Omg this 4 month sleep regression sucks!!'

Laroo0220 · July 2014

That is all. I went from having the best sleeper ever back to waking every 2 hrs. I'm dying!!! And just in time to go back to work in a couple weeks. Perfect. I know there have been 1 million sleep posts but I just can't handle this no sleep thing. Also are all of u who are dealing with this feeding to get baby back to sleep? I just grab her and nurse her but I'm nervous she will become dependent on eating all night. Thoughts?

hordol · July 2014

I've been having this problem for the past 2.5-3 weeks. I read that the 4 month sleep regression can last anywhere from 2-6 weeks (though my baby is only 14 weeks. But if this isn't the 4 month sleep regression and we have to do this again in a few weeks I will lose my mind.)

I nurse him back to sleep for 2 of the wake ups and stick his paci in for the others. It seems to be enough for him.

Dixon813 · July 2014

Yeah...

DS isn't 4 months yet (14 or 15Weeks tomorrow), but for the past week or so he's been waking up between 1-4 countless times. Not hungry. But he doesn't fall asleep on his own, so it's a process of re swaddling, pacifier in, a little rocking then praying he stays asleep when you put him down. That buys us another 30-60 minutes and we play this game until 4/5am when he IS hungry... Sigh. Thankfully, DH takes care of him until 3ish so I'm not the only one who's constantly up, but still!

littlesocks · July 2014

Yea, I've been nursing my LO but I'm also nervous it'll become a habit and she'll never change her sleep patterns.
She is 4 months (as of this past Wednesday) but this craziness with waking up through the night started about 4-5 weeks ago.
Like @hordol‌ said, I hope this is the 4 month sleep regression (even though it started closer to 3 months) and it's not going to get worse from here.

Laroo0220 · July 2014

Yeah my Lo is not 4 months until the 8th of aug so I'm glad to hear it started earlier for other babes too since I had the same thought. If I have to do this again I'm really going to lose it!! I will have to try harder to get her down with the paci. We decided to quit the swaddle since we need to soon anyways and she is sleeping like crap already but maybe that wasn't a good idea. Not sure

*sparky* · July 2014

Mine has not hit 4 months yet but started waking a lot because we had to drop the swaddle and she's been rolling onto her belly and can't get back over. I was feeding her every time she woke up but yesterday she finally for the first time in her life took a pacifier. So last night I just popped in the paci and she went back to sleep.

When she woke again at 5 am I tried the pacifier but she would not take it so I fed her.

This morning I have had to pump twice because my boobs got so used to nursing every 2 hours all night long.

WifeofaComposer · July 2014

The "4-month" sleep regression actually starts anytime between 3 and 5 months. If it's not under control within a couple of weeks it can turn into a very long process (possibly into toddlerhood). The answer to getting sleep at night, is nap nap nap during the day. LOs should only be awake for 1.5 - 2 hours at a time, with 2 naps in the morning and 2 naps in the afternoon - the latest one starting around 3:30, and then bedtime should start between 6:00 and 6:30. If they're not getting enough naps they get overtired which leads to refusal to sleep, and that makes crazy angry babies. We've started this napping process, and as much as it sucks to be slaves to the clock and make sure we're home for those times, it really does work. I had 3 nights in a row with no sleep - I had a collective of literally only 6 hours sleep in 3 days - I thought I was losing my mind, and now that we're following a specific schedule we don't have any troubles getting him to sleep at least 10 hours at night with 2 feeds. I just read as much as I could about sleep regression, and everything summed up points to frequent naps. I also have to nurse my LO to get him back to sleep, and he WILL NOT take pacifiers - we've been trying since he was born and he hates them. The bad thing about nursing him every time he wakes when he's restless is that he gets very windy and the gas pains keep waking him up. It's a vicious cycle.

