How to Get Your Baby to Sleep Through the Night at 4 Months
The term "sleeping like a baby" is open to debate, as many parents of a young baby will testify. Establishing a sleep routine for your baby is not easy, and it puts heavy pressure on already sleep-deprived parents. A young baby will wake frequently because her need to eat is more important than her need to sleep. But as a baby reaches 4 months of age, her stomach size increases so that she is able to handle larger amounts of food, so establishing a sleep routine at this age should increase your chances of success (Reference 1).
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Instructions
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Establish a bedtime routine. Just like adults, young children need to wind down at the end of a busy day. His night routine should begin an hour or so before he is ready to go to bed. Start by bathing him and consider giving him a baby massage afterwards to relax him. Have ten minutes cuddle time, before giving him his final feed of the day. He should be calm and ready to go to sleep by the time you put him in his crib.
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Resist the temptation to let her sleep in places other than her crib. By letting her sleep in your bed, on the couch or in her chair you are giving her confusing signals about where she is meant to sleep. Consistently putting her in her crib, at night and other nap times, will encourage her to associate it with sleep time, says the Kids Health website article. (2) Knowing her crib is for sleep and not play or any other activity is an important part of her sleeping routine.
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Give your baby a chance to settle down and get in to a comfortable position at night (Reference 3). It is tempting to jump up and tend to your baby at the slightest hint of a shuffle, but you have to give him a chance to get comfortable. If you run to his room at the smallest sniffle, he will become used to the constant attention until he cannot fall asleep without your being there.
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Make sure the baby's day is full of activities. Keep your baby engaged by playing with her or talking to her. The activity during the day will mean she is ready for bed at bedtime. While an activity-filled day is good, do not forget that she will need a couple of naps too. Regular naps through the day help encourage a natural sleep cycle. Do not let her nap during the day for longer than three hours at a time (Reference 2).
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Whether you let your baby have a pacifier is a personal decision. Advantages include helping to settle fussy or unhappy babies. Also, their use might lower the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (Reference 4). The main disadvantage of a pacifier is that your baby might wake up each time it falls out of her mouth.
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Make sure night feedings are calm and relaxed. The less fuss you make when you feed him at night, the better. Turn the lights down and try not to talk or make eye contact, as this will stimulate your baby and encourage him to wake up ready to play. Keep diaper changes to a minimum by changing him only when absolutely necessary.
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Tips & Warnings
White noise, music boxes and the sound of your voice are all recommended ways to help your baby fall asleep. Ensure that your baby's nightclothes are not too restrictive and allow enough movement in his arms and legs. Young babies are naturally active when they sleep. Do not put your baby into his crib asleep. Letting him drift off in his crib further encourages him to associate it with sleep.
The baby should sleep on her back to reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (Reference 2).
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