The Ultimate 4-Month-Old Baby Sleep Schedule: A Foolproof Guide
As a baby grows, you can see the changed behavior of the growing babies. When your newborn turns 4 months old, you can see the kid being more active and social. Additionally, the kid will also be more curious in exploring his surroundings.
Most parents are worried about the slightest change in the patterns of the baby. One such change a parent will notice is sleeping patterns. But should altered sleep patterns be your worry? A shift in sleeping patterns is a result of the development your child is undergoing.
If you start noticing a change in sleep patterns, it is a good sign that your baby is growing. The first sleep regression happening to the baby is when the baby is about 4 months old and has trouble sleeping.
It is, no doubt, stressful for children but equally hard for the parents. Let us understand the alterations in sleep for 4-month-olds and master the management of the 4-month-old sleep schedule!
Changes in Sleep Patterns
For a newborn baby, a sleep schedule is not the biggest of the concerns. A growing child will have an alteration in sleep patterns at different times. If your 4-month-old baby suddenly fails to sleep well during the night, as a parent, worrying is natural. But it is natural to observe a few changes in the sleeping patterns as your baby grows. As your child grows, fewer nappings and night wakings are natural for a growing baby, especially at the age of four months. At this stage, you can start by laying the foundations of the sleep schedule for your baby.
The sleep patterns of babies alter throughout their developing and growing stages. Sleep regression is when your baby starts having multiple wake-ups, crying at uncommon times, and increased fussing. Irritability upon waking and reduced time of overall sleep can be other signs to detect changes in sleeping patterns.
Sleep Regression in 4-Month-Olds
- When your baby turns four months, you begin to notice a change in the sleep patterns. A newborn generally sleeps for 16 to 18 hours per day. The newborn’s sleep will come throughout the day in segments of one to three hours. A gradual change in sleeping is observed when the baby is 4 months old. The< sleep schedule of a 4-month-old will have an elongated sleep time during the night.
- As the babies grow, the additional cycles of light and deep sleep cause a change in patterns for the babies. The biological changes make a change in the sleeping patterns of the baby! Because of sleep regression, the baby will wake up more frequently and struggle to take naps in the daytime. The duration of sleep regression is challenging for both the child and the parent.
- Let us understand the cause of sleep regression in 4-month-olds. When babies reach this age, they start producing melatonin, which controls the circadian cycle (i.e., sleep-wake cycle). The development of the internal body clock causes the sleeping patterns to mature as well, similar to that of an adult. In the development of the baby and the sleep cycles, the baby starts waking up for brief time periods. The wakefulness makes it difficult for the baby to sleep again.
- A change in environment is another reason that causes sleep regression. Some of the other reasons can be separation anxiety, increased awareness of the environment, uneven sleep transition, and disturbances. There is a variation in the 4-month-old sleep schedule caused by sleep regression. Some babies do not experience disturbed sleep schedules, while sleep regression can be early in some kids.
- A 4-month-old sleep schedule will be affected by sleep repression for about 2 to 6 weeks. The longer your baby takes to adapt and learn a healthy 4-month-old sleep schedule, the longer sleep regression will last.
How Much Should Your Baby Sleep?
A 4-month-old requires 12 to 17 hours of sleep daily that includes both; nighttime sleep and day naps. The change in the wake window of your kid will also affect the sleeping schedule. The sleeping schedules of babies are predictable when they are 4 months old. So depending on what the sleeping patterns of your baby are, you can develop a sleeping schedule. Depending on if your baby takes three or four naps, you can derive a sleep schedule for your baby.
The first waking time for your baby must be a stretch of 90 minutes before the baby takes its first nap. The rest of the naps for the day can stretch up to 2 hours depending on how many naps is your little one having. Incorporate a bedtime routine before your baby for a nighttime sleep. This 4-month-old sleep schedule includes feeding at regular intervals every 3 to 3.5 hours. Depending on the hunger cues of your baby, feeding demands may vary with every child.
Managing a 4-month-old Sleep Schedule
- The troubled sleep of a baby can be challenging, but the relief here is that it is temporary. In this stage, the baby is learning and exploring new things from his surroundings. This makes the kids more engaged and aware. Before you conclude sleep regression as the cause of a disrupted 4-month-old Sleep Schedule, make sure no underlying illness is causing it.
- To manage a 4-month-old sleep schedule, the best approach is to establish a bedtime routine. Closely analyze and start regulating the sleeping patterns of your baby. A bedtime routine can include bathing, changing clothes, singing a lullaby, or simply reading a book (story) to your kid. Follow the same order every day to make it a habit for your kid.
- When a baby turns 4 months old, he is too big for a bassinet. Usually, at this age, kids move to a crib from their bassinet in their own room. A baby can sleep peacefully without any interruptions, facilitating a night of good sleep.
- Everything is new for a kid. Curiosity to learn and explore new things can keep them from following a healthy sleep schedule. Practicing new skills gained during bedtime can also discourage the baby from forming healthy sleeping habits. To overcome this challenge, make sure you give the baby ample time in the daytime.
