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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To dread sleep regression?

58 replies

Howlovely · 18/01/2019 14:06

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

OP posts:
Pizzaformytea · 18/01/2019 14:13

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 · 18/01/2019 14:14

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 · 18/01/2019 14:17

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

MRex · 18/01/2019 14:17

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

Returnofthesmileybar · 18/01/2019 14:18

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

Wallsbangers · 18/01/2019 14:21

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

LivLemler · 18/01/2019 14:28

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 · 18/01/2019 14:30

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

blackteasplease · 18/01/2019 14:31

They don't all do it!

OneChildOneNewBaby · 18/01/2019 14:32

Not all babies do it. Chill and enjoy.

jaseyraex · 18/01/2019 14:33

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.

Original poster
Howlovely · 18/01/2019 14:35

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

OP posts:
newmun · 18/01/2019 14:37

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 · 18/01/2019 14:49

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 · 18/01/2019 16:30

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 · 18/01/2019 16:39

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 · 18/01/2019 18:02

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 · 18/01/2019 19:40

@Returnofthesmileybar
YES! Thank-you! 100%

DrFoxtrot · 18/01/2019 20:24

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 · 18/01/2019 20:28

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

Deadringer · 18/01/2019 20:31

Never heard of it, and I have 5 DC.

Darkstar4855 · 18/01/2019 20:36

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 · 18/01/2019 20:42

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 · 18/01/2019 20:44

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.

Original poster
Howlovely · 18/01/2019 21:32

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

OP posts: