The Best Way to Handle the 4 Month Sleep Regression

17 Comments

  1. Mae

    Thank you so much for this it is so helpful. The regression has hit us SO HARD. We’ve gone from one to two wakes a night to every single hour – feel like I’m dying. He used to just settle himself but now he’ll only feed to sleep. For naps- would you prioritise longer contact naps or putting him down in his sleep space once sleeping (these will only last 20min max whereas he’ll go up to 2hrs on me)

    Reply
    • Artemis

      Definitely do contact naps for now since it helps him sleep. Then I highly recommend you sleep train for nights, so you all get the rest you need. Waking every hour is exhausting!

      In our program, we can help you build a healthy sleep foundation while he’s going through the regression. Then we can start the actual sleep training steps once he’s over it. Please join with support, so we can talk you through it (via messages and zoom calls):
      https://www.babysleepmadesimple.com/baby-sleep-consultant

      Thank you so much for reaching out, Mae. Can’t wait to work together!
      Artemis, BSMS Support Team

      Reply
  2. Phoebe

    Hi,

    My little one is currently going through the 4 month regression and an eczema flare.

    He was previously sleeping through the night independently in his crib. However, he has been waking up every couple of hours wanting to be nurse and will fall back asleep in 5-10 mins. He is napping with appropriate wake windows during the day.

    Due to his eczema, I am unable to let him self soothe. Is self soothing the only way out of this regression? Or will he go back to normal and i can train at a later date?

    Thanks

    Reply
    • Artemis

      Hi Phoebe,

      Thanks for reaching out. First of all, I’m so sorry about your little one’s eczema. Firstly, I just wanted to give you a few eczema tips we’ve gathered from the thousands of mamas we’ve helped over the years:

      FOR BATHS:
      Never do soap baths! This dries out baby’s skin and worsens eczema.
      Aveeno unscented soap and lotion has been found helpful to some parents.
      One mom highly recommends oatmeal baths (just put dry oatmeal in the blender and throw it in the tub).
      Other moms bathe baby every third day in water only.
      For the days you don’t bathe them, just wash their face and hands with water (can help with bedtime routine).

      FOR SCRATCHING:
      Get a Zipadee Zip (no hands) so baby doensn’t scratch
      Put a humidifier in the room
      Use Puracy laundry detergent for clothes

      Regarding the sleep, I’m positive we can get your little one to sleep through the night again, even if you’re going through a rough patch. Since your little one was previously sleep trained, I recommend you book a private consultation with our sleep consultant Alyssa to get you on the right track again:
      https://programs.babysleepmadesimple.com/30-minutes-private-consultation-checkout/

      If you need anything else, don’t hesitate to reach out.
      Artemis, BSMS Support Team

      Reply
  3. Jody a

    I’m in the middle of this m. Every time she wakes up I put a pacifier in her mouth which helps her sleep. She then wakes up an hr later. Am I creating a bad habit with the pacifier? We’re just so exhausted and don’t know what to do.

    Reply
    • Artemis

      I’m so sorry to hear that.

      Our sleep program usually starts at 5 months but we’re happy to make an exception for you. Our programs are also on 15% off right now (our new year’s sale extended) but this offer expires soon! Use the coupon code ‘2022’ at checkout.

      I recommend you join our program, stick to Lessons 1-6 only, and start Lesson 7 when your little one is closer to 5 months old. The program will give you ALL the information on what your little one needs to sleep well.

      You both deserve to have a full nights sleep!

      Here is the link: https://www.babysleepmadesimple.com/baby-sleep-consultant

      Artemis, BSMS Support Team

      Reply
  4. Kelcie Mitchell

    Hello Jilly,

    I am extremely tired. I thought once my baby turned 3 months his sleep would become longer away nights. I was fooled because it’s gotten worse. He has been put on a schedule and goes to sleep for his naps and bedtime around the same time every day. His bedtime is 7pm – 9pm. He used to sleep for 4 hours when I put him down for bed then waking to feed. He would wake only 1-2 times after his first night waking. Now, he wakes almost every 1-2 hours to feed since he’s turned 11 weeks. This seems like a regression to me, but I’m not sure. I just want some sleep, and I’m pretty sure my baby is tired of all the constant changes to his body as well.

