4 months regression: how can the child’s sleep can change

4 months regression: how can the child’s sleep can change


Regulating the child’s sleep can be a real challenge for parents, especially in the event of “sleep regression at 4 months”

In the first months of life, the child’s routine is full of novelty, which will inevitably influence his rest. In this sense there is a “4 -month sleep regression”, a common phenomenon in this path, which can make the routine more demanding for parents.




According to Eliana Dias, child sleep specialist, when the child reaches 4 months, unlike the previous months, a significant change occurs in its development.

Why does the child’s sleep change at 4 months?

“At this stage, it reaches neurological maturity and begins to perceive the environment more, reacting to visual, auditory and other stimuli, like a heated light bulb or a noise. It is something that was before was unable to do, but begins to occur and tends only to increase”, explains the professional.

The phase, often called “the age of intelligence”, is marked by the new learning of the child, since it begins to perceive space in a sensory way. Now he can understand that crying causes his parents to come to his rescue.

It is therefore important to pay attention: the womb is important for the development and emotional part of the child, but it is necessary that he has more contact with the bed before bedtime, he warns Eliana.

“If in this initial period you teach your child to sleep only on his womb or when he is breastfed, at four months he will constantly demand him,” says the consultant, who sees many guardians every day to blame the “4 -month jump” or to the “Development jump”.

“This does not exist. What happens is that this child has not learned good sleep habits and, when he will reach this smarter phase, in which he already understands the behavior of his parents and what has been taught, he will understand that sleeping on your knees is more relaxing than sleeping in bed, for example”, adds the professional.

According to the child sleep specialist, this is the so -called “4 -month sleep regression”.

What if the child cries?

The tiredness of the parents perhaps leaves no alternative, but Eliana contraindicates to leave the child to cry until he falls asleep. “At any age, children need different strategies. So if they cry, it is a sign that they need you. It is not advisable to leave them to cry to learn to sleep. At that moment, all they need is comfort, hence the importance of flexibility,” he says.

Educating your baby to sleep better

The childhood consultant underlines that it is necessary to remember that educating his child’s sleep is not a military training. It is therefore not a question of imposing rigid rules, but of teaching gradually.

“The habits are acquired and this applies to everything. So, educating the sleep of the child is a flexible process in which we guide him to spend more time to sleep,” he underlines.

Therefore, it is essential to teach and strengthen healthy sleep habits from birth. “But if this has not been done so far, we can start 4 months, when it will already be able to understand and learn everything that is taught”, adds the professional.

According to her, regression of sleep NO It is a setback, but an opportunity to encourage your child to develop sleep autonomy. “Remember that it is now prepared for this,” concludes Eliana Dias.

Source: Terra

You may also like