4 month old day sleeps

**Jesmo** · 31-05-2011 15:03

My 4 month old DS sleeps well at night but is soo hard to settle during the day which just stresses me out rocking and patting him for up to an hour at a time. Should I just give up putting him to sleep during the day? How much should he be sleeping?

**Mum2Lil13** · 31-05-2011 15:25

Hi Jesmo, my four month old DD has three day sleeps of about 45 mins to an hour, I believe that at four months the recommended amount of sleep is 13 hours in a 24 hour period but every baby is different so recommended usually goes out the window as every baby is different. I used to have so much trouble getting my DD to sleep in the day until someone told me up for two hours then down for however long, as soon as two hours is approaching she starts to show tired signs so I rock her in her darkened room and then put her down when she is drowsy but not quite fully asleep so she can settle herself. This has worked great for so just thought I would pass this on. Good Luck I know how hard it can be.

**millsmum** · 31-05-2011 16:22

My dd is four months old and has 3 day sleeps.
The first 2 sleeps she sleeps 2hrs each sleep and the
last sleep she sleeps for about an hour
She has 10hrs of sleep a night- 1 night feed in there and sleeps about 4-5hrs all up durring the day.
She will only be awake 2hrs at the most between sleeps.

**Jennifer50238** · 31-05-2011 16:45

The book No cry nap solutions by Elizabeth pantley is really good for this. She talks about how important napping is for their development etc.

I really struggle with day sleeping too but have found now I am learning DDs tired signs that it is getting easier.

The other thing I learned was to make sure they aren't awake for more than 2 hrs or so like PP said. I didn't realize that but she settles much better if I put her down before she gets too tired.

**duckduckgoose** · 31-05-2011 22:37

My DS only sleeps during the day in his swing, pram, or in the car. Totally not ideal but I don't care, it works for us. OP maybe you could try rocking him in his pram for day sleeps?

**jennibear** · 31-05-2011 22:55

I have one question for you. How long is he awake for between sleeps???

babies of 4 months should really only be awake for 1-1.5 hous at a time.

Follow the feed play sleep routine...when he wakes, feed him, have a bit of play (1.5 hours max) then put him down to sleep.

it may be that hes OVER tired by the time your putting him down. I learnt this the hard way. As soon as i started putting DS down after about 1.5 hours (sometimes only 1 hour) he went to sleep without so much as a wimper!!

When babies are over tired its harder for them settle on their own.

Even now at 6 month, DS will only be awake for 2 hours max before hes overtired and cranky and needs to be rocked to sleep!!

**decemberbubba** · 01-06-2011 08:20

Originally Posted by jennibear

I have one question for you. How long is he awake for between sleeps???

babies of 4 months should really only be awake for 1-1.5 hous at a time.

Follow the feed play sleep routine...when he wakes, feed him, have a bit of play (1.5 hours max) then put him down to sleep.

it may be that hes OVER tired by the time your putting him down. I learnt this the hard way. As soon as i started putting DS down after about 1.5 hours (sometimes only 1 hour) he went to sleep without so much as a wimper!!

When babies are over tired its harder for them settle on their own.

Even now at 6 month, DS will only be awake for 2 hours max before hes overtired and cranky and needs to be rocked to sleep!!

I agree with this ^.

I find it really hard to read DS's tired signs and not long ago he was crying alot before each day sleep - I was letting him get too tired.

He's now only up for 1.5 hours max and goes off to sleep without a fuss most times (he's nearly 5 months). He generally sleeps for around 40 minutes during the day and we follow a feed, play, sleep routine.

**Feathers** · 01-06-2011 12:54

For the first 6 months of DD1s life, she would sleep brilliantly of a night in her cot. 8 hours straight from 3 weeks and 12 hours straight from 3 months. But would only sleep for 3 x 1/2 cat naps during the day at most, and would only sleep in her bouncer when really tired. If I put her in her cot during the day, she would SCREAM. Was around 6 months of age before she would sleep 2 x 1 hour sleeps during the day in her cot.

She is now 2.5 years old, and it certainly didnt hurt her sleeping or resting in her bouncer during the day. DD2 seems to be exactly the same at 2 months of age

My cousins babies have been the same, so youre def not alone

**Jesmo** · 01-06-2011 18:25

thanks for all the advise ladies! He will only sleep in the baby carrier (and i have to keep moving) during the day which makes me exhausted! I will try and put him down before he's tired but he just doesn't stop looking around at stuff

thanks the support