To dread sleep regression?

[Howlovely]

Hi everyone, new member here. I have a 16 week old baby and she has always slept very well. She is now going 8-9 hours over night and I quickly got very used to having decent sleep again! I'm dreading the impending 4 month sleep regression and I just wondered if it is really awful? Do all babies experience it? Did anyone get away with not much disruption to their baby's usual sleep routine? I'd be very grateful for anybody's experiences, brilliant or horrendous! Thank you x

[Pizzaformytea]

Not all babies go through it, so I wouldn't spend your time dreading something that might not even appear. Mine did go through it, it wasn't great, but then he didn't sleep brilliantly anyway - I just went with it, slept when I could, went to bed early when he did, ate too much chocolate... And it passed - like everything and is now just a vague memory from that time. He's now 4 and is an amazing sleeper.

[Thisonewilldo]

With my first it was horrific. Second didn't have it at all although she was awful as a newborn and eldest not so much so it evened out.

There isn't any point stressing you don't know what will happen.

[OutPinked]

Never personally experienced it and have four DC. Clearly doesn’t happen to all babies.

[MRex]

Mine was fine at 4 months. The 8 month sleep regression that started at 7 months was crappy though.

[Returnofthesmileybar]

Wonder weeks has a lot to answer for, complete horse shit

[Wallsbangers]

4 months was ok and short. The 8 month one was horrific and long.

[LivLemler]

For my DD, it was a horrific 5 weeks and now she sleeps well. For a friend, they're still up every two hours at 8 months. For another, it never happened.

Denial until you're in the midst of it I say!

[Lazypuppy]

Not all babies gp through the regression, my dd never did and has slept brilliantly since 8 weeks old

[blackteasplease]

They don't all do it!

[OneChildOneNewBaby]

Not all babies do it. Chill and enjoy.

[jaseyraex]

I don't think all babies go through it so I wouldn't spend time worrying about something that might not happen! My 5 month old seems to have skipped it and is actually now sleeping 10 or 12 hours at night.

[Howlovely]

Thank you very much for your replies. I like your style Liv, think that's what I'll do! Thanks everyone.

[newmun]

I was told it isnt a problem if the baby can self soothe. Mine is 6 months and it never affected us bar 2 nights she woke at 3 for a cry but settled back to sleep.

[KimchiLaLa]

Mine didn't really have a regression at 4 months as she was better at settling herself. Her 8 months was AWFUL. So you don't really get all of them.

[bluetit101]

None of mine went through the sleep regression.
My middle DD slept through the night from 6 weeks old and has been an amazing sleeper ever since.

Mine did start to stir a bit more in the night once they got to the weaning stage, but as soon as they were on a bit of food they were fine.

Don't worry about something that may not happen

[Nothisispatrick]

It’s not fun but we’re attempting to use it as an opportunity to teach her to self soothe so she’ll sleep well after. Trying to change her ‘sleep associations’.

[peachgreen]

The only thing you can do to try and mitigate it is to try to teach her to self-settle before then. DD was self-settling for nights but not naps and at the 4 month mark her night time sleep wasn't impacted at all (in fact it got better) but her naps went to shit and continued to be shit until she was almost a year! But I'd much rather that way round.

[OnceInARedMoon]

@Returnofthesmileybar
YES! Thank-you! 100%

[DrFoxtrot]

I don't think there was such a thing as sleep regression when I had my kids so I think there is a reasonable chance you'll be fine.

[ASqueakingInTheShrubbery]

Mine didn't do it. At 4 months her sleep was steadily improving.

[Deadringer]

Never heard of it, and I have 5 DC.

[Darkstar4855]

OP, thanks for this thread! My first is only 7 weeks but I have read so much about sleep that I am already worrying about the 4 month regression which I know is completely irrational! I feel much better for knowing it might not even happen.

[Littleloaf]

My DD slept through (7pm-7am) from 6 weeks, and didn't experience a 4-month regression. She had a bit of a wobble at 8 months but soon started sleeping all night again.
Now at 2.5 years, having just moved house and me very pregnant with DC2, it has all turned to absolute shit. She won't sleep unless I'm sat next to her, never sleeps before 10pm and last night I didn't manage to crawl into bed until 4am. So I think you never really know how or when your child's sleep will be affected!

[cardibach]

I’m glad I had my baby 23 years ago. We knew nothing of sleep regression so didn’t dread anything. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

[Howlovely]

Oh crumbs Littleloaf, that sounds dreadful! Poor you, I don't know how you're still functioning?! I hope this is just temporary x