10 Month Sleep Regression and How to Help Your Baby Sleep Again

Your baby is cruising along the furniture, maybe taking a first wobbly step, and suddenly naps are a fight. They stand and chat in the crib instead of sleeping, skip the afternoon nap altogether, or wake up ready for the day at 5 a.m. It’s easy to think it’s time to drop to one nap, or that something is wrong. The 10 month sleep regression usually comes from a mix of big physical leaps, nap protests, new teeth and a schedule that needs a small adjustment. For most babies, it isn’t a sign they’re ready for one nap yet. Here’s what’s going on, the signs, how long it lasts, what helps, and the developmental red flags worth knowing at this age.

Is There a 10 Month Sleep Regression?

Many babies have a rough patch around 10 months, though it isn’t a medical diagnosis and some babies sail through. For some, it’s the tail end of a stretch that started at 8 or 9 months. For others, it’s the first big disruption since the 4 month change. What sets 10 months apart is that naps often become the main battleground, along with early mornings.

Why Does the 10 Month Sleep Regression Happen?

Cruising, Standing and First Steps

Many 10-month-olds are cruising along furniture, standing without holding on for a moment, or even taking first steps. They want to practice constantly, and the crib is no exception. Standing in the crib instead of napping is one of the most common complaints at this age.

Nap Protests That Look Like Readiness for One Nap

A 10-month-old who refuses the second nap can look ready for one nap a day. Most aren’t. Most babies drop to one nap somewhere around 14 to 18 months. At 10 months, nap refusal usually means the baby needs a bit more awake time before naps, or is too excited by new skills to settle, not that they can manage on one nap. Dropping to one nap too early often leads to an overtired baby, more night wakings and earlier mornings

Early Morning Waking

Waking at 5 a.m. is common at this age. The usual causes are too much daytime sleep, too little awake time before bed, light coming in early, or a habit of being fed or brought into the parent’s bed at that hour.

Teething

Many babies cut new teeth around 10 months. A study in Pediatrics found that teething symptoms such as fussiness, drooling and wakefulness tended to cluster in the days around each tooth, from about 4 days before it came through to about 3 days after. So teething usually explains a few rough nights, not several weeks.

Separation Anxiety

Separation anxiety is still strong for many 10-month-olds, though it often peaks a little earlier. Our 9 month sleep regression guide covers how to handle it at bedtime.

10 Month Sleep Regression Signs

• Refusing the second nap, or both naps, after napping well
• Standing or cruising in the crib at nap time and bedtime
• Short naps of 30 to 45 minutes
• Waking for the day at 5 a.m. or earlier
• More night wakings, or long periods awake at night
• Fussiness and clinginess during the day

Why is my 10 month old suddenly not sleeping through the night? If your baby is healthy, the most common reasons are a schedule that needs more awake time or less daytime sleep, practicing new skills, and teething.

10 Month Sleep Regression or Teething?

Teething usually brings drool, chewing, swollen gums and a few rough nights around each tooth. A regression lasts longer and lines up with new skills and nap changes. If your baby seems to be in pain, ask your pediatrician about pain relief and the right dose.

How Long Does the 10 Month Sleep Regression Last?

Most rough patches last 2 to 4 weeks, sometimes up to 6. Teething disruptions usually last only a few days per tooth. Nap protests often settle within a couple of weeks once the schedule is adjusted, and standing in the crib loses its excitement as the skill becomes old news.

What to Do During the 10 Month Sleep Regression

Keep Two Naps

Even if your baby protests, try to keep offering two naps. If they refuse the second one, offer it anyway, and if they don’t sleep, give them 30 to 45 minutes of quiet time in the crib or a dim room, then move bedtime a little earlier that day. Our guide on when babies drop to one nap explains the real signs of readiness, which usually show up consistently for 2 weeks or more and closer to 14 to 18 months.

Lower the Mattress

Before or as soon as your baby starts pulling up, move the crib mattress to the lowest setting so they can’t climb or fall out. Keep the crib bare. Our guide on when to move baby from bassinet to crib covers crib safety checks.

Adjust Awake Time and Nap Length

Many 10-month-olds do well with about 3 to 4 hours of awake time between sleeps and around 2 to 3 hours of daytime sleep in total. If the first nap is long and the second gets skipped, try capping the first nap a little. Our 8 month sleep regression guide explains how to stretch awake time step by step.

Tackle Early Mornings

• Use blackout curtains so early light doesn’t wake your baby.
• Treat anything before about 6 a.m. as night. Keep the room dark and quiet and respond briefly.
• Don’t move the first nap much earlier to make up for an early wake-up, since that keeps the early schedule going.
• Make sure your baby isn’t getting too much daytime sleep.

Let Them Practice in the Day

Lots of time cruising along the couch, standing and walking with your hands helps the novelty wear off faster. Practice sitting back down from standing so your baby isn’t stuck in the crib.

Keep the Crib Safe

The crib mattress should be at its lowest setting now that your baby is standing. Keep the crib bare. Our guide on when to move baby from bassinet to crib covers crib safety. The AAP advises against bed sharing in the first year. See the AAP’s safe sleep guide.

Respond Calmly at Night

Many 10-month-olds cry out, babble or stand briefly between sleep cycles before settling. Wait a minute or two before going in. Our guide on baby crying in sleep explains when to wait and when to help. Nightmares are uncommon this young, and night terrors usually start later in toddlerhood. Our guide on whether newborns can have bad dreams explains when they begin.

Night Feeds at 10 Months

Many 10-month-olds no longer need to eat at night, but some still do, especially if they don’t get enough during the day. Talk to your pediatrician before dropping night feeds, and make sure daytime meals and milk feeds are full.

What Are the Red Flags for a 10 Month Old?

A sleep regression on its own isn’t a red flag. Talk to your doctor if your 10-month-old isn’t doing things most babies do by 9 months, such as sitting without support, looking when you call their name, babbling sounds like “mamama” or “bababa,” moving toys from hand to hand, or reacting when you leave. Also check with your doctor if they’ve lost skills they used to have. The CDC’s milestones by 9 months checklist shows what to expect now, and its full set of milestone checklists shows what comes next. The CDC says not to wait if you’re concerned.

When to Call Your Pediatrician

Call your doctor if poor sleep comes with fever, ear pulling, snoring, pauses in breathing, poor feeding or vomiting, if sleep problems last more than about 6 weeks, or if you’re worried about your baby’s development.

This article is for general information only. Every baby is different, and it can’t replace advice from a doctor who has examined your child. If you’re worried about your baby, contact your pediatrician or emergency services right away.