    Reply
    • Alyssa Taft

      Hello Kelcie,

      Thank you so much for your message. I am so sorry to hear how exhausted you are. That “fourth trimester” can be SO exhausting–I can completely relate having gone through it ith both of my daughters. Your LO’s brain is just going through rapid growth around the 3/4 month age and regressions are very normal. This is why our program suggests waiting to sleep train until your LO is at least 5 months of age because he will be developmentally ready to self soothe.

      However, there are still many things you can do now to help encourage better sleep. Definitely check out this resources below for helpful tips and let us know if you have ANY questions!

      https://www.babysleepmadesimple.com/exhausted-moms-survival-kit
      https://www.babysleepmadesimple.com/3-month-old-sleep-schedule

      Best,
      Alyssa, BSMS Support Team

      Reply
  5. Paula

    You say that you shouldn’t sleep train during a regression, but how do you know when the regression is over? We are on week 4 of the 4 month sleep regression.

    Reply
    • Micaela

      Hi Paula, we “allow” a regression to last 2 weeks and then we consider any issue a habit so it’s fine to start sleep training. In your case, since your baby is still young, we would advise you to wait until he turns 5mo (20 weeks). We want to make sure the 4mo sleep regression is truly over before starting proper sleep training.

      I see you recently subscribed to the Exhausted Mom Survival Kit. That’s a great tool that you can use for now and once your baby turns 5mo it’s ok to start proper sleep training <3
      Micaela BSMS Support Team

      Reply
  6. Lucy fishenden

    Hi Jilly! I’m so thankful for all your material 😉 up till now my babies sleep was so good and naps became easy too thanks to reading all your articles! But now she’s 4 months it’s all gone wrong ? Hard to settle, early wake ups, short sleeps and super long feeds at night ? I’ve tried to stick to our routine, watching awake times, brining bedtime earlier, blacking our the already blacked out windows, putting her in cot rather than basket, feed more during the day and stick to bedtime routine. But nothing is working and it’s been 3 long weeks! I haven’t mastered yet putting her down awake and even thought during the regression may not be the wisest time but do you have any tips for me on this or anything else? I long for sleep and the poor thing must too as she’s gone from 10 to 6 total sleep hours sleep a night … what should I do?!! How long will this go on for?! Help very much appreciated ❤️

    Reply
    • Alyssa Taft

      Hello! Thank you for your post. It definitely sounds like your LO is in the middle of the dreaded 4 month sleep regression. This regression can last between 2-6 weeks, but usually a month at most, so hang in there! We often see sleep improve after the regression is over and your LO is more developmentally ready to self-soothe. Definitely follow the tips from our guide and check out this youtube video for helpful advice! Alyssa, BSMS Support Team

      https://www.babysleepmadesimple.com/4-month-sleep-regression-tips-video

      Reply
    • Nadina

      No answers but just wanted to say that I feel like I could have written this myself. I’m going through the same thing with my 4 month old and it’s really taking it’s toll. She used to be such a great sleeper. Hope you got through it ok.

      Reply
  7. Christina Walker

    Hi Jilly,

    I love reading your articles during my free time and am eager to start the 21 day program.
    He is a bit over 4 months and has definitely hit the 4 month regression for the past couple weeks. He sleeps for 6 hours straight during the night but wakes up once or twice right after I put him to sleep and then every hour or two after the 6 hour sleep stretch. He is not nursed to sleep but he is rocked. He is also teething VERY badly. has his fists in his mouth half the time. Now, would I need to wait for his teething pains to go away before sleep training ? Is he waking up like this because of the regression or teething ? How can I know ? You have mentioned to wait for the regression to be over before starting sleep training. How do I know it is over ? Thanks !!!

    Reply
    • Leena

      Hi Christina! OH no 🙁 Sorry to hear that you’re going through it. I can say for certain, that this too shall pass, so I hope this soothes your mind a bit 🙂 Teething pain usually lasts about 3-5 days only according to multiple studies, so that in itself doesn’t prevent you from sleep training, but I would wait until your LO turns 5 or 5,5 months to start formal sleep training as the regression has had time to pass by then 🙂 Hang in there for just a little bit more and see you in the program! Follow the tips in this guide and get help if you can to get some rest yourself./ Leena, BSMS Support Team

      Reply

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