4 Month Sleep Regression

angelicac06

Could it be?! I know it could happened earlier or later but at 3 months on practically the dot?!!! 

The ONE thing I had was sleep. He slept 7-9 hour stretch. Last night he had a 4 and a half stretch then BAM every hour on the hour. WTF. I was having flashbacks of when he was 2 weeks old. 

Now I know my sons a big boy, born nearly 10 lbs, now 17 lbs wearing 12 month clothing. He is also teething so I should have known he's going to be early for other things! My pedi says he was born ready to hit the ground running!

So to survive this. I obviously can't feed him every hour. Should I start with every other hour and drop one little by little? 

Should I move him to his crib now? The bassinet on the PNP says weight max is 18 lbs I'm assuming because that's the normal weight of older babies that are more mobile. My son does not even roll over yet lol. And I'm not ready for him to move into his room. 

He doesn't do awake but drowsy so he's not ready for that. STM any advice to get over this as quick as possible and go back to my, I mean his 7-9 hour stretch? HELP!  

kdoak2015

I would wait a few nights before deciding it's the 4 month sleep regression. At exactly 12 weeks my DD woke up every 1-2hrs for 2 days but is now back to 4-6 hour stretch and 2 3hr stretches. 
We can't really tell you if your baby is ready to be moved to the crib you'll have to try it out and see. I'm a cosleeper and attachment parenting is my style so no help here. 

Mizuiro007

Honestly it sounds more like a growth spurt and cluster feeding as opposed to the 4 month sleep regression we went through with DS. It wasn't waking up to feed more often, it was more a "I'd rather scream at you for hours because I'm exhausted but refuse to sleep because I don't want to miss anything".

Babies never stick to a sleep routine for very long. So many things can interrupt it including growth spurts and teething. Teething can be one of the worse offenders because it typically lasts longer than the few days to a week that growth spurts or sudden changes in routine do.

Just try to wait it out and do what you need to to get through it. It will pass.

As for the bassinet, that's up to you but personally I wouldn't feel comfortable testing the weight limits. With DD it's a tight fit but we have her crib in our bedroom. With DS we did the same with the pack n play until he was ready to move to his room.

Also, if he's really feeding every hour and not showing signs of overfeeding, he probably needs to eat. How ever if you think he's comfort feeding, see if other soothing measures work first.

ETA you might wait to transition him until this passes. Changes like that are hard enough without something else going on at the same time.

Peanut1128

My son did the exact same thing at 12w, I believe there is a 3 month growth spurt and after 3 days of extra eating and crying, he resumed a more normal schedule. As for the Rock and play, I would start the transition. It likely won't be easy on either one of you, but after 3-4 days your baby should be ok with sleeping in the crib. The first night I transitioned my son was up almost every hour! 

oregonmommy-2

I am so with you!! The last week my LO has been waking up every 1-2 hours and I am so exhausted!! I don't know what is causing this!! I'm just hoping it ends soon because I go back to work Monday! He was doing so good with sleeping at night to! He will be 12 weeks on Sunday. 

2winterbabies

Your LO is still young. I would still feed when he wants to feed no matter how much it is. You said he was born a big baby, to me, it seems like he is gaining weight fine, but I am not a doctor nor nurse. That is something you may want to talk to your pediatrician about.

As PPs have stated that the transition from bassinet to crib may be a difficult one as well. LO is not really familar to the crib and may take a couple extra tries getting him to sleep.

Have you ever thought that maybe his teething is bothering him while he sleeps? Maybe try Orajel or some other teething solution.

angelicac06

@kdoak2015 I may have panicked too soon or it is just another growth spurt or the teething or both. Last night he tried waking up after a couple hours but after I picked him up, rocked him for 30 seconds and laid him back down he stayed down for 6 hours. After that he was up every hour again and for the first time had trouble going back to sleep. He wasn't fully awake (his eyes rarely opened) he just had a hard time staying asleep. 

@Mizuiro007 After the initial feeding after the longer stretch he doesn't seem hungry. He latches for 3 minutes and then lets go to go back to sleep. Sometimes just picking him up and rocking him for a few seconds works. It's 50/50. He never really cries, just yells and grunts until he's picked up. Patting him to get him to go back NEVER works, lol. You're right about waiting to transition at least for a couple weeks since teething won't ever stop for a long while at least. The pedi is really pushing the crib because of his size. She urging me to at least bring it in my room if I'm more comfortable. 

@Peanut1128 thanks, I will try very soon in a couple weeks. Maybe start on a Friday so I can sleep in Sat when DW watches LO.  At least I'm mentally prepared. 

@katielwells I hope it goes back to nornal for you soon. I'm also concerned for going back to work that exhausted.

