4 month old cries before bed every night! Please help!

[Emalouise25111]

Hi everyone!

I was hoping for some advice regarding my four month old.

He was quite collicky to begin with but has really calmed down now and is an absolute joy most of the time. However, sleep is a massive issue for us.

We follow a routine now of bath at around 630, followed by story, pjs, song and then bed at around 7-730. This all goes absolutely fine but the minute I put him into bed he just starts screaming. I know he’s tired by this point because he’s burying his head into my chest and showing all the signs. Myself or my husband will stay with him with a hand on his chest soothing him and he will eventually go off within ten minutes (although it feels like hours!!).

Once he’s off he’s absolutely fine. He wakes a couple of times in the night for a feed but goes back to sleep straight away.

I’m having the same issue with day naps. I take note of his wake windows which are usually around 1.5-2 hours and try to put him down the minute I notice tired cues but he will cry every time.

I’ve been wondering whether he’s overtired and I’m missing the cues but he can literally go from happily playing to seemingly exhausted in seconds.

I really want to get this right as it’s so so rough hearing him cry and I wonder if I’m doing something wrong here.

Really grateful for any advice you may have

xxx

you’re not doing anything wrong!

The problem is that every child is different, so you are just going to have to trial and error this.

does he prefer to be held until he falls asleep
can you try earlier nap/bedtime
do you sing to him
does he prefer to be rocked
Do you swaddle him

mine always fell asleep better being held, but if I missed a cue, the screaming began anyway.

you can keep up what you’re doing. Know he will slowly get used to it, and whatever you switch to will become a new routine. So if you start rocking him now, that’ll be it for the next year. Same for driving him round in a car, co sleeping, feeding him until he falls asleep, playing music,

basically, there is no magic way to get them to sleep and over tired babies cry for a bit. Just be there for him, tell him you love him and give him lots of hugs and reassurance.

I agree, you’re doing everything right. Perhaps try bringing everything forward a bit, maybe 7.30 ish is too late for him.

my ds was exactly the same at 4m and I got his routine set and he was transformed in days!