Sleep Issues - 4 Month Old

We had exactly the same thing happen in terms of night wakefulness at this age. We actually found that our baby was able to break out of the miracle blanket around this time (pretty big kid!), so we stopped that cold turkey, introduced a bedtime routine of nursing, diaper change, rubdown with scented "bedtime" lotion, pajamas, reading "Goodnight Moon," turning on a white noise that didn't turn off overnight, shutting all the lights, and putting her in the crib.

This routine helped her understand that it was time for the long sleep, and it was a useful tool. We then, because our baby was colicky and started not going down without nursing in the middle of the night after having been nightweaned, did a really tough little four-night thing where I slept at my parents' and let my husband take the overnight shift (we had a long weekend come up at the right time!), and this got me the sleep I so desperately needed, while getting her broken of the habit of waking overnight. Obviously, your mileage will vary, but it's what we did.

Good luck. This was a particularly hard time for us, and it hasn't ever been exactly easy. It has gotten better, though! Now we're seven months this week, and my daughter is more and more of a person, and is more and more enjoyable. Just ride it out somehow!

PS: Now she's sleeping mostly through the night, but her body is rehearsing crawling while she's asleep, and she cries out all the time again! I guess I'm just saying, it looks like it's always going to be *something*, but the something will change. But seriously, see if you can give her a new routine and a strong signal that you're able to maintain to help her learn "bedtime."

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I don't have good news...my daughter who is now 7 months did the same thing. She slept all night from 8-6am from 2-4 months. Then she started waking up once to eat.....that was the only way she would go back to sleep. That turned into waking up 2 times a night. I thought it was a growth spurt...nope....she is still waking up 1-2 times a night. I am frustrated too but too tired at night to let her just cry it out. It is quicker to get up and let her eat. She is back asleep in minutes. I am interested in what others have to say too.

I went through the same thing. Honestly, I don't remember how I exactly resolved it but I think I nursed him once and then let him cry a bit if he would wake up again - though at this point I put him back in his crib because it didn't seem to make a difference if he was with me or in the crib - he cried either way. Anyway, I found this website with a good article that helped to put my mind at ease. She has lots of good advice on the site.

http://www.kellymom.com/parenting/sleep/4mo-sleep.html

try a baby sleeping bag. great ones at babyinabag.com. sometimes their feet kicking wakes them up. good luck.

She is just old enough to begin the 5-10-15 minute sleep approach. Very typically, you have celebrated too early (her STTN) and are now wondering what to do to restore that blissful sleep. She will begin to have longer and longer peiods of being awake, during the day and she may or may not continue STTN.Not to worry, you will be in charge and get your sleep. What I don't know is what her sleep is like when you are at work, is she sleeping all day at day care? You should enlist the cooperation of the sitter and the next time she is ready to sleep put her down without waiting for her to fall asleep in your arms. If she cries, wait 5 minutes, use a timer and tell yourself she will benefit from this and is not being traumatized. After 5 minutes pop your head in the door, do not do anything to give her the impression you are going to pick her up. Then set the timer for 10 min. If she made it past 5 min, she will most likely fall asleep now and tomorrow she will cry less before she falls asleep. She is learning to be self-soothing. Soon you will be able to put her down and she'll just fall asleep, others will be amazed and you will have avoided months and maybe years of sleep issues. You will have to revert to this system when she is sick the first time and you do pick her up during the night.(By the way, you may have to nurse her at night for awhile now or you may not, you be the judge) The 15 min is there for the more insistent baby who has learned to fall asleep only after mommy soothing and now mommy is looking for some relief, if you begin now, she will not need to be broken of that. The issue will get complicated if the sitter will not follow thru with this program (show her this). If it is a relative, he or she may have difficulty letting baby cry, but you have to insist that the baby will be okay and the crying is only temporary.

I am a bit older than you folks so can I be updated first on WHAT THE DD IS AND THE STTN is.

Then while my children were awake I usually tried to rule out an ear infection, or teething of course (that might be too early but check out the ear infection thing), clothing that's too tight, or diapers that are scratchy and irritating and/or gas. I remember putting the little people in the car and driving around in the middle of the night til someone fell asleep and room permitting sometimes a walk with a stroller in the house is helpful (since walking around outside in the middle of the night isn't really a very good idea). It will end and then one day you will beg that child to get out of bed at one in the afternoon as the day is floating by. (Oh wait that's what I'm doing these days)...good luck. I never thought I'd say my last good bye to a whole night of sleep twenty three years ago.

This seems pretty typical, when you think something is all set, they like to throw it off! I wouldn't let her cry. She could be going throgh a growth spurt, early teething, or a new developmental milestone. You can try The Baby Sleep Book by Dr. Sears for some suggestions. You are so lucky she has slept through the night at all! My 1st didn't sleep through the night untl he was almost 8 months and my 4 month's long stretch is only 4-5 hours! Good luck!

could she have reflux? could it be milk in your diet?
lots that it could be.
good luck
J.

Your DD could just be going through a growth spurt. When this happens they tend to feed quite a bit more than what seems normal to you. I wouldn't start her on cereal just yet. She seems a little young. Check with her ped. first. I wouldn't hesitate to see if she's hungry. You probably don't want her to fall asleep at the breast or you'll have anothe problem altogether. Just nurse her, and lay her down while she's awake so she can soothe herself back to sleep.

Good luck!

hi- my son is 4 months too and did the same thing and then he got 2 teeth! Now his sleep schedule is going back to normal, so it could be that.....

She is most likely still hungry. If you haven't started cereal give her some at at her last feeding before bed time. The usual reccommended amount is 1 Tablespoon. If that is not enough do it for lunch and dinner. Based on what your saying, she is getting up to eat. Both of my children slept through the night from 1-2 mos. When they did this I started them on cereal. Both have been fine since (now 13 mos. and 6 1/2 yrs.)

L.

We too used the Miracle blanket and loved it. We stopped using it around 4 months so he could learn to sleep without it. We also stopped using the bassinet. It took some time but our son adjusted and loved the freedom. I was so miserable one night, I went back to the miracle blanket and he screamed more. It was time to give it up, he just needed to adjust. Our son started to teeth at 4 months too. You will not see a tooth for almost 2 weeks but you may have a slightly fussy baby on your hands. My suggestion is to give up the miracle blanket, be on the look out for teeth and try not going to the baby right away at night. Give him a chance to get back to sleep. If about 30 - 60 minutes of crying, then go to him. It takes about a week. Good luck. This too shall pass.