Signs Your Baby is Going Through the 4 Month Regression

4 Month Old Twins

Frequent Night Waking

This is the first sign that will make you wonder what is going on. Frequent and long night-time waking and the inability to resettle and go back to sleep easily. Babies do still wake at this age to feed, which is 100% normal, but if your baby is waking more often than 2 - 3 times at night, then you are most likely facing the dreaded regression.

Increased Fussiness & Crying

Babies can be fussy anyway. That's just something babies do. They don't have any other way of showing you that they are uncomfortable, cold, hot, tired or extremely wakeful and unable to settle. They can be crying or totally alert. When that level of fussiness increases for no reason, and it is interfering with bedtime, then you are most likely going through the regression. Babies cannot regulate their emotions alone.

Change in Appetite

At 4 months, it's common for babies to want to feed more. More often and more quantity. This may be the time to increase feeds if breastfeeding or quantity if formula feeding.

Restless Sleep

Sleep becomes lighter and more restless for your baby. They need more help settling and resettling to sleep. It's frustrating, but it is important to remember that with time and patience this will pass.

Catnapping

Naps become shorter (usually 30 - 45 minutes) and this is normal, as this is one sleep cycle for your baby. Then will need your help to resettle back to sleep and this is okay because you're teaching your baby to extend their sleep time. Sometimes it is impossible to get them to resettle. Your baby still needs day sleep, but the daily total amount of sleep will also change and develop into regular naps.

Get as much rest as you can (when you can)

Reach out to family and friends

Try to adapt to a routine for yourself to settle your baby and stay as consistent as possible

Hang in there 💗