Four month sleep regression - baby hasn't had it

[newmum234]

My DS is almost 5 months old and I haven't noticed any signs of the 4 month sleep regression that everybody talks about. He naps 3 times a day and sleeps from 7pm-7am roughly, with one wake-up for feeding during the night.

Does every baby go through the 4 month regression or could I have got lucky?

I honestly don't believe in sleep regressions. I stressed about this way in advance and it didn't happen. Sleep changes all the time as they're growing. My little girl is 1 and apart from the odd dodgy night of sleep, she's been consistent

Congrats! Don't ask for it, you'll hate it.

Babies have a wide range of developmental paths which are in no way negative. Enjoy it while you can.

Christ I wish mine had skipped it! Went from sleeping really well to quite frankly being a terrible sleeper. She is 6 months old this week and still hasn't slept through the night. Normally we have 2 if not 3/4 wake ups a night.

Lol yes you're lucky.

Lucky! I'm so jealous.

Count yourself blessed. Mine is still going through the 4 month sleep regression which hit us hard... he’s now 19 months old 🤪

It's not really a thing. Babies sleep habits change all the time in the first few years and people just like labels for stuff when the reality is that everything is a phase really!

Mine slept from 9pm to 7am with usually one wake up the first 14 weeks. He’s now 19 weeks and the last month has been dreadful at sleeping. Now sleeps 9pm for 2-3hrs, then waking every 1-2 hours until morning. I’m hoping it stops soon

Mine didn't really have a regression but I did notice her sleep mature around that age, more so with day sleep. Naps began to lengthen and consolidate. There was a few weeks of 45 minute cat naps before that.

She had a couple of illnesses around 4 months which disturbed her sleep so maybe I just didn't notice. Anyway, she started sleeping through from 5 months and has done ever since, barring the odd night of illness. I realise I got lucky and that it might change at any time!

We didn't have it either, we skipped all of them until 18 months. Previously thought we'd hit the jackpot but she's making us pay for it now

Cheer! Drink wine! Enjoy your sleep.

Sleep regression shot different babies different ways, some seem to get off lightly. My DS seemed to get hit harder by every single one, although thankfully teething was easy for him. You’ve got plenty more sleep regression coming up so might get to enjoy those instead

Thanks all. I’m wondering if it could still hit...

DD1 had it and we had 10 months of hell: she woke every two hours till she was over 1. DD2 slept well till she was 6 months then the regression hit. It didn't last so long though, thank God. About 6 months, maybe a little less.

One of my 4 did 🤷🏽‍♀️

One of the best pieces of advice I had about baby sleep is to remember it's rarely linear. They don't start bad, then gradually improve till they're sleeping through. It's up and down all the time.

DS1 had it like clockwork

DS2 never had it

Suppose it’s just luck as I’ve not done anything differently

@newmum234 why wondering? You may have nights where the little one doesn't sleep, teething, illness etc. You just have to go with it. Whether it hits it not with a baby that sleeps 12 hours so early it is likely that whatever happens, they will get back to that good habit. Stop thinking about it and count your lucky stars!

with a baby that sleeps 12 hours so early

DS doesn’t sleep 12 hours straight yet (he wakes for 1 feed during the night) but I see what you’re saying!

Neither of my dc had it.

I tend to agree with this
Babies sleep habits change all the time in the first few years and people just like labels for stuff when the reality is that everything is a phase really!

Next unpopular opinion - teething doesn't exist!

I thought the same when I read the wonder weeks. There is a leap around every two weeks, and apparently the baby can be unsettled for two weeks before and after each leap. Errr...

Next unpopular opinion - teething doesn't exist!

Do tell more!!

I think it depends on the baby. The 4 month regression points to a time when the babies sleep cycles becomes more like adults in that they wake slightly every hour or so. This doesn't always happen at 4 months and it affects different babies very differently. Same with teethibg. Some babies aren't affected by it, some are affected by it considerably. I think this applies to the leaps as well.

Do tell more!!

I think it's the same. Grumpiness because teeth are coming through is a much discussed thing, but I think it's just babies being randomly grumpy as they often are. That's why you get people saying "oh my baby was teething for months before any teeth came through", which makes no sense. It's already been proven that it doesn't cause fever, although many people think it does.

I hate the word regression, it’s a developmental change which most commonly affects sleep because that’s where the body is most relaxed and when you notice it most.
Small changes through the day often aren’t noticed but your solid block of sleep (wether it be 4-6-8-10hiurs) being interrupted is definitely noticed.