Learn what’s causing your child’s sleep regression and what you can do about it!
You’re sweet little newborn is finally starting to sleep for longer stretches. Eating every 2-3 hours during the night has turned into every 4-5 hours, and if you’re really lucky...you may have even been blessed with a 6 hour stretch of sleep!
Unfortunately for many parents, just when things seem to have turned a corner and the sleepless nights might be coming to an end, their baby takes a sharp turn in the opposite direction. The longer stretches revert to waking every 1-2 hours (or worse) and bedtime can become a huge struggle!
Frequent night wakings are always hard, but you expect them when your baby is a newborn. As your baby gets older, they are supposed to be sleeping longer...right?!
Ultimately, the answer is yes! Bigger tummies mean longer stretches between feedings which ideally should translate into more sleep.
HOWEVER…
A baby’s tummy isn’t the only thing developing. Changes and developments in your child’s brain can trigger what is commonly known as the “4 Month Sleep Regression”.
Is your child waking up more frequently than he used to?
Is she taking longer and longer to fall asleep at night?
Are the things you used to do to get your baby to sleep no longer working?
Are your naps a struggle or even non-existent?
Don’t panic!
It’s incredibly common for parents to see changes in their child’s sleep habits between 3-4 months of age. This “regression” is actually a sign that your baby is developing right on schedule. That’s right, I said it...the 4 month sleep regression is a good thing!
What causes the 4 month sleep regression?
As your baby’s brain develops, so does their circadian rhythm. This means your baby is beginning to experience full sleep cycles. Throughout their sleep cycle, they will transition from light sleep stages into deep sleep stages. This is GOOD and NORMAL!
But here’s the problem...when babies are in their light sleep stage, it’s very easy for them to wake up. If they haven’t learned how to fall asleep on their own, there’s a really good chance that those brief wake ups during light sleep stages will result in your baby crying out to you.
Since a baby’s sleep cycle lasts only 50 minutes on average, that means your child could be waking up EVERY. SINGLE. HOUR.
So what are you to do? Your baby needs sleep! YOU need sleep! Waking up 6, 7 or even 8 times per night just isn’t sustainable.
Let me give you a little bit of hope! It’s possible to make it through the regression and get your sweet baby back to being a good sleeper.
Tips for getting through the regression:
Establish A Bedtime Routine
If you haven’t established a consistent bedtime routine yet, now is a good time! A consistent routine sends a message to your baby’s brain, “It’s time for sleep.” As a result, your baby will naturally start to wind down, making the bedtime process a whole lot easier!Slowly Break Sleep Associations
Sleep associations are anything that you baby requires in order to fall asleep. This could be nursing, rocking, or using a pacifier. While these things are seemingly helpful at bedtime, when your baby wakes up at 1 am, 2 am, and 4 am, they are going to need these same sleep associations in order to fall back asleep. To make it through the 4 month regression and get your baby to sleep through the night, it’s important to remove these sleep associations and teach your child to fall asleep WITHOUT YOU.Begin To Move Away From The Swaddle
Another contributor to the 4 month regression is your baby’s newly developed curiosity and playfulness as well as developing physical skills. Your child may be able to start rolling and finding more comfortable positions. They are also able to start self-soothing more using those curiously cute hands. Start transitioning to a sleep sack that allows for more arm freedom. You can start by keeping one arm out for a few nights then allowing the other arm out, but keep your child swaddled snugly around the waist.Be Patient & Consistent
Sleep regressions typically last 2-6 weeks. The key to making it through is consistency. Be consistent with your bedtime routine. If you’ve removed certain sleep associations (nursing, rocking etc.) don’t give them back! As long as you are consistent, your baby will learn and make it through this huge developmental change in a few weeks.
Navigating sleep regressions is TOUGH! If you’d like some help talking through your bedtime routine or if removing sleep associations seems impossible, I’d love to help! Click here to schedule your FREE consultation call and together we will get your baby on track to being a GREAT sleeper!
