4 Month Old Sleep Schedule

Routines and predictability are often the bedrock of most philosophies about baby sleep time, but it’s not that simple for a 4-month-old sleep schedule. When your baby reaches three to four months, their sleep behaviour reaches a developmental leap and becomes more dynamic. Instead of prolonged sleeping, they begin cycling through light and deep phases with brief waking periods afterwards. Some little ones can adjust well to these changes – their daytime sleep becomes organised with approximately 45-minute cycles. But some have trouble settling into good baby sleep patterns. Read on to find helpful tips that can help provide better sleep for your baby and, consequently, the entire family.

At Riff Raff Sleep Toys, we offer some of the best baby products that help give babies confidence when resettling themselves to sleep. Whether you’re looking for dummy comforters, baby security blankets, baby hooded towels, baby sleep aids, teething toys, or newborn toys, you can certainly find a sleep toy that your child will form wonderful memories with.

What is the best sleep schedule?

You need to remember that your little one is human and not a system operating smoothly by the clock, so expecting them to follow a rigid 4-month-old sleep schedule is not reasonably feasible. Some days, they may need more sleep; other days they’re okay with less. The best thing to internalise right now is that it’s okay if things don’t pan out precisely to the minute. Take your time to figure out what works best for you and your baby. Every day is always a chance to try and get things back on track.

Why is it important to have a sleep schedule?

Babies thrive off routines and consistency – it’s a massive part of what gives them comfort and security. Babies are also more likely to sleep well if their day-to-day activities follow a predictable sleep schedule, similar to how adults function to the peak of their capacity when their circadian rhythms are maintained well. This is where Riff Raff sleep toys are best integrated into a 4-month-old sleep schedule. By having a comforter they can build positive associations with sleep time.

There are a few things to keep in mind when putting a 4-month-old to sleep.

Keep them engaged during their awake times.

Whether they have slept for two hours or a measly five minutes, an infant will not know the difference. All they know is that they have ‘slept’, they are recharged, and they are ready to shake things up again. And if they zone out for a few moments and snap back into reality, their awake threshold may be pushed even further, and they may outright refuse bedtime. During their awake times, such as feeding, it’s important to keep them engaged to build up their appetite for sleep. This means avoiding snack feeding so you can focus on getting them sleeping for prolonged periods instead of constantly worrying that they may be waking due to hunger.

Follow your baby’s lead (instead of a clock)

When it comes to bedtime for a 4-month-old, setting a strict schedule to be followed day by day is actually counterintuitive. If your baby is already tired, but you haven’t put them down yet because it’s not yet time, then your little one will become more tired. The more difficulty they will have getting good quality sleep.

If your baby is overtired, you might be observing the following:
- Decreased activity or interest in surroundings
- Irritability, eye rubbing
- A ‘second wind’ or ‘wired’ hyper-alert state
- Multiple night wake ups
- Difficult sleep settles

Overall, avoid holding them out to a particular bedtime and instead, observe closely for periods of drowsiness, lean into that and use that as your guide for ensuring they get the rest they need.

Have a solid bedtime routine

Remember, with age comes awareness. Your little one will eventually start becoming aware of routines – and associations can have a powerful impact on this.

When it comes to a 4-month-old sleep schedule, there are a few activities that you can create a pattern with that can help yield better sleep cycles: you can use a sequence of bath/shower, feed (wide awake), playtime, then into the nursery while singing them a good night song. If you incorporate a comforter like a Riff Raff sleep toy into this nighttime routine, you may find yourself surprised with how effectively they can signal bedtime for babies. Incorporating a comforter like a Riff Raff sleep toy into your sleep routine will help teach your baby that it's time for sleep. The consistency of the comforter's presence, either in your arms during cuddles or tethered safely to the crib, creates a positive sleep association. Plus, they learn a connection between sleep and sound when either the white noise with heartbeat or the sleepy lullaby is triggered.

Now that you know the benefits of integrating a sleep aid into a 4-month-old sleep schedule, browse more of our products at the Riff Raff Sleep Toys online store! Our mission is to provide quality products that can be a source of comfort for your loved one and assist in establishing a positive sleep association through the use of sound, texture, and visual comfort cues. Shopping for multiple items is a breeze with our easy-to-navigate site, plus the ordering process is simple. Order now and experience quality sleep not just for your baby but for the entire family!

@with.love.chrissy

Safety Note: It is really important that SIDS safe sleeping guidelines are followed and no soft toys should be in the crib with your baby under 7 months of age. Our toy has been designed with a strap which should be used to secure the toy to either the inside or the outside of the crib away from little ones hands. This strap should always be used with babies unless being directly supervised. They will benefit from the audio and visual comfort when not able to feel the comforter.