SmallCityLiving · July 2014

We are also in week 3 of the sleep regression and I'm not sure if I'm going to make it through! Mine never woke fewer than two times but up every two hours is killing me. I'm trying to not nurse every time to get them back to sleep but it's hard when I'm exhausted and I know it will get them back to sleep fastest! Really hoping we come out of it soon since I go back to work in a week. Not sure how long I can survive on a couple 1.5 hour stretches of sleep.

cd92007 · July 2014

DS has also been having major sleep issues but he isn't 4 months yet... I'm with @hordol, I don't think I can do this again in a couple weeks. I had an ugly 2 am sob fest Friday night (err... Saturday morning). I usually just feed him once and then just try to rock and stuff other times. I have no advice, just that I'm right there with you!

Cecilbear · July 2014

WifeofaComposer said:
The "4-month" sleep regression actually starts anytime between 3 and 5 months. If it's not under control within a couple of weeks it can turn into a very long process (possibly into toddlerhood). The answer to getting sleep at night, is nap nap nap during the day. LOs should only be awake for 1.5 - 2 hours at a time, with 2 naps in the morning and 2 naps in the afternoon - the latest one starting around 3:30, and then bedtime should start between 6:00 and 6:30. If they're not getting enough naps they get overtired which leads to refusal to sleep, and that makes crazy angry babies. We've started this napping process, and as much as it sucks to be slaves to the clock and make sure we're home for those times, it really does work. I had 3 nights in a row with no sleep - I had a collective of literally only 6 hours sleep in 3 days - I thought I was losing my mind, and now that we're following a specific schedule we don't have any troubles getting him to sleep at least 10 hours at night with 2 feeds. I just read as much as I could about sleep regression, and everything summed up points to frequent naps. I also have to nurse my LO to get him back to sleep, and he WILL NOT take pacifiers - we've been trying since he was born and he hates them. The bad thing about nursing him every time he wakes when he's restless is that he gets very windy and the gas pains keep waking him up. It's a vicious cycle.

Awesome that you should post this! Yesterday SUCKED. LO went on a napping strike and was up from 7 am to 9 pm despite all my best tricks! Then, once 3 am hit, she was up every hour on the hour.

Pour the coffee please! Any recs on sleep books? I am so tired I cannot fully understand your post, but def want to read more

Laroo0220 · July 2014

WifeofaComposer said:

The "4-month" sleep regression actually starts anytime between 3 and 5 months. If it's not under control within a couple of weeks it can turn into a very long process (possibly into toddlerhood). The answer to getting sleep at night, is nap nap nap during the day. LOs should only be awake for 1.5 - 2 hours at a time, with 2 naps in the morning and 2 naps in the afternoon - the latest one starting around 3:30, and then bedtime should start between 6:00 and 6:30. If they're not getting enough naps they get overtired which leads to refusal to sleep, and that makes crazy angry babies. We've started this napping process, and as much as it sucks to be slaves to the clock and make sure we're home for those times, it really does work. I had 3 nights in a row with no sleep - I had a collective of literally only 6 hours sleep in 3 days - I thought I was losing my mind, and now that we're following a specific schedule we don't have any troubles getting him to sleep at least 10 hours at night with 2 feeds. I just read as much as I could about sleep regression, and everything summed up points to frequent naps. I also have to nurse my LO to get him back to sleep, and he WILL NOT take pacifiers - we've been trying since he was born and he hates them. The bad thing about nursing him every time he wakes when he's restless is that he gets very windy and the gas pains keep waking him up. It's a vicious cycle.

Ugh seriously?! Into toddlerhood. Omg I would lose my mind, my son was such a good sleeper and although I remember a slight regression we did some sleep training techniques (I know tsk tsk since he was only 5 months) and he slept great from then on. I guess my next issue is naps then, I still put her down about an hour after she eats and she only naps 45 min at the most. We repeat this after almost every feed but that is the longest she will sleep. I've tried putting her down right after a feed to try to get her to sleep longer and she just plays. Maybe I need to start reading some sleep books, suggestions?

Cecilbear · July 2014

Ps: if I put my LO to bed at 6 pm, she'd be up for the day at midnight. How are you swinging that, @WifeofaComposer‌?

Eta: Sorry, dumb question. "frequent naps." See? I told you I'm tired!

babybarnes87 · July 2014

Ughhh yes we have hit the sleep regression here, too. Slept through the night for a solid week and then we hit 14.5 weeks and BAM, up half the night. Glad I'm not alone. I also nurse him back to sleep. It's the easiest thing to do and I am just barely awake myself half the time. Hang in there, ladies! Remember...nothing is permanent. That's what I keep reminding myself.

pbandjmom · July 2014

I'm in the same boat! She's now up twice in the night, every 3-3.5 hours. I nurse back to sleep. Honestly, I tend to think that every baby is going to be a little different, and this is a phase. A lot of what I read is creating a horror story in my mind that if she doesn't nap xx number of times or doesn't go to sleep at 6:30 then we are doomed for life. I just don't believe it. We have a routine, follow her cues, and keep reminding ourselves that... She's just a baby. She's growing. Things come and go but I would venture to guess lots of is will get through this with kids who sleep just fine.

baileymama3 · July 2014

My babe still wakes up 3x a night to eat at 12 weeks.

WifeofaComposer · July 2014

Cecilbear said:

Ps: if I put my LO to bed at 6 pm, she'd be up for the day at midnight. How are you swinging that, @WifeofaComposer‌? Eta: Sorry, dumb question. "frequent naps." See? I told you I'm tired!

@Cecilbear - It seems so contradictory, but putting them to bed earlier actually makes them sleep longer. I thought it was horse shit, too, but I promise you it works.

WifeofaComposer · July 2014

This is a great guide:

https://www.weebeedreaming.com/my-blog/4-month-sleep-regression

ETA: Link didn't show the first time, so I typed it in.

Mmk724 · July 2014

DS is doing 4 naps a day, after about 1.5 to 2 hours of wake time though he usually doesn't go to sleep until 9 or 10 pm. If we try for earlier we are usually fighting to get him to sleep for 2 hours anyway. If down between 9 and 10 usually sleeps until 8 am or so but up 2x to eat throughout the night. The first wake up is typically after 6 hours. We've been trying the putting down drowsy at naps but doesn't work so well at night. Usually have to feed/rock. The 4 naps definitely help. Otherwise he is a grumpy mess. I a agree with getting them in a nap routine if you can.

Linnea503 · July 2014

It's not just the sleep regression here it's the fussiness and general demanding nature wearing me out. I guess this is "leap four." I haven't paid attention to the wonder weeks until now because he's been so easy until now. He is almost 20 weeks and the past seven days have been the toughest yet.

I thought he was just fussy from his shots last week but clearly there are some big developmental changes going on. If I'm not talking to him or interacting with him in some way he is full on fussing. Two hour naps are now 20 minutes. Exhausting!

Cecilbear · July 2014

WifeofaComposer said:

Cecilbear said:

Ps: if I put my LO to bed at 6 pm, she'd be up for the day at midnight. How are you swinging that, @WifeofaComposer‌?

Eta: Sorry, dumb question. "frequent naps." See? I told you I'm tired!

@Cecilbear - It seems so contradictory, but putting them to bed earlier actually makes them sleep longer. I thought it was horse shit, too, but I promise you it works.

Eek! I'm going to try it! Fingers crossed.

hlm184 · July 2014

I'm trying the early sleep thing tongiht too. FX!

Laroo0220 · July 2014

Thank you for that link @WifeofaComposer‌. That has some great ideas. I agree it is probably just a tough phase and won't make or break sleep habits forever but anything that makes this phase easier sounds great to me! We're trying the early bed thing tonight too! Nothing to lose so may as well try it.

Cecilbear · July 2014

Haha! It's 7:40 and my kid is still going strong with no signs of slowing down. So much for that 6pm bedtime!

hlm184 · July 2014

I got DS down by 6:45 and two hours later he hasn't stirred. FX!

@Cecilbear hopefully LO chills out for you!

macynsnoop · July 2014

My guy is 15 weeks now & has never slept longer than 5 hrs since birth, the norm for him is 3 hrs between feeds on the dot. Since dropping the swaddle it's now 2.5 hrs between feeds so I figure I'm getting 1.5 hr sleep stretches myself. It sucks but you get used to it, although I'm not back to work yet. If I have a sleep regression at 4 months I will lose it, how could he sleep any less?? And yes, he has scheduled naps, 9am, 2pm, 530 or 6pm with the odd car seat or cat nap in there. He goes down about 730-8pm for the night. I hate to do any earlier as DH would literally never see his kid during the week.

