Baby sleep regression usually occurs around 4 months of age. Then suddenly your baby, who once slept well and even whole nights, wakes up again and without explanation. So, today we will talk about the solution of 4 month sleep regression.
Lactation at night and the sleep pattern of babies are different.
Although the baby took long naps in the afternoon and even several hours at night, a routine that once seemed to work so well turns into a colossal disaster. Many mothers even find that their milk is not enough for the baby. Certainly not.
What’s going on? Otitis? Early tooth? Sudden and dramatic personality change? Probably not either! Let’s know more about 4 month baby sleep regression and the solution.
Table of Contents
What is a 4 month sleep regression, and the solution of it?
“Our baby who was already sleeping well wakes up at night.”
Don’t worry, don’t worry. It is a regression of sleep, and it is something normal that occurs in the development of a healthy baby.
We talk about sleep regressions when a baby already sleeping healthy suddenly begins to have nocturnal awakenings. It is challenging for him to get back to sleep. In some children, sleep regressions are especially manifested at naps, and they begin not to sleep well.
Why does a sleep regression occur?
Regressions are usually associated with so-called “developmental milestones,” that is, when our babies acquire new skills such as turning around, sitting, standing up, walking, talking. These changes cause them a state of stimulation that prevents them from reconciling good sleep. In other cases, it may be due to the appearance of the first teeth, growth peaks that cause hunger.
It is widespread at 4 months and 8 to 10 months, 12 months, 18 months, and two years. Not all children experience them, but it is widespread.
How long does a sleep regression last?
They usually last between 2 and 6 weeks, and the baby usually returns to healthy sleep habits on his own.
What to do with a sleep regression?
It is essential to maintain consistency in routines, keep schedules and your sleeping environment the same as you have had up to that moment, and protect your naps. We must keep in mind that it is something temporary, and above all be consistent in how we face awakenings to create certainty in the child.
Differences between the sleep of the baby and the adult.
What is probably happening is the baby’s sleep regression that occurs around 4 months of age.
It marks a permanent change in your baby’s sleeping habits. Baby sleep cycles are different from adult sleep cycles. And as the baby’s brain matures, its sleep patterns change over time to become more similar to the adult sleep cycle.
When will my baby go to sleep through the night?
4-month-old baby sleep regression is a very usual and very healthy developmental milestone, as is learning to walk and talk. So if your baby is experiencing a 4-month sleep regression, congratulations; his growth and development are going well!
What Causes Baby Sleep Regression at 4 Months?
Before 4 months, when a baby falls asleep, they immediately go into deeper non-REM sleep. However, at 4 months, when sleep becomes more “mature,” your baby will not immediately enter that stage of deep non-REM sleep as soon as he falls asleep. Instead, you will enter a lighter, non-REM stage of sleep.
Four months is also the age at which some babies begin to roll. That means that it is no longer safe to roll the baby like a cigarette. The downside is that most babies at this age still have some, if not all, of the fear reflex of being looser than they were in their tummies.
At four months, we begin to see mature sleep patterns and consolidate the nights. That means that your baby has been sleeping until 7:00. Or 8:00 in the morning may begin to change his natural alert time earlier.
Therefore, you should start shifting bedtime to earlier. It is a widespread misconception that delaying naps or making the baby fall asleep late will make him sleep more. On the contrary, the volcanic effect it causes can make everything worse.
Babies at four months are increasingly aware of everything around them.
How to deal with the 4-month sleep regression phase?
Baby sleep regressions generally occur between 8 and 10 months of age, decreasing from 18 months to 2 years.
Although the sleep regressions of the other months pass in a few weeks and the baby returns to normal, the changes in sleep at the age of 4 months are usually permanent.
But don’t despair. Try to handle the situation as best you can ask for help to minimize fatigue and frustration.
Strategies to Encourage Your Baby to Get More Sleep During the 4-Month Sleep Regression:
Keep helping your baby fall asleep as you always have. Breastfeeding to sleep is a great way to help your baby calm down and fall asleep, don’t worry about the myth of breast and sleep “associations,” because other than that, it doesn’t make sense. Over time your baby will learn to sleep without the chest, in due course, which is the right time.
It’s okay to cradle the baby. Rocking can be a great way to calm your fussy baby and help trigger a nap that might not otherwise happen. In addition, this rocking on your lap can be your walking back and forth as it will remind you of when you were inside your belly.
Ask for help! That is the time to seek support from friends and family. Let other people (whom you trust) stay with your baby for a bit while he takes a nap.
Sing for your baby. Lullabies are calming down, and trust me; you don’t have to be a good singer or tune. Your baby loves your voice anyway!
Warning:
- If you’ve found yourself spending hours using all of your tricks to get your baby to sleep, you may be telling him that you need to fall asleep alone or that it’s time to try something new.
