Greenleaf.
How to help your baby through the 5-month sleep regression
While there is no sure-shot way to fix a regression overnight, start with these steps, in this order, to support better sleep for your baby and yourself:
Rule out illness first.
If your baby seems unwell, is not feeding well, or the change is sudden and big, check in with your pediatrician.
Use your sleep log.
Log your baby’s sleep for a week, and match naps and bedtime with how much sleep your baby seems to need. Our wake windows guide can help you spot timing that is off.
Keep a consistent bedtime routine.
Arielle says a consistent bedtime routine and a steady response from you both help.
Set up the room.
Sleep Foundation suggests a dark, quiet room, and putting on white noise, however keep the white noise machine away (at least 7 feet or 2 metres) and at a low volume (under 50 decibels). Put your baby in the crib sleepy but not yet asleep, so the crib becomes the place where they drift off.
Pause before going in.
If your baby wakes, wait a minute or two to see if they settle on their own, before going in.
Work gently toward less help.
Avoid changing everything at once.
Arielle says it’s best not to change things up if your baby is going through a disrupted sleep pattern, since that often contributes to the problem.
Cradlewise Note: If you are still swaddling your baby, it’s time to stop. Our guide on when to stop swaddling walks you through the switch.
For following safe sleep guidelines as your baby gets more active and mobile, see our safe sleep guide.
How can I tell if it’s a sleep regression or teething?
Most babies get their first teeth around 6 months of age, though some may get them earlier or later. Check out our guide on Milk Teeth Schedule for more information.
Arielle’s first step is checking in with the pediatrician. If everything checks out, she suggests looking at sleep habits and your baby’s schedule as well.
The NHS lists a sore, red gum where the tooth is coming through among the signs of teething, so a look at your baby’s gums can give you a clue. If sleep has been rough for a while and no tooth appears, then it’s time to explore other causes.
How can I tell if it’s sleep regression or separation anxiety?
At this age, separation anxiety is less likely.
The AAP says it can start in the second half of the first year, and that it calls for a loving and consistent approach. If your baby cries when you leave the crib, Sleep Foundation suggests gently rubbing their head and speaking softly, then stepping away once they relax, rather than picking them up right away.
Is it sleep regression or teething or separation anxiety?
| Feature | Sleep regression | Teething | Separation anxiety |
|---|---|---|---|
| Usual timing | Any age, tied to a new skill or change | Most start around 6 months, some earlier | Usually from the 6th month onward |
| Clue | More night wakings and trouble settling | A sore, red gum where a tooth is coming through | Upset when you leave, such as when you step away from the crib |
| First step | Check in with your pediatrician and review the schedule | Check in with your pediatrician | Offer calm, steady reassurance |
Is there a 5.5-month sleep regression?
No. Arielle says there is no 5.5-month sleep regression.
There’s no meaningful difference between a regression at 5 months and one at 5.5 months. The same goes for the 3.5-month patch parents search for.
Sleep Foundation notes that sleep starts to consolidate around 3 to 4 months, so changes can show up on either side of the 4-month mark. And some babies can struggle with sleep at 5 months too if their sleep matures a little later.
Conclusion
If your 5-month-old baby’s disrupted sleep is waking you up at odd times in the night, it may be because their sleep is maturing a little later, they are learning new skills like rolling and reaching, or maybe because you are traveling. It often passes within days to a few weeks.
Start with your pediatrician if sleep suddenly falls apart, keep the routine steady, and try to avoid sleeping with your baby in the same bed. If your baby sails through the fifth month without a wobble, that’s normal too.
FAQs
Q: Is there a 5-month sleep regression?
A: Not as a specific stage. Some babies’ sleep changes around 5 months, and many have no regression at all.
Q: My 5-month-old won't sleep without being held. What should I do?
A: Try putting your baby in the crib sleepy but awake to gradually reduce their dependence on you. If it’s unsustainable, seek the help of a doctor or certified pediatric sleep consultant.
Q: Why is my 5-month-old not sleeping well anymore?
A: Sleep maturing late, learning new skills like rolling or reaching, illness, travel, or sometimes an early tooth eruption can cause sleep disruption in your 5-month-old. Check your baby’s hygiene and their schedule.
Q: Can the 4-month sleep regression happen at 5 months?
A: Yes. Sleep can mature a little later in some babies.
Q: Should I let my baby sleep in my bed during a regression?
A: Do not sleep with your baby in the same bed. The AAP’s safe sleep guidance advises room sharing without bed sharing. If you bring your baby into your bed to feed or comfort them, place them in their own sleep space before you fall asleep.
You may also like:
- Do you need a humidifier in your newborn’s room?
- 15 sweet things to put in your baby’s time capsule.
- How to massage a baby safely: A simple guide for parents.
Sources:
- 5-month old babies need about 12 to 16 hours of sleep in every 24 hours. CDC. 2024. About Sleep.
- Sleep regression lasts a few days to a few weeks. Sleep Foundation. 2025. 4-Month Sleep Regression.
- Keep the routine steady. Sleep Foundation. 2025. 6-Month Sleep Regression.
- Sleep train your baby. Sleep Foundation. 2025. Sleep training for babies.
- Sleep regression or teething. NHS UK. 2026. Baby Teething Symptoms.
- Separation anxiety. AAP. 2022. Separation Anxiety & Sleeping Trouble in Young Children.
- Separation anxiety. Sleep Foundation. 2025. 6-Month Sleep Regression.
- Sleep starts to consolidate around 3 to 4 months. Sleep Foundation. 2025. 4-Month Sleep Regression.
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