Tell me your 4m old sleep tips!

[AmberM223]

So my LO is 4 months (today actually) and the last few days his sleep has gone terribly. He used to be fairly good, down 7.30/8 wake for dummy about 12/1 feed 3/4 then awake 7ish. But then it started to change and he wanted to feed at 2 - fine. But now he’s awake every 20 mins from 12pm, i put his dummy in - he spits it out. He doesn’t want feeding at 12, his temp is fine, dark room, uses white noise, has a comforter. Even after his feed at 2 he sleeps then for like an hour and back to waking!! then absolutely ready for up at 6.30am. He won’t sleep in bed with me, neither would i really like that tbh.

I know it’s probably the regression, and he’s had a stubborn cold the last few weeks (been using a calpol plug in) But what on earth do i do? Is there some ‘sleep training’ things i should be doing to help this? Nothing major but little tweaks, what helped everyone else?
I have a toddler too, he never really had ‘regressions’ so i feel like i have no idea what to do!

I also wonder what times other 4m olds feed in the night??? if i started to feed at 1am is that too early? I feel like most go till 3/4am!

Sounds so tough, but normal!! Having a cold may not be helping? My kids are a lot older now but I think that often when you think you’ve got something nailed, everything changes and you’ve got to figure it out all over again. Have you tried a ‘dream feed’ around 10pm?

Honestly just do whatever works, don't worry about what the time is - I just breastfeed for all wakes, always have done, and baby is nearly 1. Hopefully it's temporary especially with a cold. Make sure baby gets plenty of fresh air, activity and stimulation during the day.

Thank you both! I think that is part of that i’m scared of doing ‘the wrong thing’ or teaching him bad habits!!
I haven’t tried a dream feed no, maybe that’s something to try! Or i might move the feed earlier see if that settles him. Baby sleep sends you crazy haha!

Oh gosh I remember this so clearly and I’m dreading it again with my 13 week old! Nothing I could add other than with my toddler it passed after around 5 weeks of hell and he’s gone back to being an amazing sleeper ever since. I don’t think there’s anything that you can do that you’re not already, hoping it gets better sooner rather than later though, I’m pretty sure I’m going to be you in about four weeks so I’m reassessing both of us 😂

Honesty I don't think of the tips work at 4 months. Your lo is so little and changes so quickly, one thing can help one day and not the other.

Good luck x

Don’t worry about doing the ‘wrong thing’. You get to decide what you think is right for your own baby. Hear the advice - and then decide what you want to do. Sleep will work itself out eventually….just do what you need to do to manage and sleep when you can! Definitely agree with the above about fresh air and stimulation in the day…..

My DS1 did this at 4m and the advice then was to start him on some solids, which sorted him out overnight.

I know it's not advised to start solids until later now, but I'm not sure what the issue is? He's 24 now, and strapping young man with no health issues, as of course are most of the other babies weaned the same way. I honestly don't know how we'd have got him through to 6m. He was hungry!

My approach is to take each day as it comes and see where I am im 2 weeks time because babies change so fast.

Thank you all so much, i tried a walk before bed last night, didn’t help much but i think it helped me get a clear head ready for bedtime 🤣 so going to keep doing that weather permitting!
I am just going to have to ride it out then arnt i! it’s so tough in the night when your up every 20 mins and he doesn’t even seem to want anything haha! But just hope it passes (which im sure it will!) thanks all xxx

If it helps, we didn't really do "bedtime" til later at that age, more like 9-9.30pm, because I wasn't comfortable leaving baby alone so we'd keep her downstairs until we went to bed. And do not worry at all about "bad habits" - if it works, do it. My 12 month old still has contact naps, breastfeeds for night wakes, and comes in our bed about 3am. It gets us the most sleep, so why change it. She naps fine at nursery and with her grandparents.

Eggy Car's straightforward design is among its most intriguing aspects. The vibrant, colorful colors give the game Eggy Car a happy, approachable appearance.