Miserable 4 month old in evenings

[Tgilaura]

Hi all,

My baby has always been a bit miserable in the evenings, but things did begin to improve slightly the last few weeks.
However, my just turned 4 month old is so bloody miserable from about 4 o clock onwards. It’s a real battle to entertain her, and I find myself watching the clock until bedtime. She often won’t nap after 4 either.
She goes to bed between 6 and 7, and gets up between 6 and 7 in the morning. I feel it’s very early and would prefer between 7 and 8 in the evening but she’s so miserable I can’t hold out from keeping her up that long.
Can anyone offer any advice? Does it get better as they get older?

Could she be hungry? My 4 month old cluster feeds before bed but she too is normally settled by 7pm. They are still so very little and new.

Definitely sounds like 4 month sleep regression could be setting in and possibly hungry. When my little one was that age he had a nap from like 11am-1230pm then milk then had another nap 3:30pm-4:15pm then had milk, and then another bottle at bedtime at 7pm.

Thanks for the reply.
I always offer a feed but she will refuse.
I m wondering if it’s overtiredness? She only has short naps in the day, around 30 minutes at a time. She’s always been like that, since being tiny.
For example today I tried to get her to go to sleep around 4;45, but she just cried and cried. Unless I missed the window? Argh I m just at my wits end!

@BlueShirtGirl

Could she be hungry? My 4 month old cluster feeds before bed but she too is normally settled by 7pm. They are still so very little and new.

Sorry my above reply was supposed to be to you!

@abbs1

Definitely sounds like 4 month sleep regression could be setting in and possibly hungry. When my little one was that age he had a nap from like 11am-1230pm then milk then had another nap 3:30pm-4:15pm then had milk, and then another bottle at bedtime at 7pm.

Yes I ve heard a little bit about the sleep regression, but I thought it was more about their sleep in the night? But I suppose it would make sense that it would affect all of their sleep, not just the night ones. I suppose I just need to hold one then and hope it’s a phase that will pass!

It will definitely pass, it always does. I remember both of mine having phases like this. I think it’s over tiredness from all the stimulation of the day. Try wearing her in a sling / carrier around the house when she’s like this and try to remove any stimulation like tv / toys / bright lights? Does she like the bath? Maybe an early bath around that time might help, if she enjoys them that is!

Isn’t this classic witching hour territory? DS also 4 months is exactly the same and I got the impression it was fairly normal. 7pm is also bedtime here but it sounds like tiredness to me, DA doesn’t know what’s wrong and won’t nap.

And getting DS to nap during the day is a mission

Witching hour! If you can, go out with him for a bit, otherwise bath/food/cuddle.

@Hadenough21

It will definitely pass, it always does. I remember both of mine having phases like this. I think it’s over tiredness from all the stimulation of the day. Try wearing her in a sling / carrier around the house when she’s like this and try to remove any stimulation like tv / toys / bright lights? Does she like the bath? Maybe an early bath around that time might help, if she enjoys them that is!

I think you are on to something with just tiredness of all the stimulation during the day. Tomorrow I ll try having the room really quiet and calm from 4 onwards and see if that makes any difference. She does like a bath, but she doesn’t like the getting out! So I tend not to do them too close to bedtime because otherwise she’s even more upset 😭

@PurBal

Isn’t this classic witching hour territory? DS also 4 months is exactly the same and I got the impression it was fairly normal. 7pm is also bedtime here but it sounds like tiredness to me, DA doesn’t know what’s wrong and won’t nap.

I m glad to hear it’s not just me! I think it’s just going to be a case of trying everything in terms of advice offered and then just hoping they will grow out of it.

Definitely witching hour. I swear my 8 month old still has a witching hour now from 6 till bedtime. Doesn't want to be put down. Grumpy. Not tired as when I have put her to bed she is so not ready to go 🤷🏼‍♀️ she literally sits next to me or were on the floor for them hours even with a bath!

@Fancyties

Definitely witching hour. I swear my 8 month old still has a witching hour now from 6 till bedtime. Doesn't want to be put down. Grumpy. Not tired as when I have put her to bed she is so not ready to go 🤷🏼‍♀️ she literally sits next to me or were on the floor for them hours even with a bath!

Oh no! I was hoping they d grow out of it by then! 😅 I guess I ll just have to resign myself to those miserable couple of hours. 🥲

😂 It may just be my lo that's like that 🤷🏼‍♀️ she's fed, given water, clean, cuddled for good amount put down crawls straight back over to me pulling herself up on the couch 🤦🏼‍♀️🤣 then whinges when I don't immediately pick her up. I just resign myself to being glued to her from 6pm till 8pm🤣 it's not separation anxiety either as been like this for a good few months 😂 you might not have the same who knows 😂

DD1 is almost 3 and still has a witching hour! Get her to bed by 6.30pm and she’ll be fine, chat to her toys and go to sleep. Try and go later and it’s like having a giant angry drunk who won’t listen to any kind of reason and shouts for ages until she finally passes out.

Kids are weird.