- Keep in mind that the solutions are short-term, as sleep is a developmental milestone. Until it is fully established in your child’s life, your dream will not be like that of an adult, and there will be variations and some surprises in store routine as usual.
- It’s about looking at your child and seeing what his needs are in this new phase. Sometimes we think that because we start one way (always singing to sleep, rocking to sleep, holding a baby to sleep), this is how the baby will always need to sleep.
- But when these things stop working, we have to think of something new to help the baby sleep or just let it calm down and sleep without much outside interference.
- Knowing the baby’s developmental stages and when they happen can help you overcome these maternal challenges in a calmer. And the more focused way to find solutions that are respectful of your baby and do not worsen his situation.
Why does my baby wake up all the time?
Well, because you are most likely facing the 4-month sleep regression. This regression is widespread and is characterized by changes in your baby’s behavior, such as:
- Is more irritable
- Wakes up many times at night (especially if your baby has been sleeping for more extended periods)
- Naps are reduced or only “disaster” naps (the kind that doesn’t last at all)
- Changes in your appetite
- To recognize the 4-month regression
Child sleep patterns: 4 month sleep regression solution
When your baby was a newborn, he probably slept almost anywhere. That is because although your sleep also goes in cycles, within each cycle, there were no different phases (in which you go from light to deep sleep as it is for an older baby or an adult).
It is at 4 months when your baby begins to enter the “adult world of sleep.” It means that their sleep cycles begin to have different phases: deep sleep and active sleep, just like you. “But I don’t wake up that much!” maybe that’s what came to mind. The thing about your baby is that he still hasn’t learned to handle these changes.
Something ubiquitous: you breastfeed your baby to sleep. It may take you 30 minutes to get to deep sleep and surprise! Open your eye after 15 minutes. Has it happened to you? That is because your baby has the startle reflex (Moor reflex), and when he goes into a deep sleep very often, it wakes him up. And if you can’t go back to sleep, find someone who can help you, most likely you who are now reading this.
5 Tips to Help You During This Regression
Do what works; the important thing is that they sleep:
- Pay close attention to his sleep signals, and if he does not usually show them, help yourself to the clock, his window of being awake or awake is between 1 to 2 hours (You should not spend more than this time being awake)
- Try not to create another sleeping catchphrase (What you do for your baby to relax and fall asleep). Use the ones that have worked for you, but try not to enlarge the list since you will have to remove them at some point.
- Cuddle him more and give him more comfortable; this will help him make this stage in his development more bearable.
- Follow your routine but be flexible. Babies like constancy very much. It gives them security. If you do not have a routine yet, it is a perfect time to create it, that is, 3-4 things you do in the same order before going to sleep (For example, book, song, bath, then crib). You can also do this before naps but with fewer steps. Also, be flexible about feeding – your baby may be hungrier or hungrier during this time.
- Make your baby calm.
FAQ on 4 month sleep regression solution
1. How much should eight-month-old baby sleep in the day?
By eight months, babies’ sleep has typically been regulated into 10 hours of nighttime sleep and one or two 2-3 hour daytime naps. Some babies, however, already have some difficulty sleeping. Leaving your bedroom door open or some soft light on can help your baby fall asleep on his own.
2. What to do if a newborn does not want to drink milk?
If your baby cannot breastfeed, it is a good idea to start expressing milk as soon as possible and often until you can breastfeed. “Although breastfeeding as early as possible is best for both mother and baby, it is not critical,” says Cathy. If you’re having problems breastfeeding due to low milk supply, visit this link to learn more about the different lactation supplements that may help you to resolve this problem.
3. Why does my baby sleep so much?
Yes, it is normal and, also, totally recommended. Sleeping a lot benefits the baby physically and cognitively; the hours of sleep are directly related to its development. As a baby sleeps a lot, his neurons, organs, and immune system will get stronger.
4. Why doesn’t a newborn sleep?
It is usual for newborns to wake up at night. However, keep in mind that their tummies are tiny, and they need to eat frequently to avoid hypoglycemia and grow. Therefore they cannot have a very continuous sleep and need small naps throughout the 24 hours of the day to eat.
Conclusion on 4 month sleep regression solution
However, we know it’s not lovely your baby’s sleep got messed up, but do you know the good news? It most likely means that your baby is growing. Very commonly, this regression is associated with growth spurts. For example, you may notice how he has grown with how his clothes fit, or perhaps he has become more moved or moved.
It has likely crossed your mind that perhaps it will be teeth, an ear infection, lack of food, if you have reflux, etc. But they go to the pediatrician, and everything seems to be expected. But, unfortunately, they have not realized that this is the stage in which your baby’s sleep rhythms are changing.
Remember, this sleep regression is a good thing. It is due to the growth and change of your baby. And above all: it is temporary.