@2winterbabies Pedi is happy with his weight. I'm more concerned with the whole creating  bad habit thing. I've read once sleep regression begins, it's important to start/continue good habits. But I agree at 13 weeks its still too early. Pedi and pharmacy oppose orajel for a baby that young. The pedi goes as far as to saying new studies in the pediatrics world find it isn't recommend or advised for babies of any age. Just cold teethers or Tylenol if teeth are cutting and in severe pain. 

Thanks everyone! I will keep you posted. 

2winterbabies

Oh wow. I'm surprised they still sell Orajel at the stores in the baby section  thanks for the heads up. 

angelicac06

Update: 4th night of this. 4ish hour stretch then waking up every single hour. Last night sometimes after only 40 minutes. He goes right back to sleep after 10 minutes of either being rocked or fed. He's not crying in pain. And we've been through a few growth spurts before and its never interrupted his sleep like this. I'm so exhausted. I'm going to go to sleep immediately after he does (like when he was a mobth old) so that I at least don't waste those first initial 4 hours. I found a good thread after lurking N15 where a few 13 week olds were going through it already as well. Does anyone know how long this lasts? 

kdoak2015

Every baby is different I've heard it can last up to 6months, hang in there. What's been helping me with naps is she is consistent and wakes between 30-40mins and I have to help her get to the next phase of sleep(bfing, soother, rocking or just holding her hands so when she startles she doesn't wake herself. Research sleep transitions/sleep cycles it might help to understand why they regress.

laurabwalker

Good god my baby already sleeps like she's in this 4 month regression at 10 weeks how can it get worse!!

eliseandbaby

@laurabwalker was just thinking same thing!!! What are your nights like?!

laurabwalker

@eliseandbaby usually she sleeps from 10-1/2, and then up pretty much every 1.5 hours till 7, how about you?

angelicac06

@laurabwalker  and @eliseandbaby I am very sorry this is your norm! It's awful. I was just reading the post partum depression board and seeing how you have a high needs baby as well. As I've mentioned sleep at night was the ONLY smooth thing I had and now it's gone. My LO last night did away with that 4 hour stretch and woke up after only 2 then it was back to 1-2 every damn hour. 

laurabwalker

My LO is now sleeping a 3 hour stretch rather than a 4 at the beginning of the night. I'm thinking of hiring a sleep consultant to help me, figure out how to nap her without bouncing/shushing/patting for 30-40 mins and then she sleeps 20 mins ugh, and help for night sleep. Maybe she needs to be in her crib, I'm not sure.
edit I think I just need extra support at this point. 

Mizuiro007

@laurabwalker Maybe someone like a postpartum doula would be helpful?

laurabwalker

Mizuiro007 said:

@laurabwalker Maybe someone like a postpartum doula would be helpful?

Yes I've been looking into options, my mom is off for two weeks so she is coming to help starting Monday during the day, I actually enjoy the nights because she just bf's and falls back asleep and we cuddle, so it's nice bonding time, I just need a longer stretch to help me get through the days I think 

missphil

OP my 14 week old is going through this as well. Sleeping 3 or 4 hours and then awake every hour or so until 7:30am. I'm exhausted! Often he will be awake at 4 am for two hours as well. It has been going on for a week!

KRH6829

I might be the odd one out here, but once my son, who is now two and half, started sleeping through the night, he never stopped doing so. I don't want people reading this thinking that there might be a regression, because many babies don't have them. DD has been sleeping through the night since she was six weeks old, and so far no sign of sleep regression. 

angelicac06

@KRH6829 Not all babies go through it but the majority do at some point. My cousins 5 month old never went through it at 4 months. Neither did my friends however hers hit really hard at the 9 month mark. It's a very difficult, real process. I'm glad you didn't have to go through it. 

2winterbabies

angelicac06 said:

@KRH6829 Not all babies go through it but the majority do at some point. My cousins 5 month old never went through it at 4 months. Neither did my friends however hers hit really hard at the 9 month mark. It's a very difficult, real process. I'm glad you didn't have to go through it. 

