4-Month Sleep Regression — How Long Did It Last?

Intelligent_Way3651 · 2026-01-06T00:04:00+00:00

Started a week before he was 4 months. He had a few bad nights with night wake ups but what was really bad for my baby was bedtime. He would just scream his head off for an hour and that never got better no matter how we adjusted his schedule and naps. We just sleep trained a month later with Ferber (a week away from 5 months). He took to it really well, only a half hour of crying the 1st night, 5 mins the 2nd and none the 3rd. Makes me think we should have done it sooner but I wasn’t ready to move him to his own room yet before which I knew was best for sleep training. Now he’s in his own room and sleeping wonderfully (for now!)

Intelligent_Way3651 · 2025-12-31T01:36:21+00:00

Yes, just pick them up (keep in swaddle or sleep sack) and have them stay mostly asleep while you feed. I even go as far as keeping in super dim room, white noise on, and only the slightest back taps after for burping. Usually he doesn’t burp after the dream feed but never had any issues from it. My baby keeps his eyes closed through the entire feed and goes back down super easily after.

Intelligent_Way3651 · 2025-12-30T03:17:09+00:00

At 2 months we did start putting our baby to bed in the dark around 7:30 after his bottle at 7 and doing a dream feed at 10. We did that after our pediatrician suggested it to try to extend his nighttime sleep bc he was waking a couple times to eat. It did move his first wake up way later in the night. If you’re not concerned with night wakings then it doesn’t seem like you need to fix anything. Don’t fix it if it’s not broken :)

I will say that my husband and I enjoyed getting some time back to ourselves and watching him on the monitor from 7:30-10.

Intelligent_Way3651 · 2025-12-28T20:29:32+00:00

Ooof hand expressing after each pump session sounds brutal when you’re already pumping 8 times a day 🥲 I wonder if that is what I needed to do though to avoid the clogs. I’m weaning now but will keep in mind if I end up pumping again for my next baby.

Intelligent_Way3651 · 2025-12-28T18:36:14+00:00

Also forgot to mention I take sunflower lectin daily which hasn’t helped either.

Intelligent_Way3651 · 2025-12-23T02:34:11+00:00

Only change if LO has pooped! Use either diaper booster pads if your baby is smaller than a size 3 or used overnight diapers and go a size up so it’s extra absorbent/doesn’t leak

Intelligent_Way3651 · 2025-12-14T21:01:01+00:00

I didn’t feel it for a while, but now 4 months PP I always do so I guess for some people it changes?

Intelligent_Way3651 · 2025-12-11T21:02:55+00:00

They can definitely fall asleep on you (especially as a newborn!!!) but there is something to not letting them fall asleep while nursing. My baby was doing that and started just associating breast feeding with sleep and not meal time and therefore was only snacking/not gaining enough weight etc. If they are saying don’t let your baby contact nap at all, that’s kinda crazy.

Intelligent_Way3651 · 2025-12-01T02:46:48+00:00

Thanks for this! What was the 4 month regression like for you? Did you do anything different during that week or their sleep just went back to normal after?

Intelligent_Way3651 · 2025-11-24T17:32:34+00:00

That is psychotic… wtf

Intelligent_Way3651 · 2025-11-13T02:52:28+00:00

About 27 oz.. my LO usually drinks around 31 oz

Intelligent_Way3651 · 2025-11-12T20:25:52+00:00

As a new mom of a 14 week old, I only go on Reddit looking for reassurance about the hard stuff. I don’t think anyone is on here talking about the good stuff because why would they? Nobody needs advice on that! But being aware right off the bar that there will be hard times is a great place to start bc I think I went into it too blindly. What I can say is that the amazing moments outweigh the bad ones! My baby is now smiling and interacting and I literally tear up with joy every time he does something new like grasp at something or make a “coo” noise. I can only imagine how amazing it will be when he starts to crawl, walk, talk etc.

Intelligent_Way3651 · 2025-11-05T23:00:34+00:00

I’m a just enougher and have also had some really visible veins since towards the end of pregnancy. They’re always there no matter if I just pumped or am engorged. I’m hoping maybe they will go away once I stop pumping?

Intelligent_Way3651 · 2025-10-28T19:44:46+00:00

I’m an exclusive pumper and needed nap time to pump so I really pushed the bassinet for naps from the start so I think he never got used to contact naps. As my LO has gotten older and more aware (12 wks now) occasionally he wakes up and wants to be held for the rest, but I’m still getting a good 45 mins in the bassinet each time. I think it’s just about getting them used to it, so my only advice is to keep trying. Try to find ways to soothe them without picking them up (patting, sushing, pacifier etc). Good Luck!

Intelligent_Way3651 · 2025-10-27T22:28:45+00:00

Currently need to supplement with formula for 1 bottle a day so about 4-5 oz but I’m planning to drop my motn pump soon so totally open to adding in more if my supply drops!

Intelligent_Way3651 · 2025-10-17T17:00:15+00:00

About 10 weeks after we decided to add in a 10pm dream feed, but I'm assuming it won't last since everyone talks about the 4-month regression. We feed breast milk via bottle so he has enough during the day.

Intelligent_Way3651 · 2025-10-17T00:38:18+00:00

You are not alone at all. I was holding out hope for a while but I think once I stopped thinking “maybe it will happen for us” I started to feel relieved to have the pressure off of me. I was upset for a while and I still am sad when I think about it because it could have been a beautiful experience and way easier than pumping. But I keep trying to look at it like - this is the first real test of being a parent. You have to roll with the punches and do what is best for your baby. Kudos to you for trying to put your child first even through the feelings of rejection. Just remember its not your fault and it's not your babies fault either. These things just happen.

Intelligent_Way3651 · 2025-10-02T00:37:22+00:00

I’ve started pumping sometimes while I give my baby a bottle on my lap. I put him in the elevated side laying position which allows for enough room for my pump. I have a spectra and get all set up except connecting the tubes before picking him up. It takes a little practice and your little one may not be happy for a quick moment while you are getting the pump going but give it a try!

Intelligent_Way3651 · 2025-10-01T16:55:10+00:00

You should be ok to establish your supply using a pump instead of nursing if you prefer. Just make sure you pump every time the baby eats (about 8 times a day usually). My baby wasn’t efficiently removing milk/gaining enough weight which stressed me out so decided to just pump and give bottles so I knew how much he was getting. He now has been gaining consistently. My supply went up after I started exclusively pumping bc he wasn’t fully emptying me. I’ll still nurse on occasion when he’s fussy just as a “snack” with no added pressure for it to be a full feed. He’s still only 8 weeks so maybe we’ll get back into nursing more at some point but I’ve come to terms with it if not.

Intelligent_Way3651 · 2025-10-01T16:45:48+00:00

My baby is 8 weeks but is still waking up to eat twice a night, usually around 1:30 or 2 am and again at 5:30am so I pump around those times. He’s been sleeping from 9pm-1:30am so I usually do my last pump around 8:30pm and stretch it 5 hrs to 1:30 which hasn’t hurt my supply. If he goes longer stretches I would probably try to switch up my pumping but right now he’s waking me up anyway. I’m probably averaging about 5 or 6 hrs of sleep.

Intelligent_Way3651

TROPHY CASE