Hellobee Boards

So sorry! Sucks. Sounds like the dreaded 4 month sleep regression to me! For us we just powered through for a couple of crappy weeks and then she was back on track (but her naps didn't solidify until around 5 months... around 4 months sucks because they are becoming less sleepy but haven't learned how to nap, in my experience). We also used nursing as a last resort (i.e. my husband soothed her for most of the wakeups). So hard that your husband is traveling! Are you nursing?

FWIW, letting her fuss for 10 - 15 minutes isn't sleep training, in my book, and may be worth a shot?

4 month sleep regression for sure. We were in that hell for 3-4 weeks. I have no clue how I still functioned, worked, and drove. Sleep training is the only way we could get her to sleep again.

What @JoJoGirl: said.

I would leave her for 10 mins before going to get her. She could possibly go back to sleep.

In our experience, the four month regression was something we just had to make it through. I hope it passes quickly for you. It is so hard

Month 4 is when it hit the worst. We sleep trained at 5 months 3 weeks because it was unrealistic for us to keep messing with it.

I think Mrs. Bee's post on sleep training says that the first good window is 4.5 months.

oOoooh the dreaded 4 month sleep regression was our absolute worst period!!! DD went from sleeping 4-6 or sometimes 7 hour stretch to 1-2 hours. It took about 4-6 weeks for us work back to the 4-6 hour stretch. Hang in there momma!

Exactly what MJane (and i'm sure what the other mommies all have said). That is the 4 month sleep regression. I remember it happening to us around the same time and I was about to lose my mind. We just had to get through it, I'm sorry to say. It is temporary and she will go back to a better schedule.

I think from 3.5 months to about 4.5 months was pretty rocky. Each night was different but the sleep seemed like it was worse than when my LO was younger! Around 4.5+ was when I saw the light and at 5 months, nightly sleep stretches were getting longer and longer with one night of not waking at all!! That was when things really started to look ok.

We are at 7 mo now and teething, so that means 1 night waking (maybe 2) but for the most part, naps and nighttime have normalized.

My advice: stay calm and tell yourself "this too shall pass." It will, mommy. Sorry you are going through it right now...its so hard. Hang in there!

@ms.janedoe: One thought, my LO doesn't like the swaddle any longer. I bought the Merlin Magic Sleep Suit and it is helping. How is Harper dressed when sleeping?

@ms.janedoe: I'm right there with you. The last three nights have been miserable. Add on that I've had a sore throat and congestion so I can't sleep anyway, I'm exhausted. Last night, LO woke up every time I put her down after 1 am, I ended up sleeping in the glider.

Here's to hoping the 4 month regression is only a few weeks.

@ms.janedoe: thanks. Hopefully yours is coming to an end.

That is exactly when we went from STTN to basically refusing to sleep anywhere but latched onto my boob. I know everyone says the 4 month regression passes but I white knuckled through it for over a month before sleep training at 18 weeks & I am extremely glad we did.

In our situation, LO was very devoted to her sleep props. It had been nursing but I started just rocking if it wasn't a feeding time & while she protested at first, she started going back to sleep just fine as long as I rocked her... but I would put her down dead asleep & start over 20 minutes later. I knew if we could teach her to fall back asleep without rocking we would be in much better shape.

We swaddle weaned & introduced a lovey before we Ferberized. It was painful but it worked insanely fast - like the first night. A huge bonus is naps are improved because she can put herself back to sleep after the 40 min mark when before she could not transition sleep cycles on her own.

I am of the belief that helping your child to get better sleep is the loving thing to do even if involves crying. Unfortunately since I had not heeded the advice everyone gives you to put your baby down drowsy & awake, she just was unable to go back to sleep without help, and so she was crying for me 10+ a night. Now she has 2-3 wake-ups and gets up in the morning happy & rested!

@ms.janedoe: Oh lady I feel you! We coslept some to survive too, and like you I didn't enjoy it. She still woke up a lot so I had to move her around every hour to get her a "fresh" boob, and I felt like I barely slept with her next to me.

I still have moments where I question if my LO was too little, so I completely understand where you are coming from. And while we were already in the crib, I was also just as nervous about swaddle weaning. LO hit herself & scratched her face at first too but in just a few days she was doing fine. I would rock her until she was dead asleep & transfer her super carefully so she wouldn't hit herself, and I also strategically laid an A&A blanket over her hands to sort of muffle them when she did startle.

All I can really say is that I'm really glad we sleep trained, but no matter what you do I completely understand what you are going through & how hard it is!

The only thing I can tell you is that it is a phase and it will pass. We were in it for a few weeks (3 I think) and it stopped just as quickly as it started. Hang in there and buy lots of coffee!