When Baby Starts Sitting: How Development Can Disrupt Sleep

Key Takeaways:

• Developmental milestones can temporarily disrupt a baby's sleep due to increased brain activity related to the new skill.
• Keeping a consistent, calming bedtime routine can help your child get the sleep they need during these big changes.
• Hatch Baby can help with soothing light and sound pairings, plus 24/7 sleep chat to troubleshoot sleep issues.

The first few years of your child’s life are full of exciting milestones, from the first smile and roll to sitting up and, eventually, crawling, walking, and talking. As your baby learns and grows, there’s a lot going on in their brain and body. So you may notice that around the time of milestones, your normally great sleeper suddenly struggles to wind down at night. While sleep regressions can be tough to navigate, they’re also totally normal — and there’s a lot you can do to make sure everybody in your home gets the rest they need.

Maintaining a consistent routine can provide much needed predictability during these big changes and, over time, strengthen your child’s circadian rhythm for healthy sleep habits as they grow. Learn more below about developmental milestones and sleep, and how Hatch Baby can help your family.

Table of Contents

1. Developmental Milestones and Sleep: The Connection
2. How to Help Babies Sleep During Milestones
3. FAQs
4. References

Developmental Milestones and Sleep: The Connection

Developmental milestones like rolling over, sitting up, crawling, and walking come with rapid changes in a child’s brain, especially in areas tied to movement, language, and problem-solving. It’s very common for these phases to temporarily disrupt a child’s sleep. All this extra brain activity may lead to nighttime alertness, which can make it harder for babies to settle down at bedtime and may cause more nighttime wake-ups than usual.

Babies also love to rehearse new skills they’re learning. Around the time of these developmental milestones, you may notice your baby babbling, rolling, sitting up, or pulling to stand in the crib instead of winding down for rest (cute, but please sleep!).

These changes can be frustrating for parents, but the good news is, sleep regressions during developmental milestones are usually short-term. As your baby masters the skill they’re working on, sleep should level out. The important thing is to stay as consistent as possible with your sleep routines in the process.

How to Help Babies Sleep During Milestones

Sleep typically stabilizes after your child fully learns the skill they’re working on, but until that achievement’s unlocked, there’s a lot you can do in the meantime to help everybody in your home get a little more sleep.

Stick With a Consistent Bedtime Routine

Learning new skills is exciting, but it’s also a lot of work! Consistent sleep cues can provide a sense of calm and safety for your child, signaling that it’s OK to settle down for rest at bedtime. Each night, try to follow the same bedtime steps, like changing into PJs, cuddling while reading a story, and playing your baby’s favorite lullabies on Hatch Baby. Keeping the same predictable routine each night is a great way to support your child’s developing circadian rhythm (another major milestone!).

Provide Daytime Practice

When baby is in the middle of a developmental leap, their brain is eager to practice new skills. If they don’t get enough chances during the day, that urge can show up at bedtime. Giving your baby intentional opportunities to move, explore, and "rehearse" while they’re awake — whether extra tummy time, supported standing, or back-and-forth babbling — can help satisfy that drive and help their body feel ready to wind down at bedtime. Try practicing the new skill in the crib during the day to help baby become more confident and comfortable with it at sleep time.

Keep the Sleep Space Calm and Predictable

Your child’s sleep space should set the tone for a calm night, especially when all that extra brain activity is happening in the background. During your bedtime routine, dimming the lights can support the release of melatonin, the sleep hormone. Calming sleep sounds and cozy nightlights on Hatch Baby can also provide sensory cues that help baby settle after an active day.

Maintain Consistent Response Patterns Overnight

When sleep gets disrupted during a developmental milestone, it’s tempting to change your approach night to night, but consistency is what helps your baby feel secure and learn what to expect. Try to respond in a predictable, calming way each time they wake, whether that’s a brief check-in, gentle soothing, or giving them a moment to settle. Keeping your response steady (and as low-stimulation as possible) helps reinforce nighttime as a time for sleep, even while everything else in their world is changing.

Learn how Hatch Baby can support your family with 24/7 sleep chat and calming light and sound routines.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does the sitting sleep disruption usually last?

For most babies, sleep disruptions related to new motor skills last a few days to a couple of weeks. Once the skill becomes less novel and easier to control, sleep often improves again.

Should I stop my baby from sitting up in the crib?

If your baby can independently get into a sitting position, it’s generally safe to allow it while continuing to follow safe sleep guidelines. Avoid placing them in positions they cannot achieve on their own. It’s also a good idea to drop the crib mattress down when the baby starts to sit.

Does every developmental milestone cause a sleep regression?

Not always. Sensitivity to developmental shifts can vary from child to child. Some babies sail through milestones with minimal disruption, while others show temporary sleep changes.

References

1. American Academy of Pediatrics. (2019). Bright Futures milestones and anticipatory guidance. https://publications.aap.org/DocumentLibrary/Solutions/Toolkits/BFTK-IR/Bright%20Futures%20Milestones%20and%20Anticipatory%20Guidance.pdf
2. Nationwide Children’s Hospital. (n.d.). Sleep in infants. https://www.nationwidechildrens.org/specialties/sleep-disorder-center/sleep-in-infants
3. Mindell, J. A., Telofski, L. S., Wiegand, B., & Kurtz, E. S. (2009). A nightly bedtime routine: impact on sleep in young children and maternal mood. Sleep, 32(5), 599–606. https://doi.org/10.1093/sleep/32.5.599