4 month old fights sleep

[mrsk28]

My DS is nearly 4 months old and I've read everywhere that I should put him down for a nap/sleep drowsy but awake. The only problem is every time I put him down drowsy he wakes straight up and won't fall asleep!

I've tried leaving him to settle himself but then he starts getting worked up and overtired because he's been awake too long. So I end up picking him up to start the whole thing again.

I'm wondering what do other people do? Should I stick with it and eventually he'll learn?

He's not a great at napping in general - he has several 30-45 min naps throughout the day but sleeps 11-12 hours at night without waking.

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

I fully believe "drowsy but awake" is a lovely theory but total bollocks in reality until the baby is ready. For some that's from birth, for others it's 2 or 3 years. The minute I realised that, I got a lot happier and a lot more sleep. Going to sleep is difficult, it's a developmental skill.

Currently DD (3 months) gets rocked, fed, swayed to sleep, or sling/pram for naps. Eventually she might progress to cuddled to sleep! Then hopefully squished to sleep. Eventually self settling I predict around age 18. But who knows, she might surprise me?

If your baby is sleeping through the night, don't change a thing! Just accept the short naps and the rocking. I have the short naps, the rocking, AND 5-6 wake ups a night

@burritofan thanks so much for your reply. I was starting to feel like a failure for holding him until he fell asleep but the poor guy gets so upset if I put him down awake!

Sounds like the four month sleep regression (google it). My DD was an excellent sleeper until she hit four months old. Then she gave it up! She was snatching 20 minute naps at night and nothing during the day. It was awful and I agree with PP about the awake but drowsy thing. Just set a nighttime routine and doggedly stick to it. Your LO will get that it's bedtime (eventually). It will pass so hang in there!

I meant to add that you can use your nighttime sleep cues for daytime naps too. I found that helped.

My baby is 4 months and has been like this for about a month... Tried a few things but still waking every hour or two at night. Naps are 30-45 minutes. I also do the rocking...or feeding...and soother. I feel like she's too young yet for much else. But I wonder if there's an end in sight. 🥺

@JLK23 just to update - the sleeping problems were sorted by two simple measures.

White noise and a comforter (the small blanket type ones). I noticed he kept trying to pull a blanket up near his face when he was really tired so I gave him a comforter when I put him down and decided to add white noise.

Took a couple days/nights to get used to the adjustment completely but now for all naps I put him down with both and he falls asleep within 5 mins and stays asleep!

At night I put him down with both and take the comforter away when he's asleep because it's too dangerous. If he fusses during the night I leave him and he falls back asleep after a couple mins.

Good luck with your baby.