Q: 4-month wakeful period?

Posted Thursday, June 12, 2008 3:48 PM

Q: I've heard that babies can have a wakeful period at around four months, where a baby who's been sleeping fine all of a sudden starts waking during the month. Why does this happen, and how should I deal with it?

Conner Herman & Kira Ryan: It's not uncommon for babies to start having sleep difficulties around their four-month birthday. This ages marks a huge cognitive and emotional turning point for babies, as they become much more aware of -- and interested in -- the world around them. It can also mean they'll sometimes want to play during the night. This is actually a good sign, because it means baby is bonding with you and having a good time during the day. However, it's challenging to cater to his desire to be with you around the clock.

So, that's why the wakeful period happens. Now, what can you do about it? If you're up for sleep training, now is a good time to start. Pick an approach that you and your partner both believe in so that you can support each other through the sleep teaching process. Start when your baby is healthy and when he'll be sleeping at home for a couple of weeks.

If you're not interested in sleep training or just not ready yet, our advice is to be minimally invasive at night. When you go in, try to soothe your baby without picking him up. If you feel your baby needs to be fed, give him enough to satisfy him but not fill up his entire stomach. While these things may not get him to sleep straight through the night, they are good baby steps toward encouraging him to become an independent sleeper. 

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