Tackling sleep issues around 4 months

Helping your baby sleep well can be challenging, but some consistent routines and gentle guidance can make a big difference. Here are some top tips:

1. Establish a Consistent Bedtime Routine: A calming routine can signal to your baby that it’s time for sleep. This might include a bath, gentle massage, feeding, and continuous white noise.

2. Create a Sleep-Friendly Environment: Keep the room dark, quiet, and at a comfortable temperature. A white noise machine can help block out any household sounds that might wake them up.

3. Set routines from 4 months: At this age, focus on set routines that are predictable. Ensure you are following an age-appropriate routine for your little one as well as a settling technique to teach them the skill of self-settling and resettling.

4. Encourage Daytime Naps: Good naps during the day can actually improve nighttime sleep, so make sure your baby has the correct amount of sleep for their age.

5. Practice Putting Them Down Drowsy but Awake: This helps them learn to self-soothe and fall asleep independently. If they get used to falling asleep in your arms or while feeding, they might rely on this to fall back asleep when they wake in the night.

6. Limit Stimulation Before Bed: Avoid loud noises, bright lights, and screen time in the hour leading up to bedtime to help your baby settle down.

7. Feed Well During the Day: Make sure your baby is getting plenty to eat during the day. At 4 months, some babies still need to feed once or twice at night, but well-fed babies during the day may sleep longer stretches at night.

8. Be Patient and Flexible: Sleep patterns can fluctuate around 4 months due to growth spurts and development milestones, like the “4-month sleep regression.” Consistency is key, but flexibility is essential.

If sleep remains a challenge, touch base. We would love to hear from you.