I don’t think there is a parent out there that hasn’t heard about or doesn’t dread the 4 Month Sleep Regression. If they haven’t heard about it, then they are probably on an island without the internet. Anytime I get an inquiry around this age (or even before the baby is born for that matter), this is a parent’s greatest concern. The 4 month sleep regression is on the top 5 list of the most talked about subjects in my profession. So many frustrated parents come to me because their sweet little newborn, who just yesterday was getting some good stretches at night and a decent amount of daytime sleep, is now waking up several times during the middle of the night and daytime sleep has gone off the rails! Sometimes these parents complain that their newborn is now having difficulty falling asleep and that their baby (well let’s be real, both baby and mom),are fussier when they wake up and throughout the day. Some babies even experience a pattern of noticeable reduced amount of sleep in a 24 hour period. So, what the heck? What happened? Why is there a sleep regression at 4 months?
WHY DO BABIES GO THROUGH A 4 MONTH SLEEP REGRESSION?
There are several reasons why babies have a 4 month sleep regression.
During this time, there is a lot of growth in their brains and in their bodies. First, they might start rolling over at this age (if they haven’t already). Whenever they start learning a new skill, they often will want to practice during nap time, or the middle of the night. Obviously, you will want to get them out of the swaddle ASAP as they will need their hands free to safely roll back over if they prefer. Rolling is the natural progression for a baby, so while it can be annoying to be finished with the swaddle, they will learn to sleep without it. Actually, I find that once you ditch the swaddle and babies can successfully roll over, they are able to get themselves to sleep in a comfortable position which is usually on their tummy. Keep in mind, until they are rolling over, I do suggest that you keep them in the swaddle. Although you are told to put your baby on his back, once he can roll over, then it is safe for him to sleep on his tummy. You should always place your baby on his back when you put him in the crib, but truth be told, babies LOVE sleeping on their tummy and you will find that they will get longer stretches doing so.
The next thing that contributes to the 4 month sleep regression is a growth spurt. Your baby will seem hungrier than usual. During this time she might cry more and be fussier. It is ok to feed her more as she will need more food. She will most likely gain weight and grow a bit taller during this time as well.
The most prominent thing that contributes to this sleep regression during this time is when their sleep cycle pattern resembles more of an adult-like sleep. This can occur as early as 3 months old. Newborns have two stages of sleep: REM (rapid-eye movement) and NREM (non-rapid eye movement),compared to an adult which will have four stages. I’m sure that you have seen your newborn making small movements (their eyes might move around, limbs and fingers might twitch or jerk, breathing may speed up and their mouths might even move). However, during the NREM the baby is quite still.
The adult sleep cycle stages include three stages of NREM sleep and one REM sleep stage. They are distinguished by the following brain waves:
Stage 1 (NREM 1): alpha waves and low-amplitude mixed-frequency activity
Stage 2 (NREM 2): sleep spindles and K-complexes
Stage 3 (NREM 3): delta waves
Stage 4 (REM): alpha and beta waves (similar to waking state)
The first three stages of sleep are all NREM stages. The first two are lighter stages of sleep, during which a person can be easily awakened. The third stage of sleep is the deepest stage, and it is very difficult to wake someone in this stage. The fourth stage of sleep is REM, the stage in which people experience dreams. Adults experience these stages in the order they are numbered (thesleepfoundation.org). Therefore, your baby will start showing these patterns as well around this time. As your baby’s sleep gets more organized, because there are more sleep cycles, they might have trouble connecting these cycles and wake up more frequently. Therefore, however they are accustomed to going to sleep, will be what they need to get back to sleep. For example, if you are holding them when they sleep, and they wake up in their crib, they will need you to help them get back to sleep. The same is true for a pacifier, nursing, bouncing, etc.
Along these lines, babies are not born with a strong circadian rhythm so sleep training isn’t possible for newborns. For this reason, I don’t do any type of sleep training; they simply aren’t ready for it. By definition, a circadian rhythm, or circadian cycle, is a natural, internal process that regulates the sleep-wake cycle and repeats roughly every 24 hours. Our circadian rhythm is mostly affected by light and darkness and is controlled by a small area in the middle of the brain. Typically, a baby’s circadian rhythm begins to develop around six weeks of age but isn’t usually mature until between 3-6 months. This is when the production of melatonin appears which helps put their sleep cycle into a more regular rhythm. I recommend going outside in the earlier part of the morning upon awakening so that you can kick-start their circadian rhythm. Doing this in the evening will tell their bodies that the sun is going down and it is time to start getting ready to sleep. Going outside can be a distraction for everyone, as well as a signal to tell their little bodies that it is morning and evening.
How long will this sleep regression last? Typically, the 4 month sleep regression can last anywhere between a few days to a few weeks. However, not every baby will show signs of this and if you are lucky, that might be your baby! Hang in there because it WILL pass.
NOW WHAT?
So now what? If your baby is exhibiting signs of this regression, there is hope and light at the end of the tunnel. It is important that during this time, you meet your baby’s needs (feeding them extra if needed), extra hugs and cuddles (for them too…lol), and try your best to either start or continue healthy sleep habits. Try practicing daily to put your baby down in his crib awake. Don’t let them cry but give them a chance to learn to sleep on their own. Don’t rush in too quickly but try to let them settle on their own.
BEDTIME ROUTINE IS KEY
If you haven’t started a good bedtime routine yet, now is the time! You can download my free guide from my website under the freebies tab. I talk about the importance of a bedtime routine and how this can help your baby start to develop good sleep habits so he can start sleeping through the night.
NEED MORE HELP?
If you need full support during this sleep regression and to set you up for sleep training, feel free to schedule a 15 minute phone consultation to see how I can help you through this time. 15 Minute Discovery Call
Best of luck to you!
