4 Months Old – The “Scary Sleep Regression”? Not Exactly.

Welcome to the fourth month, often misnamed a regression.

What’s really happening? A huge leap forward in your baby’s development – not a regression in sleep, but a progression of wakefulness!

•  Cognitive development takes off.

•  Sleep becomes lighter and more fragmented.

•  Naps may shorten to 30–40 minutes – and that’s normal!

• Instead of focusing on “fixing” sleep, this is the time to support your baby through this natural shift:

•  Wake windows increase – but the number of naps often stays the same.

•  Frequent night wakings are common. They don’t mean something is “wrong.”

•  Babies who used to fall asleep anywhere may now need more help.

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Why? Because self-soothing isn’t a skill babies can truly master – it begins to develop closer to age two.

 If naps are consistently short and your baby wakes crying or needing to feed back to sleep, they likely didn’t complete a full sleep cycle. If they wake happy and playful- don't fight it...

 Try to avoid overstimulation by noticing early tired signs and allowing a calm, gradual wind-down before sleep (quiet wake-time, not hyperactivity).

Between 3–4 months, new challenges emerge:

• Teething pain and pressure might begin

• Your baby may need more movement (babywearing, bouncing, massage)

• They may need more touch during the day, or compensate at bedtime if they didn’t get enough

 This is also when strong sleep associations can start forming.

Be mindful: intense rocking, bouncing, or “tricks” to induce sleep may become unsustainable. Instead, aim for gentle, responsive support like nursing, rocking gently, or just lower the intensity of bouncing.

 Your baby needing you to fall asleep – is not a problem. It’s biology!

Nursing or holding to sleep is often a crucial regulatory experience. You’re not spoiling them.

 Sleep can be disrupted by:

• Feeding challenges (low supply, reflux, tongue tie, inappropriate formula)

• Misinterpreting tired cues or skipping active play

• Overstimulation or too many toys

• Digestive discomfort, teething, or sensory sensitivity

 Sensitive babies might only settle in your arms or on your chest. That’s okay. Safety and connection help build the foundation for better sleep later.

 What’s happening developmentally?

Around 17 weeks, many babies hit a major growth leap:

• They realize they can affect their surroundings

• Try to grab or mouth toys

• Show signs of rolling or pre-crawling

• Begin stranger anxiety or preference for familiar faces

• Sleep cycles lengthen from 20–30 minutes to 40+. Daytime sleep shortens, nighttime consolidates.

 Now is a great time to:

• Begin a loose daily rhythm based on wake windows (if you feel like you're spending all day struggling for sleep)

• Prioritize physical touch and calming transitions

• Seek attachment-based sleep support if you're feeling overwhelmed – this age is a perfect time to gently adjust routines while meeting all of your baby’s needs.