3 Month Baby Sleep Regression Tips
Sleep regressions usually start to occur when the baby is about four months old and last between two to four weeks. They can also recur in the future, at 9 months and 18 months, as the infant continues to grow and develop. Although sleep regression is common, some children never experience it.
The 4 month old sleep regression is usually the hardest for most parents because it is often their first time to experience it. It poses many parenting challenges and can leave both the mother and father exhausted. As a parent, the changing sleep patterns of your child affect your sleeping patterns too. Whenever the infant wakes up at night, you also have to wake up to tend to him/her. This may have a huge impact on your work, as you may wind up getting less sleep and rest than you require. For those new to parenting, it can be a frustrating experience.
At 4 months, an infant starts achieving milestones in their development. Their life becomes busier as they start gaining motor control. Crawling, squirming, and rolling over form part of their daily routine. All this activity affects how they sleep. In the first three months, an infant sleeps for about 16 hours in a day. However, during the 4 month old baby sleep regression he/she will get about 12 hours of sleep spread throughout the day. Their nap time during daytime reduces to a total of 4 hours spread throughout the day.by sleep regression
Before they turn four months, infants are usually easy to lull to sleep and they can remain asleep for a long time. However, when sleep regression sets in, it upsets the balance for most parents. This can, however, be managed by applying sleep training techniques. This involves controlling the child’s sleep environment as well as their nap time schedule. Some simple tricks can help reduce the impact of a sleep regression.The activities of your child during daytime have a bearing on their sleep pattern. Thus, you need to carry out sleep training with this in mind. Ensuring he/she is fully fed and has enough time to practice their movements during the day would lead to fewer sleep interruptions at night. You also need to train your infant on bedtime routines while ensuring the room is dark and calm as they sleep. Adjusting the sleep routine as well as the environment trains your child to fall asleep under certain conditions. For example, they learn to associate the dark with sleep time. With consistency in routines, parents can enjoy nighttime sleep even during sleep regressions.
