The baby sleep tease

[Semilunar22]

The new name given to the phenomenon when a baby has previously slept really well and then it all seems to go drastically down hill until you are more tired than with a newborn.

Just here for a handhold/solidarity from others in the same boat. I know that unfortunately it’s normal at 4-5 months.

Anyone remember saying that as long as they have a healthy baby they will never moan about lack of sleep or anything so ‘trivial’?

Yep I remember being that bloody smug! My normal good sleeper is 10 months curry has an ear infection so no sleep in this house for 48 hours because he's only sleeping when held....

I keep telling myself ITS GOING TO GET BETTER! (Because it sure as hell cant get worse!)

Hand holding!

so tired

I hear ya!!
Although I never said I wouldn’t moan about sleep deprivation because I knew I’d be dreadful at it, and I am. I love sleep. I hate feeling tired.
My 4 month old has been sleeping well for 2 months. I knew regression was coming, it has arrived. Waking in the night not for feeds, just for chats, waking super early, not going down at night, short naps, quick distracted feeds.
When will this pass?!

How are you doing @Semilunar22 ? I've just got in to bed and dh is on baby duty til midnight- fingers crossed tonight is better than the last 3 nights!

@123456kent my son is 10 months but his 4 month sleep regression only lasted a few weeks so there is hope!!! Fingers crossed your little ones regression over quickly too!

Thank you. Fingers crossed. Any tips on how to shorten/fix it?
I will be doing lots of ‘sleep while baby sleeps’ during the day while night times are bad - luckily we snuggle down together and nap really well like that.

I'm a bit of a routine monster and literally had no social life passed 2pm for those weeks - he was fed bathed and ready for bed by 6pm. EVERY NIGHT. I did the same things - dark room bottle, sleep sack and then just persevered. It was frustrating but to be honest it's made him a really good sleeper now (normally... not this flipping week!)

One thing I used to tell myself is that tomorrow is a new day and I'm one day closer to it getting better. It helped when he was trying to play games at midnight..., 🙄

Hi. Knackered over here too. I was kind of hoping the 4month regression would be over by 5 months, especially as it started at 3... but no, still not sleeping longer than 2 hours after we've gone to bed. She wants feeding at every wake up, but then is quite hard to settle, chatting and flailing around. I can't tell if she's actually hungry or just wants the company...

I think I’ve read too much Mumsnet and too many people saying that when the 4 mo regression hit they basically said goodbye to sleep for months and months and months, and so now it’s here I feel really down about it. Need to man up I know.

It’s also the unpredictability of it. I really thought (before learning from the many MN threads) that once your baby had learnt to sleep then you were home dry- done. NOPE. It’s different every night

She also will only nap on my during the day. So I’ve got to address that at some point too.

Thanks for solidarity 👍🏻👍🏻 We will get though this.

It’s partially my fault as she now goes down for the night at 7.30, so she’s probably just had enough sleep by 4/5. So then we just have uncomfortable co sleeping naps until she absolutely demands waking up.

Emma how long will your baby sleep through when asleep at 6? I sometimes think that 7.30 is too early!

Madbee does yours beam up at you over the moon when you go into them at the night, as if seeing you is the best thing that’s ever happened to them, and hence cause a load of guilt as well for you wishing them asleep

Mine also naps only on me during the day too. She has been known to nap in her bed, but it is such a short nap, I stick with my tried and tested method of cuddle sleeps and that lengthens them.
Feeling like I’m doing a crap job of this tonight, liked I’ve messed her up feeding to sleep, naps on me, and now I’m paying the price.
7.30pm definitely isn’t too early. The text book dream baby sleeps 7-7. Any later and I’d say you are entering overtired territory.
Mine has had a 7.30pm bedtime for 2 months. 1 dream feed. 1-2 night feeds. 7.30am ish wake.
Last night it was 10pm before she stopped crying/being wide awake, I probably got up around 7-8 times for dummy, 2 feeds, and up at 5am. All gone wrong!

Aww Kent that sounds difficult. That’s interesting though about bed times- might try and move hers more towards 7 :) but then the MIL complains that she doesn’t get to see her as she can’t get over after work in time.... but that’s another story

Do you ever find that eventually you can just tell that they’re not going to settle and as a result you can’t sleep- even if they do actually settle fine? So you’re just awake all by yourself for no reason?

My ds was going 6pm - 530/6am sometimes with no wake ups. I loved his bedtime to 7pm and he was going to 6-630am with no wake ups. Now he's ill it's all gone to pot!!!

Just keep telling yourself this stage is not forever! They will be 15 one day and never want to get up!!! 😂

MIL doesnt have to deal with baby every day, she will have to see her at weekends! For me i think the ideal bedtime is 7.30pm as that suits our lifestyle, but i believe the experts would say 7pm.
I have no idea what goes on in the night anymore, there probably is times when I’m awake and she isn’t. I used to go back to sleep at the drop of a hat after the night feeds, but now I’m awake at least once an hour it’s getting harder to switch on/off/on/off all night.
Caved and gave her the Sleepyhead back last night. Had weaned her off but she got it back. Think it made a slight difference