How to implement sleep schedule 4 a 4 mnth old who doesn't like to sleep

[rubyroot]

Pretty much that... yesterday I decided to nap him and it took me two hours to get him to sleep for an hour! By the time he napped it was 6 o clock, meant to be 4! I wasn't giving up, despite his protestations.

Today he napped okay- took about 30 mins of lieing on the bed staring and then waking and when finally off slept from 11.45- 1.30.

However, he won't nap to order as you can see, i know people say you need to catch them at the right window- but he's fighting. And really I try everything, but seems like he just does what he wants- some days he sleeps a lot, others not at all and there's no rhyme or reason.

He does go to sleep at night- not always for as long as I'd like I usually get 4 hours at least until he wakes for a feed. He did 6 1/2 hours the other night, but that was a one off unfortunately.

I'm finding it harder to get him to sleep again after his wake up- was easier three weeks ago. So much so that I have had him on the bed to save my sanity, rather than listen to him thumping his legs on cot.

But his bedtime is late as he eats quite a bit in the evening and he goes up at 10.30pm. I can't really get him to go earlier. If I do I will be up and down feeding etc. Not sure how/if to try and get him earlier at the moment or not?

Any advice, am I expecting too much, am I being to lax? Should I try to implement a sleep schedule or should I go with baby?

Looking for seasoned mommas advice- this sleep deprivation is killing me and I'm hoping for a baby that sleeps well at some point as I'll be returning to work soon.

4 month sleep regression

Go with baby, avoid the stress

Baby sleep changes a lot. SOmetimes for the better and sometimes for the worse.

There are futher sleep regressions. And teething. And illness. ANd if you're really lucky, all bloody three at once....

Thanks @arbrighton- guess it rights itself in the end then!

As a ftm I just don't want to do anything that makes baby's sleep worse.

I hope so- still waiting for it at 10 mo though

And you won't make it better or worse tbh, it'll change anyway.

I've found Sarah Ockwell-Smith 'The Gentle Sleep Book' to be quite helpful as to what is 'normal' etc but I am totally anti-sleep training and if i'm honest, sleep easier with DS beside me rather than half an ear open for the monitor.

All totally normal. Follow his cues, sleep (or at least rest) when he does. Let the housework etc wait for another time.

It does get easier but baby/toddler sleep doesn't improve linearly, ime.

My son is 4 and half months now. He doesn’t have set nap times. He sleeps when he sleeps I just go with it. Thankfully he sleeps good at night. Just go with baby.

My DS is 6 months and naps differently almost every day. Today we had 4 x half hour naps that were a struggle to get him to sleep for. I think it's all developmental? One week he went to sleep so well after a bath, story, bottle it was like a dream. That's gone to pot too. 😁

I would also say go with the baby. Is he unsettled if he doesn't nap? Does he fall asleep easily in the pram/car?
I let my baby just sleep when he wants and then start the bedtime routine at around 8pm but this is when he is ready for bedtime.

Let his body regulate its own sleep pattern.

You can put cues in place to keep things calm and/or consistent for him but ultimately a baby who doesn't want/need to sleep then they won't.

My first would nap in a travel cot downstairs in the sitting room as he settled better with noise and seeing me there. My second never napped anywhere other than my arms, in the sling or a moving pram.

Neither slept through the night until they turned 3.

#1 would go to bed at 7pm quite happily but woke at 3am every bloody morning thinking it was time to get up! He's 12 now and finally sleeps past 6am :o

#2 woke every hour until she was 1 then started getting night terrors at 2 which resulted in 2-3 hour screaming tantrums in her sleep... Thankfully she's outgrown that and sleeps 7.30-6.30 now she's 5.