My LB is 20 weeks old and for the last 2 weeks we have hit the 4 month sleep regression, as well as only falling asleep at the breast or being rocked in mine or his dads arms. Between me and his dad we are exhausted with the wake ups every couple of hours or him waking up for 3 hours at a time. We are trying to work out a self settling routine but nothing we are doing seems to be working, we put him down when he is drowsy but he then either cries or wakes up wide awake.
Help!
I forgot to add, he has always refused a dummy too
Hello ATiredMum
Sleep regressions are really hard to manage, especially if they had started to sleep a little better before this.
What was happening prior to the regression? Was he self settling then?
It is really tough going, but the more you respond to him, the more likely he will be able to self settle. He is still very young and this is quite a difficult skill for them to develop.
Does he nap much in the day? How does he settle for these?
Sometimes with the regressions, the best approach is instead of trying to "fix it" which virtually impossible, the best way is to come up with a plan to manage until this naturally improves.
For example, you mentioned his Dad in the post, so I would say, it may be worth, short term, asking him to sleep downstairs or to put ear plugs in so he can have a relatively peaceful sleep at night, and then take over from 4 or so before work so you can have a few hours rest, and then at the weekend, if you feed baby, then Dad can take little one until the next feed, then again after that so you have some time to recharge your batteries a bit.
It won't be like that forever, but it is important to minimise the effects whilst it lasts.
Best Wishes, Rachel