As a STM I can say this is true. My son never went through this phase. He is actually a really realllllly heavy sleeper.... and likes his sleep too My DD on the other hand is 2 1/2 months and a light sleeper. We'll see if she hits the "4 month regression" when the time comes.

missamiissssaa

oh wow, I can't believe so many of us are having this problem! my LO was sleeping 6-7 hour stretch then another 3 hour stretch, its been gone for almost 2 weeks now? I did a lot of reading and found out right about now our babies sleep cycle is more like ours instead of newborn. they wake easier and its harder for them to stay asleep. (supposedly) She was up almost every hour for awhile, but i started making sure she took most of her naps during the day and now shes every 2-3 hours. I am also going to move the white noise machine from the other side of the room to right next to her crib TONIGHT (lol), hopefully that will help keep any random noises from waking her up and she will stay asleep longer. Good luck ladies!!

angelicac06

@missamiissssaa Yes! He struggles to stay asleep even for nap times now. Poor little guy is always tired. I also bought a white noise machine and that helped a bit. Thanks I'm hoping this passes soon!

kdoak2015

All I can say is yep it's happening. Day 3 of waking several times. I was able to rock her back to sleep each time but tonight is a no go so we are up Chillen at 5am

missamiissssaa

ugh, it's been 3 weeks here, DD is 15 weeks and a couple days. Any of you ladies had any luck getting your LO to start sleeping longer stretches again? I would be happy with even just one 4 hour stretch a night with out waking. I ordered a Zipadeezip in hopes she will be more comfy. Seems like she wants to sleep on her side but is unable to due to the swaddle. I'm exhausted again.

LaceyH13

missamiissssaa said:

ugh, it's been 3 weeks here, DD is 15 weeks and a couple days. Any of you ladies had any luck getting your LO to start sleeping longer stretches again? I would be happy with even just one 4 hour stretch a night with out waking. I ordered a Zipadeezip in hopes she will be more comfy. Seems like she wants to sleep on her side but is unable to due to the swaddle. I'm exhausted again.

We have had great luck with the zipadeezip so far. My LO was swaddled one arm out because he was rolling, but he would wake up. He has been in the zipadeezip for 3 nights and he has done 9-10 hours each night. He immediately rolls to his side to sleep, but we don't fight it. It's good for his flat head to be on his side.

angelicac06

@LaceyH13 is thr zipadeezip still working? I'm considering buying it. My LO was never swaddled but his lounger serves as that when he startles. He doesn't fit in it! I decided I'm buying a mini crib for my room this weekend. I'm just not ready for him to be in his own room. We are going on week 3 of this regression. Some nights he gives me 4 hour stretch then wakes up every hr thereafter. Some he wakes up every 2 hours from the get go. No consistency. I want those 7-9 hours back.  

holly1811

I don't even know what's going on in my house. But lo has been waking 3.30-4 everyday for the past 3 weeks. I'm exhausted I have a 4year old who goes to school for 2 hours a day so I can't go back to bed for a for a hour either. I'm so exhausted and starting to get depressed, I can cope with the night feeds but these early starts are hard work. 17 weeks and not one decent nights sleep yet 

angelicac06

Update: All is not lost in the world! LO finally after a month of brutal hourly wakes, only woke up at midnight and 5:30am in a 12 hour period (we skipped his last nap and did bed time routine instead so he'd be down at 7p.) I kept reading at 4 months their bed time should be much earlier and it was important through a regression since they have sleep to catch up on. 

https://sleeplady.com/newborn-sleep/4-month-sleep-regression-end/

I found this article from a sleep consultant reassuring so I wouldn't worry about bad habits right now and sleep training not necessary this young. 

PS if last night was a fluke it will be the most cruel joke of the universe, lol. Hang in there ladies. I guess it can last up to 6 weeks in severe cases. 

Edited to correct link.

kdoak2015

angelicac06 said:

Update: All is not lost in the world! LO finally after a month of brutal hourly wakes, only woke up at midnight and 5:30am in a 12 hour period (we skipped his last nap and did bed time routine instead so he'd be down at 7p.) I kept reading at 4 months their bed time should be much earlier and it was important through a regression since they have sleep to catch up on. 

https://sleeplady.com/newborn-sleep/4-month-sleep-regression-end/

I found this article from a sleep consultant reassuring so I wouldn't worry about bad habits right now and sleep training not necessary this young. 

PS if last night was a fluke it will be the most cruel joke of the universe, lol. Hang in there ladies. I guess it can last up to 6 weeks in severe cases. 

Edited to correct link.

We've been doing 7pm bedtime and she's up at 6, so not a fan of 6am wake. Some girls in my baby group on fb said theirs lasted until the kid was 3years. I'd be sleep training by then and I don't even believe in it ha ha ha! 

laurabwalker

kdoak2015 said:

angelicac06 said:

Update: All is not lost in the world! LO finally after a month of brutal hourly wakes, only woke up at midnight and 5:30am in a 12 hour period (we skipped his last nap and did bed time routine instead so he'd be down at 7p.) I kept reading at 4 months their bed time should be much earlier and it was important through a regression since they have sleep to catch up on. 

https://sleeplady.com/newborn-sleep/4-month-sleep-regression-end/

I found this article from a sleep consultant reassuring so I wouldn't worry about bad habits right now and sleep training not necessary this young. 

