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The 4 month sleep regression: Causes, Symptoms & Solutions
If your baby is 4 months old, you may have been warned about the 4 month sleep regression. This video explains everything you need to know about this sleep regression. What it is, what causes it, what are the symptoms and how you can handle it.
Here's my detailed guide on the 4 month sleep regression:
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Find my sleep guide for 4 month old babies here:
www.babysleepmadesimple.com/4...
Learn how to get your baby sleeping all night in the crib here: www.babysleepmadesimple.com/b...
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Transcription:
If your 4 month old has recently started fighting bedtime with a vengeance, waking a lot more at night or taking short naps then chances are the 4-month regression is to blame. It's a completely normal phase of development. The good news is we can help your baby sleep well through the 4 month regression.
Signs of the 4-month regression include your baby fighting bed time all of a sudden, waking more at night taking short naps or fighting naps in general and just overall seeming more restless and fussy. There are three main causes of this regression.
The first is a growth spurt, which makes babies hungrier in general. So this can make your baby wake more at night because he's really hungry.
The second cause of this regression is the 4 to 3 nap transition or when your baby wants to drop that 4th nap every day and settle into 3 naps a day. What happens when we drop naps is that awake times can sometimes be too long. And when awake times are too long your baby gets overtired and overstimulated and it actually makes him harder to settle for sleep.
The third cause of this regression is a big development in your baby's brain that often happens around this age. And part of this big development changes your baby's sleeping patterns.
If your baby's worsening sleep is due to a growth spurt then your baby should start sleeping better once you focus on increasing your baby's nutrition.
If the cause of your baby's regression is dropping the 4th nap and settling into 3 naps a day, then make sure you follow awake times up 1.5 to 2.5 hours all day long. These are awake times are most appropriate for 4 month olds. And it prevents your baby from becoming too overtired and restless.
Now if instead your baby's current sleep troubles are caused by the big brain development and, you know, evolving and maturing sleep patterns then the best thing that you can do is get your baby on a consistent and an age-appropriate sleep routine.
I don't recommend formal sleep training during this regression like Ferber or cry it out. Remember this is a period of increased fussiness and restlessness for your baby. He's harder to settle for sleep, he doesn't sleep as long, he really fights sleep a lot during this age.
That being said, there is still plenty that you can do to help your 4 month-old sleep well during this regression. The first thing to do is make sure to stick to awake times of 1.5 to 2.5 hours all day long.
Also it's completely fine for your baby to nap in the stroller, in the baby carrier, in the swing or even in the car if needed. Motion naps and naps on the go often help baby settle easier for sleep and take longer naps. So as long as you supervise these naps they're perfectly ok in my book. Wake your baby after a 2-hour nap and feed him. Feeding often during the day helps your baby go longer at night between feeds.
Also start a calming bedtime routine every evening. What you do at bedtime and the order in which you do it really does determine if your baby settles easily for sleep and sleeps long stretches at night. Give your baby a consistent bedtime between 7:30 and 9:00 p.m. every night.
And if your baby is sleeping in a bassinet or a co-sleeper, the 'DockATot' or the 'rock n play', then you may want to consider transitioning your baby to a crib at this age. Newborns love cozy and tight sleep spaces but as our babies get older and become more mobile and start to roll they really need bigger sleep spaces so they can roll around and get themselves comfortable. So if your baby is showing signs of beginning to roll I highly recommend that you transition him to the crib.
I hope this video gave you some hope that you can get your baby sleeping well during the 4-month regression. Remember it's a completely normal phase of development and everyone survives it.