How to Handle that Dreaded 4-month Sleep “Regression”!

The 4-month sleep regression is a normal developmental stage that many babies go through, characterized by disrupted sleep patterns and frequent waking up during the night. It’s actually not a regression at all, but more of a natural progression! Here are some tips to help handle the 4-month sleep “regression”:

Continue being consistent with the daytime routine: Stay on the “eat, play, sleep” routine, preferably 7 am-7 pm. Make sure they are getting full meals and age-appropriate nap times.

1) Continue being consistent with the daytime routine: Stay on the “eat, play, sleep” routine, preferably 7 am-7 pm. Make sure they are getting full meals and age-appropriate nap times in.

2) Stick to a consistent bedtime routine: Establishing a predictable bedtime routine can help your baby feel more secure and relaxed before bed, which can improve their ability to fall asleep and stay asleep. Keep it under an hour and lay them down on or around 7 pm.

3) Help your baby learn to self-soothe: Encourage your baby to fall asleep on their own by providing a safe and comfortable sleep environment, such as a dark and quiet room, and using techniques like swaddling, white noise, as well as waiting a few minutes before responding.

4) Consider giving more milk/formula during the day: If your baby wakes up frequently at night, maybe they need a little more calories during the day! Try throwing in 1 or 2 cluster feeds throughout the day or increasing the amount of milk/formula given at each feeding.

5) Stay calm and patient: Remember that the 4-month sleep “regression” is a normal part of your baby’s development, and it will pass with time. Stay calm and patient, and try not to stress out about your baby’s sleep patterns.

6) Do not go back!: One of the most important things to remember is that if they are already sleeping all night without a feed, do NOT go back and start feeding again! These wake-ups will subside and if they were initially taught how to fall asleep on their own, then it will be much easier for them to get through it!

If you are still struggling, feel free to schedule a sleep consultation with me!

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1) Consistency and repetition!! I cannot stress enough how children learn from being consistent and repeating the same thing every time or every day. Babies and toddlers thrive on a daily routine, knowing what to expect. So during the day, we stick to feed, play, sleep. Then when evening comes, dim lights, lower voices and it’s the same short & sweet bedtime routine…bath, massage, swaddle, feed & in bed!

2) Timing!! Timing is everything for these little ones, if they are put down for a nap too early, they will fuss because they weren’t ready, too late, they will fuss because they are overtired! Once you learn which sleepy sign is crucial to your little one, you will know exactly when to lay them down.

3) Sleep associations!! At first with your brand new baby, you’ll want to cuddle, hold and rock all the time! That’s ok for the first 2-3 weeks maybe, but after a while, they will get used to it and “expect” it every single time. So the sooner they learn how to fall asleep independently when you first lay them down, the better in the long run!

4) Same sleep space!! For the first 2-3 weeks, your baby can and will most likely sleep anywhere throughout the house. Most babies are ok with that for a while, but some babies (especially preemies) will be way too stimulated by the lights & sounds that they cannot settle and will have interrupted sleep. Move your baby to their regular sleep space, in the dark & with white noise, sooner rather than later. Again, consistency!

5) Night sleep!! Everyone has heard, “sleep begets sleep”, so when they do not get the proper day sleep they need (up to 6 hrs) this will obviously affect their night sleep! The quality and duration of a baby’s night sleep have a greater impact on overall growth and development than day sleep. That’s why we don’t wake a sleeping baby at night! Remember, more sleep less food at night, more food less sleep in the day.

Book a consultation with me to get your baby on the right track from the beginning!