You've made it out of the fourth trimester - congratulations! I'm sure it's been a wild ride navigating your new little one in the past three months and you might feel like you've finally settled into a good routine.

Then, out of nowhere, it seems to have all changed. 

WHAT YOU MIGHT SEE HAPPENING WITH THEIR SLEEP

• Newly started catnapping
• More frequent night waking
• Difficulty falling asleep without assistance
• Harder to transition into cot while sleeping
• More sensitive to their sleep associations

IS THE FOUR MONTH SLEEP REGRESSION THE CULPRIT?

As you may have heard, there is a huge neurological change in your baby around this age. The 4 month regression can occur anytime between 3-6 months of age and it marks the permanent change of sleep cycle formation in your little one.

What once was a simple newborn sleep cycle equally split between REM (active) and N-REM (deep sleep) easily drifting back and forth between them, is now a complex sleep cycle similar to those of an adult with definitive starts and finishes as you can see below.

It is really important to remember, not all babies experience the sleep disruptions that the four month regression is known for. For some, parents are none the wiser whilst some are a little bit more sensitive.

It really does come down to your individual baby and their temperament. 

WHY IS THIS DEVELOPMENT A GOOD THING?

• Now that your baby has a more advanced sleep cycle, you will be able to see them able to effectively self-settle, which means they will also be capable to exploring how to re-settle during naps and night sleep leading to the development of longer sleeps.
• You will start to see more predictability in your routine leading to more consistent days although we still expect inconsistency at this age for some. 
• Now that their body is syncing with the circadian rhythm, they are able to accumulate sleep pressure throughout the day (also called homeostatic sleep drive), which allows for a stronger urge for a good night sleep working in your favor with longer stretches overnight.

SO WHAT NOW?

If you haven't already thought about it, now is a good time to start considering working towards independent sleep if what you are doing no longer works for you.

We recommend starting this anywhere between 4-6 months, but for best results you may find waiting until 5-6 months to be better.

You can have a look at the process that the team here at The Sleepy Little Bubs take when it comes to moving away from what is no longer sustainable.

Read our I want to STOP.... co sleeping, rocking to sleep blog here. 

If you're struggling trying to navigate the changes happening at this age, book in for our FREE 15min Discovery Call

• For parents struggling with the effects of this regression and not sure how to get back on track, our Phone Consult + Two Week Support option is for you.
• Do you think you have it cased for the most part but just have a couple of questions? Check our our 30min Quick Chat
• We also have a comprehensive 3-12 Month Sleep Guide that is jam-packed and provides you with all of the information needed to navigate your little ones sleep and set up a great routine.