Can the four month sleep regression make them stop sleeping in the crib?

[JaneEyreFunfair]

My four month old has had a week of really atrocious sleep - often waking as soon as we put her down in the crib, so we are having to let her sleep in our arms and take turns sleeping. We haven't had to do this since the first week of her life - we've had problems with frequent wakings at times, but she would at least go down in the crib in between. We're exhausted!

Wondering if this is the four month sleep regression or just the effects of a nasty cold, combined with her vaccinations a week ago? Obviously, I'd prefer the latter, since that would mean it would pass fairly soon.

Anyone experienced this? Can the sleep regression really make them regress this much? It doesn't seem to quite fit with the thing about not transitioning from one sleep cycle to the next, as she isn't even completing a sleep cycle, but waking as soon as she's put down.

I'm trying to avoid co-sleeping as I am kind of paranoid about a stickler for the SIDS prevention guidance.

I would look up safe cosleeping as it’s much safer than taking turns to hold her. I have coslept safely for 19 months and my daughter is going into her own room next month :)

Yes, unfortunately, it is a normal part of the 4 month sleep regression. As babies become much more aware of their surroundings, they start waking up when they realise their sleep environment has changed (e.g. when their parents move them from their arms to the cot/Moses basket). The whole rationale behind "drowsy but awake" advice is to avoid moving babies in their sleep but, of course, it is much easier said than done.

Winter Yes, that's what I was afraid of! We did have a better night last night (maybe because I tried dressing her a little more warmly), but I'm not counting my chickens. I was planning on making a concerted effort to try the methods in The No Cry Sleep Solution, but I was putting it off until she was feeling better.

catlady Yes, I've looked up the safe co-sleeping guidelines, but I'm nervous about my ability to implement them correctly, especially as she is a roller and the bed can't be put against a wall. We have a co-sleeping crib, so I can place her so she could only roll into that, but I can't get the mattresses quite at the same height.

Mine has done just that! I have resigned myself to cosleeping.

Totally understand if you don't want to cosleep, but if the only thing stopping you is the SIDS risk, then there is no increased risk for babies over four months old who are breastfed and where the parents don't smoke and haven't been drinking.

Would it be worth warming up the mattress with a hot water bottle (and then removing it obviously) so she doesn't feel the sudden coolness of the mattress after the warmth of your arms?