Your baby was sleeping beautifully, and suddenly everything fell apart. Welcome to the 4-month sleep regression — a developmental milestone disguised as sleep torture.
What's Actually Happening
Around 4 months, your baby's sleep patterns mature from newborn sleep to adult-like sleep cycles. This is actually a good thing — it just doesn't feel like it at 3 AM.
Signs of the 4-Month Regression
- Waking more frequently at night
- Shorter naps (the dreaded 30-minute nap)
- Increased fussiness, especially at bedtime
- Difficulty falling asleep independently
Survival Strategies
This regression typically lasts 2-6 weeks. Here's how to get through it:
Optimize the Sleep Environment
Make the room dark — we're talking cave-dark. Use white noise consistently. Keep the room cool (68-72°F is ideal).
Watch Wake Windows
At 4 months, most babies can only handle 1.5-2 hours of awake time. Putting an overtired baby to bed is counterproductive.
When It Gets Better
The good news: once your baby adjusts to these new sleep patterns, they often become better sleepers overall. Hang in there!