Sleep regression - bad time to make changes?

[munchymoo]

DS is going through what I think is the 4 month sleep regression with regular (sometimes hourly!) wake ups and being hard to settle. DH can sometimes settle by rocking but often DS only wants the boob.

He's 6 months, but 4.5 months corrected as was prem . I've always fed to sleep but wondering whether it's time to start trying to help him self soothe. Am opposed to any cry it out methods.

For those who have been through the 4 month regression - is this the time to start helping them learn good sleeping habits, or is it the worst time ie is it just best to batten down the hatches and get though it then start to make changes once he's more settled?

I don't know whether regression is just a phase that we need to ride out, or whether it's happening because he doesn't know how else
to get back to sleep....

DS sleeps better when we bedshare but I struggle as I'm a light sleeper. However the alternative may be being up and down all night with a baby that doesn't want to be settled

• this may break me! Any tips??

[Coconut0il]

Personally I would go with whatever gets you the most sleep. I am co sleeping with DS2 and I still feed him back to sleep if he wakes of a night. He's 10 months now and night wakings are definitely getting better. Self soothing and sleeping through will come eventually, I'm not worried, I did the same with DS1 and he's never had any sleep issues.

[orangebird69]

Far too young to self soothe imo, and it's still quite possible that he's hungry when he wakes in the night. Sleep regressions are hellish. Batten down the hatches and do what gets you through the night. I still co sleep with and feed to sleep my 9mo ds. It's not forever and you're not promoting any bad habits by giving your dc comfort when thru want it.

[munchymoo]

Do you find that you can sleep well with your DCs in the bed? The slightest shuffle or noise and I'm wide awake - I want to bedshare so much but I don't know how much longer I can do it with this little sleep. Unless anyone has any magic tips for sleeping better with DC right next to you!

[Coconut0il]

I can sleep, probably not as deeply as normal but it's ok. With DS1 we pushed his cot right up to the bed and took one side off so we were almost co sleeping but not quite. Could you try something like that see if it's any better?