Positivity or advice to get me through the four month regression please!

[IMissTheLittleBluePackets]

Four month regression!!!

It's hell on earth. Basically, my baby had managed to get down to one wake-up per night and I was so hopeful that she would sleep through soon. But NO, the four month regression has hit and she's waking up on average, three times per night now 😬

How long does this last? What can I do to help her find her way back to longer lengths of sleep, or am I just screwed now?

HELP ME MUMSNET 🫠

So first, anecdotally the babies I know who slept well early on got through the 4 month regression fine - it didn't last long and they went back to being good sleepers. Hopefully this will be your experience.

Second, and I mean this with kindness: you've had a very easy time of it with your baby's sleep, and 3 wakes per night with a baby that age is still many people's dream. I think it might be helpful to focus on that, as for me unrealistic expectations does more harm than disturbed sleep. Your baby's sleep is on the good end of normal. There's no need to do anything to "help her", and you're not "screwed". It'll improve in time, and you'll be ok.

Broken sleep is so hard, I do understand, but this is really so so good for a baby that age. My own babies didn't reliably sleep through until they were 3 or so, and at 4 months 6-7 wakes per night was normal.

Thank you @ThatEagerScroller that's good context for me. None of my friends have babies so I've no comparison but I keep hearing about babies who sleep through the night almost immediately. Makes me worry that I'm failing or behind somehow.

Thanks for giving me a different way to frame my experience, makes me feel less panicked and like I have to sort it out!

3 wakes a night is great, you have been very fortunate so far. it is completely normal (and protective) for babies to wake in the night. I'd really recommend Helen Ball's book about baby sleep, for some reality about baby sleep norms. Mine has taken til 18 months to sleep through, you can't do anything about it so just go to bed early and take naps if you're still on maternity leave!

Oh gosh, not at all a situation you need to "sort out". And ignore the blogs from mums whose babies sleep through at 3 days old. Very much a unicorn situation. Your baby is doing great, and I hope you can just enjoy her without worrying about things like that.