- Ensure that the lighting conditions of the room where your baby sleeps are appropriate. Light can affect the sleep-wake cycles in both adults and babies. During the nighttime, make sure the space where the baby sleeps is dark. This facilitates good sleep for the baby. Along with that, it also makes it easier for the baby to go back to sleep if he wakes up at night time or too early. Similarly, ensure that the room has adequate natural light in the morning time.
- Feeding can be another important aspect that can interrupt learning healthy sleeping habits for your kid. If the baby is not fully fed, chances are that he might feel hungry at night, disturbing his sleep. Keep minimal distractions while feeding the baby. This is because the baby is learning and curious about everything happening in his surroundings. As a result, the baby may be distracted and shift their attention from feeding even if they are not full.
4-month-old Sleep Schedule: Additional Tips for Parents
Sleep is essential for the development and overall health of your baby. To make managing a 4-month-old Sleep Schedule for your baby, here are our top tips!
1. A Consistent Bedtime Routine
Bedtime routines for your baby can include activities like feeding, changing the diapers or clothes, bathing, and reading/singing to your kid. A consistent bedtime routine helps in regulating the sleeping pattern of your baby. Additionally, consistency in the routine will help the baby to get used to the routine and provide a sense of prediction and security altogether.
2. Encourage Self Soothing
If your baby learns to sleep without the need for external help, including petting or feeding, it will help the baby to tackle sleep regression. If your baby learns this, he can go back to sleep on his own if he wakes up at nighttime. Once the baby learns to put himself back to sleep, this will help him to sleep for longer periods during the night.
3. Encourage the Baby to Sleep in Their Sleep Space
To ensure that the baby does not wake up frequently during the nighttime, offer them the same conditions they’ll be in for the whole night. If you use a crib for the baby during his sleeping hours, ensure that the baby adjusts to the sleeping space.
4. Respond to Nighttime Awakenings Appropriately
The alterations in sleep patterns will frequently awaken the baby in the nighttime. This is something you, as a parent, should not worry about. As soon as you hear the baby waking, you will want to attend to his needs. But a 4-year-old may not need your immediate help, and it should be avoided. Wait and see if the baby falls asleep on his own. This encourages them to fall asleep independently after a nighttime awakening. If the baby still struggles to fall asleep, you can help him to go back to his sleep.
5. Sleep Training Your Kid
Involving sleep training in a 4-month-old sleep schedule can be beneficial in teaching your baby to sleep independently. Many parents worry that sleep training methods may affect a kid’s health or form attachment issues in the future. But experts suggest that sleep training methods have no risk of behavioral or emotional troubles. In fact, sleep training is beneficial for the development of babies. Some of the popular sleep training methods are CIO (Cry It Out), Ferber method, BedTime Fading method, and Pick up Pick Down method. Among different sleep training methods, you can choose training methods that work for you and your baby.
6. Monitor Sleep Cues & Wake Periods
An overtired baby will have trouble sleeping. Giving rest to your baby at an appropriate time and monitored wake periods can help them sleep better and longer. Closely look out for sleeping cues provided by the baby. Yawning, rubbing their eyes, crankiness, and disinterest are all signs of a sleepy baby. If your baby looks sleepy, put your baby to sleep to have a good night’s sleep.
As a parent, you will do everything to ensure your baby sleeps well. No matter how hard you try, don’t expect the sleep patterns of your baby to be flawless. Your child is still growing and taking his time to be consistent with his sleep patterns. Provide a space for your baby to practice perfecting the sleep schedule. For a baby born prematurely, sleep development may take a bit longer, and it is perfectly normal.
Conclusion
Once you have adjusted to the newborn stage of your baby, you start to see the sleep patterns changing your baby. As your baby comes closer to completing 4 months, you start observing that the baby frequently wakes up in the nighttime.
It is natural to see these changes because when babies turn 4 months old, they tend to change their sleeping patterns. Not only is there a change in sleep patterns, but the patterns also become predictable.
To ensure your baby sleeps well, form a sleep routine and be consistent with it. Encourage the baby to sleep independently and ensure the sleeping area of the baby has an environment that promotes good sleep.
Every baby is unique. Something that might work for one baby might not work for the other. With research, guidance, patience, and love, you can create a sleeping pattern that is perfect for your baby.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I Start Sleep Training My 4-Month-Old?
Sleep training can be started anywhere between the age of 4 to 6 months. At the age of 4 months, babies develop a sleep pattern and can sleep independently. Hence, it is an ideal age to start sleep training your baby. However, it is a matter of personal choice. You can sleep train your kid when you and your baby are both ready.
Is It Okay if My 4-Month-Old Sleeps Throughout the Night?
When babies turn 4 months old, development of sleep schedules. As a result, they start sleeping for longer stretches during the nighttime. Additionally, they will take a few naps in the daytime for a few hours. It is important to note that nap lengths can vary for each baby.
How to Know if My Baby is Having Sleep Regression?
To be sure if your baby is having sleep regression, look out for changes in the sleeping habits of your baby. Frequent nighttime awakenings, alteration in sleep patterns, difficulty sleeping, and changes in nap duration & frequency can indicate sleep regression. Sleep regression is a natural part of an infant’s development.
