sleep patterns at 4.5 months?

[MantaRay]

I would also like to say great post Ozziehoffy. I second it!

Tenar, at around 4 months, it is very normal for babies to become more alert. They are becoming more aware of their surroundings and as a result it can be very hard to get them to sleep, and often even to stay still long enough to feed. This can be frustrating, but it is a good sign that she is developing well. I don't want to scare you, but around this time (or a bit later), night wakings can also increase. This is a period of rapid brain development and babies just seem to need extra feeds at night to cater for this. Also, as they start to learn new skills such as sitting, crawling and later standing, they start practising them when they stir rather than putting themselves back to sleep. It can be a tiring time, but I think part of the key to getting through is by accepting it as a necessary part of parenting, and the joy at seeing them growing up helps too.

I think the most common bad advice given to parents is "don't set up bad habits". I know I heard it many a time myself. It really is one of the most unfounded ideas though. Babies are too young to develop habits. They do things a certain way for a while, and then things change. It happens constantly. Babies who are fed, rocked, patted etc to sleep do not always need it. Even at a young age babies can distinguish between situations - a baby who needs to be bf to sleep at home will nearly always fall asleep just fine when mum isn't there. And at some stage they are perfectly happy to fall asleep without a feed anymore. In fact, studies and general experience show the reverse - the babies who are left to cry themselves to sleep are the ones who become toddlers and pre-schoolers who can't put themselves to sleep - because they don't have good associations with bed and sleep. Whereas my boys who were bf to sleep and never left to cry (and many more like them!) go to sleep very easily now - and have for a very long time. Often if we are running a bit late with dinner they will even get up from the table when they are finished and put themselves to bed!

You are doing a really awesome job hun. Keep up the great work, and don't worry about what anyone else says. Trust your instincts - they've done very well for you for this far!

[satya]

My son slept through the night from 12 weeks. He self settled. It may have been luck or it may have been because he was put to bed with a dummy. Not sure. He was a very unsettled baby in the SCN until he had a dummy & then he was a placid baby from that moment on.

Whenever I've had trouble settling him I usually give him a bottle & put his Leap Tad on the night time music mode for 10 minutes. This almost always works.

Not sure if you are using bottles or a dummy but if they aren't to your taste I would certainly suggest using music. It's far easier than singing.....there's only so many times you can sing Twinkle Twinkle (or whatever it is you sing) before you get sick of it

[Arcadia]

I think the most common bad advice given to parents is "don't set up bad habits". I know I heard it many a time myself. It really is one of the most unfounded ideas though. Babies are too young to develop habits. They do things a certain way for a while, and then things change. It happens constantly.

Totally agree! Also the concept of having a "right" way seems to be putting them in bed with eyes wide open all the time. In all honesty, I got sucked into the theory that if they self settle they will sleep better, but while it did improve things in the instance, I have since found DD sleeps the same whether she is rocked/fed or self settles. And she has NEVER slept through the night.

Life is too short to be worrying about what MCHN and others have to say. You do things the way you want!