How to Conquer the 4-Month Sleep Regression
I’m sure you’ve heard of it. Does it give you a twinge in your belly when you think about it? Are you deep in the throes of it right now?
The 4-month sleep regression.
Why does it happen? How long does it last? And what in the world do you do if it just won’t end?
I’ve got you, girl. Keep reading.
First Things First: Why Does It Happen?
The 4-month sleep regression is sometimes referred to as a “pro”gression. Why? Because it happens as a result of a major developmental leap in your child’s mental acuity and sleep structure.
Somewhere around the 3-4 month mark, or 3-4 months post-due date for babies born prematurely, babies go through this awesome developmental leap.
Two major factors impact their sleep:
1) Awareness - Your baby becomes much more aware of their surroundings. This includes their awareness of where they are and what they’re doing when they fall asleep.
Because of this new awareness, they are aware that they are being nursed, or held, or rocked, etc. to sleep. So when they wake after a sleep cycle (which is typically about 30-45 minutes for babies,) they realize that they are no longer being nursed, or held, or rocked, etc. And they think (subconsciously) that they need to be doing these things to fall asleep.
Now, you and I both know that they don’t technically need these things to fall asleep. But it’s what they associate with falling asleep.
2) Sleep Stages - Your baby also gains 2 new sleep stages around this same time. And both new stages are light sleep stages.
Previously, your baby had 2 stages of sleep: REM and deep sleep.
Now that your baby has 2 light sleep stages as well, they will be easier to wake. Yaayy . . .
So these 2 reasons are key players in why babies experience this 4-month regression; (which can happen as early as 3-months.)
How Long Does It Last?
Typically, this “pro”gression lasts about 1-2 weeks.
Beyond that, if your child is still struggling to sleep, chances are that there is 1 of 2 things happening:
1) There is a medical reason for poor sleep. (This I cannot help with - you will need to see a medical doctor to help solve any medical causes of sleep disturbance.)
- Or -
2) There is a behavioral or habitual reason for poor sleep. (This I can help with! Click the button below to get help now!)
What to Do During the Regression
So what do I do when we’re in full-on 4-month “pro”gression mode?
3 things:
1) Stay calm. It won’t always be this way. Remember: 1-2 weeks is all it should last.
2) Buckle in. This is the one “regression” that you really just have to ride out.
3) Be consistent. Comfort and soothe as you need to. Be consistent in how you respond to your baby. If they weren’t co-sleeping before, I don’t recommend starting now. If they weren’t being fed-to-sleep before, I don’t recommend starting now. Soothe! But try not to start up any new sleep associations if at all possible.
What If the Regression Doesn’t End
Okay, sister. Two weeks have come and gone, and this sleep regression just won’t seem to end.
I’ve got good news! It’s probably not the sleep regression anymore.
This is good news, because that means there’s something you can do about it.
Either:
1) There’s a medical reason your sweet babe isn’t sleeping well. If you suspect this, you should contact your baby’s pediatrician immediately so you can help them get relief and rest ASAP.
2) There’s a behavioral or habitual reason your sweet babe isn’t sleeping well.
If it’s simply a behavioral or habitual reason - that’s great news!! Because that means that we can solve that problem together!!
Most otherwise healthy babies that are 3-4 months old and have successfully navigated through this “pro”gression are ready to sleep train. At this age, this probably still includes a couple of spaced night feeding. But it also means more consolidated sleep than they’ve previously been getting.
What is Sleep Training?
Sleep Training gets a bad rap. Anti-sleep trainers like to argue that it’s “forcing your child to stop seeking help” or “forcing your child to do something they’re not developmentally ready for.”
Unfortunately, this rhetoric is extremely damaging to parents who are interested in learning more about or trying sleep training - which can, in fact, be extremely helpful, healing, and healthy for babies, parents, marriages, and families as a whole.
In actuality, sleep training is like helping your baby learn to roll.
You optimize their environment, set them up for success, allow them to practice their new skill, and intervene as necessary while still giving them that fair opportunity to practice.
Sleep training helps your baby to consolidate their sleep. They will still have brief awakenings - which are good and important and healthy! And, instead of forcing themselves fully awake to seek you out because they think they have to, they will simply slide into the next sleep cycle. This is sleep consolidation. This is restful sleep.
Now some parents don’t want to sleep train - and that’s fine! That is their prerogative. As a parent, you get to choose what you think is best for your child. And that includes whether or not you choose to sleep train.
Think you might be interested in sleep training? Click on the button below to schedule your FREE 15-Minute Sleep Evaluation call now to learn more!