Everything Parents Need to Know About the 4-Month Sleep Regression
Many babies experience sleep regression at around four months old. This can be very frustrating for parents! The good news is that there are ways to deal with this sleep regression.
In this article, we will discuss everything young parents should know about 4-month sleep regression and how you can help their infants through it.
What is a 4-Month Sleep Regression?
A four-month sleep regression is a period of time (usually around four months old) when your baby starts waking up more at night and taking shorter naps during the day. This can be very frustrating for parents who are used to their baby sleeping longer stretches through the night!
What Causes a Sleep Regression?
There are a few different things that can cause a sleep regression. One reason is that your baby is going through a growth spurt and needs to eat more during the day. At this age, they are starting to become more aware of his or her surroundings and this may cause them to be awake more at night. Finally, teething can also cause a four-month sleep regression. The pain and discomfort of teething may also have a major effect on your baby’s sleep.
Do All Babies Have the Four-Month Sleep Regression?
Some babies will experience the four-month sleep regression at some point. However, not all babies will have the same symptoms or experience the same amount of sleep disruption. Some babies may only wake up once or twice at night, while others may wake up several times. And some babies may only be awake for a few minutes each time, while others may be awake for an hour or more!
Tips For Dealing With the Four-Month Sleep Regression
If you think your baby is going through a four-month sleep regression, there are a few things you can do to help them (and you!) get through it. Here are five tips:
- Keep the room dark: This will help your baby stay asleep longer at night.
- Establish a bedtime routine: A predictable routine also gives your child a sense of security and teaches them how to fall asleep on their own
- Pay attention to sleep cues and act quickly: If you see that your baby is starting to get sleepy, put him or her down for a nap or bedtime.
- Stick with the program: Even if your baby is waking up more at night, try to stick to your usual sleep schedule.
How Baby Merlin Can Help
Remember, a baby’s sleep development isn’t linear. A sleep regression is totally normal. If you are struggling with the four-month sleep regression, don't worry! Baby Merlin's Magic Sleepsuit can help.
The Magic Sleepsuit is a safe and effective way to help your baby sleep through the night. It is made of soft, breathable fabric and has a unique design that helps your baby stay asleep longer.
Contact us today to see how our products can help your baby (and you) find the sleep you deserve.
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The team at NAPS helps you tackle the issue of early wakeups. *BONUS* NAPS is hosting a webinar on February 24th. Register here and use the extra-special code MAGICMERLIN and you can join the webinar FREE of charge!
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The sound of cheery calls of “MAAAAMAAAAA” from the next room may be lovely at 7am. At 4am, or 5 am, not so much. Your baby may be up and ready to start the day, but you probably aren’t.
Answering the questions below may help you get there.
- Is your nap schedule mucking up your baby’s overnight sleep?
This might seem like an obvious question, but your baby’s sleep needs will change fast in the first few years of their lives. A quick look at the average nap number and duration might give you an idea:
- For babies from 3-6 months old, it’s normal to take 3-4 hour-long naps per day.
- For babies 6-15 months old, expect 2 naps with 3-3.5 hours of total sleep.
- For one and two-year-olds, you should expect a single 2-hour nap.
Part of the reason you might be seeing earlier wakeups is that your baby has graduated from one nap cycle to the next.
- Does your baby have enough time between their last nap and their bedtime?
We call this an “awake window,” and it can make a big difference. It might seem strange that your baby went to bed fine the night before, and you’re seeing a response to nap scheduling in the pre-dawn hours, but if your kiddo’s sleep is disrupted at night, it will impact the morning.
- 3-6 months, at least 1.5-2 hours between final nap wakeup and bedtime.
- 6-12 months, at least 2.5-3.5 hours between final nap wakeup and bed.
- 12-18+ months, 3.5-4.5 hours between final nap wakeup and bed.
- Is the room staying dark after the sun comes up?
Black 0ut curtains can make a big difference here. Remember that our brains signal wakeup when the light changes. So if dawn is at 430am, and even a little bit of light comes into your baby’s room, their little brains will PING with wake up juice.
- Is your baby going to sleep too early or too late?
It might seem counter-intuitive, but a late bedtime can actually backfire on you. Overtired kids don’t sleep as well. If you made their bedtime later and it didn’t fix the problem, try an earlier bedtime and see if that helps. You might be surprised.
- How do you make it better?
Try to make one change at a time; just one. Stick with that change for 3-5 days to see if it impacts things. (One night is usually not enough to see substantial change.) Be as consistent as you can with the change you made. For instance, if you decide to increase the space between bedtime and final nap wakeup, make sure to stick to the wakeup time you planned.
If your baby is waking up and chirping happily to themselves, feel free to leave them there for a little while. Let them get used to being alone in the crib. If you can, try to delay the start of the day by 5-10 minutes each day. This can make a big impact.
Everything else aside, remember that this is a short time in your kid’s life; as they get older, their sleep will become more regular, and so will yours. Don’t let yourself get too discouraged. Things are hard now, and you’re doing a great job.
