How to navigate 4 month old sleeping through the night

[elm26]

Hi everyone

First time Mum, posting for traffic.

My DD is 4 months and will have a bottle around 8pm then go down in her cot.

I used to get her out about midnight when she would stir, change nappy and give another bottle but recently she hasn't been waking for the bottle.

I'm worried about leaving her in a nappy from 8pm to whatever time she wakes up in the morning in case she gets nappy rash, will she wake if she is uncomfortable/wet? Also worried about dropping the midnight bottle as seems a long time to go from 8pm until morning without it.

Any advice?

It’s fine and if she was hungry she’d wake up. Both of mine did 10-12 hours overnight at that age. Nappies are also designed to go 12 hours overnight. If she’s not having a bottle there’s no need to change. We used Pampers overnight and no issue with leaks or rashes. You could always do a thin layer of barrier cream before bed though if your LO is prone to rashes. Never do anything that disrupts their sleep!!

First of all I'm jealous of your good sleeper!

Secondly, re the nappies - I don't change my DD overnight unless she has a poo (which she doesn't anymore overnight) and haven't done since she was about 4/5 months. Nappies are very absorbant. Just keep an eye out for nappy rash, apply a nappy cream and if she seems irritated then yes change her nappy more often. She'll most likely wake if wet or uncomfortable.

Thirdly, if she's having enough milk in the day and has plenty of wet and dirty nappies and is gaining weight, then she'll be OK not to have the night time bottle.

Sleep often fluctuates so you might find she'll start waking again at some point.

Honestly, just enjoy it! You're living the dream.

(Said from the mum who is trying to work today after having 4 hours of broken sleep AGAIN with my 4 year old).

It's fine, enjoy it while it lasts, my dd went through a week of sleeping through at 4 months and then never did again for about a year.

Don't worry about changing the nappy in the night unless there's been a poo. If the nappy is getting so full that it leaks, you might be able to change it in her sleep if you're very stealthy (my DH got really good at this) but I wouldn't bother unless leaking becomes a problem.

Thank you! Pampers always leak with DD, not sure what it is about them and they make her sore, the only ones we have tried and worked for leaking and no nappy rash are the Asda range. I've recently sized up so it's a bit bigger around her bum now so hoping that will stop any leaking but I guess it's not a massive problem as she has a mattress protector on and I have a spare one and lots of sheets so can always change if needed.

Thank you! She has a bath, clean nappy and lots of sudocrem then a bottle and bed so hoping the sudocrem will protect from any irritation.

Oh no, fingers crossed you get a full night sleep soon. Up until last week she was waking every 2 hours, think it's her teeth as really rosy cheeks and chewing on her hand at every opportunity.

I will leave her then and see how we get on. She doesn't ever poo in the night so that's handy!

Forgot to say that she is following her curve with weight gain and has plenty of wet nappies during the day, has 6oz every 4 hours and usually one poo mid morning.

4 years and counting (unless I'm occasionally away) 😂

Saying that my eldest slept ridiculously well (though not quite as well as yours) at a couple of months old. We enjoyed it, it was fab. It didn't last.

Enjoy it, and worry not, the 4 month sleep regression will probably rear it's ugly head soon and you'll be looking back at this time and longing. If Asda nappies are working, great, if not give Aldi a try, they were great for both of mine. Hope you continue to get lots of lovely sleep! It is life giving!!