Megczapla · July 2014

I've been getting such crap from DH and his family about putting DS to bed between 6&7. They can shove it. I'm so glad you posted that link @WifeofaComposer‌ because now I've got something to back myself up! I'm
Obviously going to do what I think is best for DS regardless of what they say, but ha! Take that!! They are from the school of thought that later to bed equals later to rise. Not me, and neither is my boy

Laroo0220 · July 2014

I wish the early bedtime was going well for us but sadly I put LO down at 6:45 and an hour and a half later I've had to get her back to sleep 3 times. Ugh. What a bummer

Laroo0220 · July 2014

And make that 5 times. Omg I'm losing it!! I want a stiff drink so bad but of course LO will likely wake up at any second and want to be nursed.

WifeofaComposer · July 2014

The early bed time only works if they've had their 4 naps during the day.

kelbel2440 · July 2014

If LO is with me on the weekends he gets 4 naps a day, but during the week he is getting crappy naps at day care. He gets two naps most if the time between 8am and 5pm. Most of the time missing his afternoon nap that should be around 2-3. Main reason I think this is because MIL works at day care and takes him home when she goes home per DHs request. But she usually goes home around that nap time. He snoozes 5 min in the car and then rarely naps at her place. I hate it. But I don't know how to tell her that maybe some days it would just be better for him to stay at day care?

rtv3 · July 2014

@WifeofaComposer‌ - if my DD is only 12 weeks, 3mo on Aug 3, is it worth starting to try that sleep schedule now, or is she still too little? Right now she sleeps from 11 or 12 to 7am. We start bedtime routine between 10:00 and 10:30 depending on when her last feeding was. Just this past week though she's had a couple times where she fell asleep closer to 10, before I could even do bedtime routine, and still slept till 7. Her naps are pretty inconsistent; I haven't been good about keeping track of them. I'd love her to be on the schedule you posted, especially as I'll go back to work the day before she turns 4 mo. What do you think - worth starting now, or wait a few weeks?

LittleLady77 · July 2014

The book "Health Sleep Habits, Happy Twins" saved my life. It also comes in the single child version "Healthy Sleep Habits, a Happy Child". I implemented those tools and took my TWO terrible sleepers and made them great without any crazy sleep training. @WifeofaComposer‌ said it right! Early bed time and frequent naps made all the difference. The earlier bedtime thing was so hard! I almost gave up several times but after 2 weeks we moved it from 10 to 7. We also started setting them down tired but awake so they could learn to self soothe. That took a while too but now when they wake up they usually go back to sleep on their own. At least my daughter does, my son is still working on it. All that being said, we haven't hit the 4 month sleep regression yet. Hopefully I don't eat my words!

Laroo0220 · July 2014

Well getting her to sleep early was hard but after she was finally down for good she slept until 4! She hasn't slept past 1 lately bf her first wake up and was going to bed around 9 so I will take it! I think we will keep at it and keep working on putting her down sleepy but awake. @LittleLady77‌ that book was great when we had our son. I will have to pull that back out for this time around.

cd92007 · July 2014

@littlelady77 when you tried putting them down sleepy but awake, did they cry? And if so, did you do cry it out? I've tried so many times to put DS down sleepy but awake but he just cries and cries. I've also been strict about making sure he is sleeping every 1.5-2 hours during the day but it goes back to him not wanting to sleep!! He ends up just crying. Im not really sure how to "force" him to sleep so often when he just cries :-/

*sparky* · July 2014

WOAC's link has completely thrown me into a panic attack. DD takes 2-hour naps so there is no way I can squeeze in 4 of those a day, and it is impossible for me to get her to go to sleep in the evenings before 7:30-8:00. Due to me working, our evening schedules, and her refusal to go to sleep any earlier. I have not been fighting it because other than her rolling over and getting stuck at night she is still a pretty good sleeper and usually gets her 15 hours a day. Maybe I am screwing up by not overthinking this stuff? The first time around I did so much reading, stressing about sleep, etc. I made myself nuts so this time I am trying to go with the flow a bit more.

