4 Month Regression?
Parents often hear about the dreaded 4 month regression and worry about how it is
going to impact their baby’s sleep so we’ve asked Sarah Patel, a holistic sleep coach
from Teach To Sleep to tell you all you need to know about the 4 month sleep
regression.

What is the 4 Month Regression ?
It is when a baby’s sleep cycle changes and becomes more adult-like in structure. This
is a normal developmental phase which all babies will go through.
 

When Might It Happen ?
It can happen from around 4 months of age but it can happen as early as 3 months and
as late as 6 months!
 

How long will it last ?
It usually lasts anywhere between 2-6 weeks but this very much depends on your baby’s temperament. Some babies will naturally be more sensitive to these changes and therefore they will take longer to get used to them, whereas others will be less sensitive to these changes and will barely notice these changes.

How do I know if my baby is going through the 4 month Progression ?
These are some of the behavioural changes you might see if your baby is going through the 4 month progression:
● they find falling to sleep harder
● they wake up after a very short time
● they resist naps
● they are more difficult to settle for their naps and bedtime than before
● they are less interested in feeding during the day
● they need more feeds during the night
● night time sleep is more fragmented
● they are frequently more unsettled during the day
● they may not want to be put down and appear more clingy
● feeding, rocking or bouncing no longer easily puts your baby back to sleep

Not all babies will struggle with the 4 month Progression Try not to dread this phase because not all babies are sensitive to the changes that happen around 4 months of age and your baby may sail through this phase. What can I do if my baby is finding the 4 month progression really hard ? If your baby is finding these changes difficult, then ‘lean in’ and know that this is the time that your baby will need lots more support than usual. This is not the time to try to ‘teach your baby to self soothe’ (this isn’t actually possible and usually means leaving your baby to cry, which is the last thing you want to do when you know that your baby is going through a difficult time).

Leaning in may mean:
● having all naps as contact naps or on the move (if your baby finds this easier),
● safe bedsharing (if that gets you and your baby more sleep)
● offering your baby more support to fall asleep
● offering more feeds
● having more skin to skin time

Both of my babies were very sensitive to the 4 month progression (they woke every 45 minutes during the night which nearly broke me!) but they both came through the other side. If you are going through a similar time, remember that you are not doing anything wrong (this was always going to happen) and that it is just a phase which will get better.

I hope this provides you with some understanding and reassurance around the 4 month ‘regression’ .If you are after any more sleep tips or advice, check out my instagram account @teachtosleep where I run a weekly Q and A session or see my courses to find out information about my self paced online course.