PS if last night was a fluke it will be the most cruel joke of the universe, lol. Hang in there ladies. I guess it can last up to 6 weeks in severe cases. 

Edited to correct link.

We've been doing 7pm bedtime and she's up at 6, so not a fan of 6am wake. Some girls in my baby group on fb said theirs lasted until the kid was 3years. I'd be sleep training by then and I don't even believe in it ha ha ha! 

Uh ya, someone was telling me they were walking their three year old in a stroller every night to get to sleep since they were a newborn. I was like no I'm sorry I'm not doing that.

LaceyH13

angelicac06 said:

@LaceyH13 is thr zipadeezip still working? I'm considering buying it. My LO was never swaddled but his lounger serves as that when he startles. He doesn't fit in it! I decided I'm buying a mini crib for my room this weekend. I'm just not ready for him to be in his own room. We are going on week 3 of this regression. Some nights he gives me 4 hour stretch then wakes up every hr thereafter. Some he wakes up every 2 hours from the get go. No consistency. I want those 7-9 hours back.  

It works for us, but I probably have a slightly above average sleeper. With the zipadeezip (unlike the swaddle) he can roll on his side or belly to sleep (on his own - I always put him on his back) and sleep a lot better, but still keep his hands away from his face and the startle reflex to a minimum.

ATolentino89

Is it over or was last night a fluke?!?!?

We slept! We woke up to eat three times then went straight back to sleep! No MOTN crying or fussiness, just relaxed happy baby. Now we're up playing with toys and waiting for daddy to wake up. 

kdoak2015

ATolentino89 said:

Is it over or was last night a fluke?!?!?

We slept! We woke up to eat three times then went straight back to sleep! No MOTN crying or fussiness, just relaxed happy baby. Now we're up playing with toys and waiting for daddy to wake up. 

Same, Im worried maybe we haven't hit it yet and it was a mental leap. Lol bed by 8, up at 2, 5 and up by 7:30 for the day. She did kind of toss and turn from 5-7 but stayed sleeping. 

angelicac06

Lol @ATolentino89 and @kdoak2015 no we got through it!!!! Thank God. ! 3 nights in a row of 2 wakes in a 12 hour period! Ladies it DOES end eventually. No sleep training needed. I was just thinking earlier poor babies that don't get picked this young! It's not their fault they had to get through this. I'm glad we made it out.  

Edit to say Idk what to do with the zipadeezip now hahaha.

kdoak2015

We are a week now, i actually woke up crying I'm so tired lol. Slept from 8-2 again but up pretty consistently after that and then from 6-7:30 I literally had to rock her so she stays asleep finally gave up at 7:30 because my back hurt . I'm resentful at DH because he honestly gets 8-10hours of sleep. He's never really had to do nightime because I just sucked it up and did it but I need sleep. I'm not a good momma when I don't get sleep. Cry with me today ladies !

breezypip

@kdoak2015 we have had the same week, right down to the tears last night. I now am 100% sure I've hit the 4-month regression since she's 4 months next week (16 weeks this week) and her sleep is as bad as it was as a newborn. But now I have to work. I'm convinced I will die... I will not survive this sleep deprivation. I will commiserate with you! I want my good sleeper back :-(

keiragann

Mine is getting worse! LO is now only sleeping straight through from 8-11 and then wakes me up every hour after that. The positive is that once I stick a boob in his mouth he goes back to sleep fairly quickly. I have tried feeding him more before bed but that didn't help. I want to move him into his crib but I can't get up that many times. At least now he is hat next to the bed and I can just let him sleep with us after a few times so I get more sleep. Any suggestions? 

yl1m32015

I'm 6w into the 4mo sleep regression. Started at 3mo and she's now 4.5mo. I'm exhausted. I would call her case severe, but being that she was born 5w early, anything goes. Shes never been a good sleeper so far lol. But then again, I've always been an awful sleeper. My mom had to rock me to sleep until kindergarten

laurabwalker

yl1m32015 said:

I'm 6w into the 4mo sleep regression. Started at 3mo and she's now 4.5mo. I'm exhausted. I would call her case severe, but being that she was born 5w early, anything goes. Shes never been a good sleeper so far lol. But then again, I've always been an awful sleeper. My mom had to rock me to sleep until kindergarten

Oh shit, I must stop rocking immediately 

eliseandbaby

I think my daughter is going through the 4 month sleep regression. My question is if she wakes up every 2 hours, do I feed her every time? Or just rock her? She seems so hard to calm down and feeding is the easiest way but I don't want to develop bad sleep habits... 

The stress!