Cecilbear · July 2014

*sparky* said:
WOAC's link has completely thrown me into a panic attack. DD takes 2-hour naps so there is no way I can squeeze in 4 of those a day, and it is impossible for me to get her to go to sleep in the evenings before 7:30-8:00. Due to me working, our evening schedules, and her refusal to go to sleep any earlier. I have not been fighting it because other than her rolling over and getting stuck at night she is still a pretty good sleeper and usually gets her 15 hours a day. Maybe I am screwing up by not overthinking this stuff? The first time around I did so much reading, stressing about sleep, etc. I made myself nuts so this time I am trying to go with the flow a bit more.

After some major freak outs about this last night, I've decided to loosen up a bit and, like you, not overthink it. I'm going to try hard for a few naps a day, even if that means wearing or holding her and I'm going to be more disciplined about a bedtime routine. But other than that, I'm going to go easy on us and just see how things go. I'm hoping with more naps throughout the day, as WOAC suggested, LO will naturally sleep earlier.

WifeofaComposer · July 2014

rtv3 said:

@WifeofaComposer‌ - if my DD is only 12 weeks, 3mo on Aug 3, is it worth starting to try that sleep schedule now, or is she still too little? Right now she sleeps from 11 or 12 to 7am. We start bedtime routine between 10:00 and 10:30 depending on when her last feeding was. Just this past week though she's had a couple times where she fell asleep closer to 10, before I could even do bedtime routine, and still slept till 7. Her naps are pretty inconsistent; I haven't been good about keeping track of them. I'd love her to be on the schedule you posted, especially as I'll go back to work the day before she turns 4 mo. What do you think - worth starting now, or wait a few weeks?

@rtv3 - I guess it wouldn't hurt to try now. :-??

LittleLady77 · July 2014

cd92007 said:

@littlelady77 when you tried putting them down sleepy but awake, did they cry? And if so, did you do cry it out? I've tried so many times to put DS down sleepy but awake but he just cries and cries. I've also been strict about making sure he is sleeping every 1.5-2 hours during the day but it goes back to him not wanting to sleep!! He ends up just crying. Im not really sure how to "force" him to sleep so often when he just cries :-/

No, we never did CIO. At first I would put him down one the verge of sleep and once he was okay with that I started shutting him down a little more awake and so on. If he fussed I would pat him or read to him, now I hand him a toy. If he cries I pick him up and start again. It was so difficult at first. My daughter got it right away but my son is still difficult. And with all things sleep related, consistency is key!

LittleLady77 · July 2014

Also, my guys can go a little longer than 2 hours now. I basically watch for sleepy signs and put them down when I start to see them. I started recording when they would go down to see if a pattern would emerge and it did. They basically put themselves on a 9am, 1pm and 4pm nap schedule. I don't enforce it or anything but I encourage them to sleep at those times.

Holljade · July 2014

Went down at 10 up at 2:12 and is still up over an hour later. Wtf man this is so frustrating!!!

I tried putting him to sleep earlier but we went down around 6 and was up at 7 then went down again around 9 and was up at 10. He no longer sleeps more than 4 hours a time at night and the last week it's been 4 hours the first stretch then 2 hours after until he is up for the day. I am back at work and my brain is so fried from lack of sleep UGH!!

Laroo0220 · July 2014

Holljade said:
Went down at 10 up at 2:12 and is still up over an hour later. Wtf man this is so frustrating!!!

I tried putting him to sleep earlier but we went down around 6 and was up at 7 then went down again around 9 and was up at 10. He no longer sleeps more than 4 hours a time at night and the last week it's been 4 hours the first stretch then 2 hours after until he is up for the day. I am back at work and my brain is so fried from lack of sleep UGH!!

Boo!! No advice but I feel your pain! It is the worst timing with going back to work. I luckily have a couple wks still so I hope this is under control by then

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