How can I get my 4 month old to sleep through the night? At about 3 months she would sleep through the night, then all the sudden in the last month she has been waking up every 3-4 hours, we feed her then she goes back to sleep? How do we get her back in her routine of sleeping through the night???
If you were feeding me as a 4 month old in the middle of the night, I'd be waking up too, with my mouth wide open!
Smiles!
You have trained her to keep waking up by giving her a reason to keep doing it. Time to stop feeding her. She doesn't need the bottle.
MandA is right - ditto what she said.
Good luck!
Dawn
Time to sleep train her.
There are many options - get some books and find what you're most comfortable with. CIO will work the fastest, everything else will work (as long as you're consistent), it will take take a bit longer.
Healthy Sleep Habits, Healthy Child
Happiest Baby On the Block
The No Cry Sleep Solution
These are few books to look into with different styles.
At 4most, your little one has become aware of her surroundings, and whether or not you're there. She likes it when you're there. So when she wakes up and looks around, she wants some company! Lots of new things to learn about at that stage, so night waking again is totally normal. But now is the time to start training that night time is for sleeping. And how you respond when she wakes up overnight, will determine what she does from here on out.
it's not really common for a baby that young to sleep through the night, you've kind of been spoiled by her sleeping through the night so early. Just feed her and "through the night" for an infant is 6 hrs at a time.
She sleep schedule will change every time she's teething, learning something new, gets a cold, or on a growth spurt. So be prepared to be flexible.
My daughter started sleeping through the night (5 or 6 hours at a time) when she was 6 weeks old. At about 4 months through month 6 or 7 she woke at night and no longer slept those consecutive 5 or 6 hours. Their sleep schedules change OFTEN when they're little, my daughter's still changes occasionally at 3 years old. Just be prepared to go with the flow. Personally, I don't think sleep training is appropriate at 4 months. Should you rush to her when she wakes, no but also don't expect her to sleep through the night or not require something to eat during the night. Don't offer her something to eat first thing just to get an idea if that's what she really needs. She may also be on the cusp of learning something new which will disturb her sleep.
It's probably a growth spurt. I would usually let my daughter cry for 5 minutes before I would get up and feed her. It usually took that long for me to get out of bed, make her a bottle (she was formula fed) and go up to her room to get her out. I would suggest giving her a little time before you rush to feed her and see if she goes back to sleep.
We give liquid calcium (not calcium carbonate or oyster shell) or I increase my calcium by a lot, to get the baby what they need. All of my kids have slept through the night, as long as I am taking my calcium/magnesium every night.
Hi, I used The Sleep Lady's techniques with both my girls (currently 4.5 yo and 5 month old). The name of her book is Good Night, Sleep Tight. Both of my girls sleep through the night. My 5 mo sleeps from 7 pm to 7am with no night feedings.
http://www.kellymom.com/parenting/sleep/4mo-sleep.html
For the record, 4 months old is WAY too young to start sleep training! There are too many developmental changes in the first 12 months, and all you do now could be undone in another month when she starts sitting up or at 9 months when she starts pulling up or at 10 months when she starts cruising, etc.
At 4 months, she's also probably going through her next growth spurt. She'll go through another around 6 months, as well as a couple more big ones between 6 and 12 months.
If you're breastfeeding, pull her into bed with you and feed her side lying. She can nurse back to sleep, and you can fall asleep right next to her. This is not spoiling your child or setting her yourself up for disaster later. It's actually one of the best things about breastfeeding! If you're not breastfeeding, keep up the night feedings, especially if it's something as "civil" as every 3-4 hours. I'm always flabbergasted at the people who suggest a 4 month old doesn't need to eat during the night!!! Night feedings should continue up to age 1, but most babies cut themselves down to one or less after 6 months. Not to mention, don't adults wake in the night sometimes and have to grab a snack?????
I also responded to a similar post a few months ago questioning why we can't show respect and mothering to our children during the night like we do during the day... with compassion, gentleness, and love. There are SO MANY reasons why babies, toddlers, preschoolers, children, even adults, wake during the night. Hunger, bad dream, cold/hot, wet diaper, digestive upset, startling sound... any number of things could be the reason. Keep that in mind when you consider letting your 4 month old "cry it out."
Hi K., I know the feeling I had that problem with my grandaughter when she was little. I put her on some good supplements that are natural, whole food and organic and safe for children along with a magnetic pad to sleep on. It made a big difference for her.
Good luck.
N. Marie
get and rea the book Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child by Marc Weissbluth. Seriously, this booked saved our house! It walks you through sleep needs and habits at different ages and gives you realistic and approrpriate ways to handle sleep issues.
It's important that your daughter be working on the ability to self sooth so that when she wakes she can practice going back to sleep on her own. No, I am not suggesting letting a 4 month old cry it out, but you can wait a few minutes and let her struggle some. You also need to start protecting her from getting overtired - make sure her bedtime is appropriate - at this age starts shifting sooner to around 7 pm (for my son, it was 6:30!) and make sure you are focusing on establishing some regular naps as well. An overtired baby will not sleep well at night and will wake often.
