4 Month Sleep Regression, or Progression?
Updated: Mar 28, 2023
The dreaded 4 month sleep regression can become apparent any time between 3-6 months. It is when a baby begins to develop a more adult-like sleep pattern where they cycle between deep and light sleep during the day and night. They start experiencing sleep cycles of 40-50 minutes in the day and 2-4 hours overnight. This means they will fully wake at the end of each sleep cycle and need to go back to sleep. Take a look at how a day time and a night time sleep cycle work in the diagram below:
Some classic signs you have hit the 4 month sleep regression
short naps
frequent waking overnight
general fussiness
overtiredness
It can often coincide with teething and introducing solids, so it can be really hard for a parent to determine the cause of waking.
Regression or Progression?
It’s really not a regression as it is a step forward in their development. These new sleep cycles are here to stay, so it is a great time to teach your baby to self-settle so they can move through their cycles independently. It is important we take a holistic approach to our babies sleep and work on consolidating naps in the day in an effort to move towards longer stretches of sleep overnight. We also must consider when milk feeds and solids are being offered to ensure the baby is not hungry during sleep periods. It is also important to ensure the sleep environment in conducive to healthy sleep. It can certainly be a tough time for parents, but it is a sign your babies brain development is on track.
What Can We Do?
Establishing healthy sleep habits from the beginning will lessen the effects of this regression. This includes creating a dark sleep environment, introducing white noise, monitoring awake windows or following an age-appropriate routine, having a consistent bedtime ritual, and trying to get at least one daytime nap in the cot.
Once you've put these strategies into place, it's a good time to start teaching your baby to self-settle and re-settle. Encourage them to fall asleep independently in their cot by providing plenty of opportunities to do so.
It's important to note that the 4-month sleep regression is a permanent change in your baby's sleep pattern. Therefore, dealing with it is vital to ensure that your baby gets the rest they need.
What's Wrong With Short Naps & Frequent Overnight Waking?
It leads to overtired babies and exhausted parents!
After six months, short naps - also known as "catnaps" - aren't long enough to provide the restorative sleep necessary for healthy growth and development. Frequent overnight waking means that the whole family is tired from a lack of consolidated sleep. Additionally, frequent overnight waking can lead to reverse cycling, where a baby takes in more calories overnight than during the day. It can be difficult for parents to pinpoint the cause of the waking and they often assume it's due to hunger when, in fact, the baby needs to learn how to fall back asleep on their own.
Did you know:
4-6 month old babies are my favourite age to work with! They respond incredibly well to sleep training and can usually master self-settling in just 1-3 days!
If you're struggling with getting your baby to self-settle and would like to chat about how I can help, book in for a free 10-minute consultation. Together, we can discuss strategies to help your baby establish healthy sleep habits and get the rest they need to thrive.
Alana x
Baby Sleep Consultant NZ. Making Baby and Toddler Sleep Easy.
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