4 Month Old Not Sleeping - Glendale Heights,IL

My son went through the same thing at that age...I used to give him warmer than usual baths before bed, put his towel in the dryer so when he got out he stayed warm, and I did infant massage with a lavender bedtime lotion. This helped him tremendously to relax and sleep. Also I wrapped him tight with a blanket out of the dryer. He was an overall happier baby with the massaging. Also try singing softly to him while massage. Also if it is a teething issue, I used sore throat spray for his teething, its easier than orajel my doctor recommended it. Good luck!

Hi L.. My daughter, now 7 months, went through the same thing at around 4 months. She went from sleeping through the night to multiple wakings and we couldn't get her back to sleep for a couple of hours. This lasted for a few weeks. Then, she went right back to sleeping through the night. I think it was growing pains and teething combined. Once her tooth really started to come in, she started to sleep better. We just had to wait it out. We gave her Tylenol at night, just in case she was sore, but that didn't help her sleep.

Good Luck!
A.

PLEASE re-evaluate your daycare for your 4 month old. In my town, we recently had a daycare sitter abusing babies and the babies were acting out at night and the way your baby is acting mirrors the behavior of the abused babies. Please don't be alarmed, just do more investigating about your daycare sitter. Your baby is acting out in the evening, because something isn't right during the day.
Your baby is trying to communicate with you the best way he knows how to and he is trying to be loud and clear....Do NOT let the doctor blow this issue off and say it is a phase and it will pass.....

He's way too young for cereal. Don't start him on solids. Babies shouldn't start solids before 6 months old. Their digestive systems can't handle it and they also have a higher probability of allergies. Neither of which are worth more sleep. It's probably just a growth spurt. Nurse more or bottle feed more and it will pass and he'll go back to his normal anount of sleep.

L.,

I know some moms don't like to do this but I did with my youngest and she slept all night long. just a lil' bit of cereal in her night time bottle and I would rock her to sleep while she was eating.

I also found that if you find a comforting music station to have it on low and it calms them down also.

It could be a growth spurt or teething. Although I think it could be some reflux. My son had reflux. Definitely bring this up to your doctor. After feeding him, make sure you get a burp from him and sit him up for at least 10-15 minutes after a feeding. If you are nursing, take note of what you eat. That could be bothering him. If you are using formula, you might want to try a different formula - nestle good start is less harsh on tummies. Good luck.

The cereal debacle really needs to stop; different strokes for different folks, do what you want, you certainly ARE NOT going to hurt him. I started my son on cereal at 2 1/2 months because the little chub wouldn't stop eating, he just wasn't satisfied with the formula anymore. And yes they can digest it, good grief. BUT you said he was eating fine so here's an idea...

Maybe he just doesn't want to sleep. He may have gas, you can try some mylicon drops, or swaddle him and rub his belly. Is he having normal bowel movements? Rubbing his belly will really help that. But he is a baby and might just feel like fussing.

My suggestions, feel his gums, see if they are hard, puffy or red, he might be teething. Which can also make their belly hurt, their little noses run and give him the poops. Try some gas drops, and make very sure you are burping him good. You won't hurt him, I'm sure you know that but good thumps on the back to make sure he's getting that air out. If nothing else works, I suggest you give it time, and if it doesn;t pass or gets worse, talk to the doctor.

It has been my experience that when a baby kicks his legs and arches his back, he is having tummy issues. One of my twins began doing this around 3 1/2, 4 months and our doctor labeled it colic. this lasted about a month or so. Sometimes I would use anit-gas drops and it would help some. I also would use a hot water bottle and lay him on his belly on top of the bottle, on my lap. My other twin had reflux and would kick his legs and arch his back when his tummy hurt.

Hi L.,

Congrats! Have you tried swaddling the little guy? Both my kids slept like rocks that way...

N.

Hi L.,

I just posted this almost identical response a couple of weeks ago but was asking how to get my son to sleep. Unforunately, the variety of responses made me more baffled. But I did order the book Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child. I also found this interesting article that strangely made a lot of sense to me about the sleep habits of 4 month olds. My son used to sleep for about 6 to 8 hours a night!

http://www.kellymom.com/parenting/sleep/4mo-sleep.html

Good luck!!

Denise

This happened when my son was a little younger than 4 months. Our dr said he was probably hungry and to give him some cereal (shocking for a doctor but we did it) and it worked like a charm! Good luck!

I was just having the same problem two weeks ago with my four month old son. He went from almost sleeping through the night to waking up every two hours then last week I noticed his first tooth came in. It seemed a little early and he showed no other symptoms of teething but I was relieved to know there was a reason for those sleepless nights. So hang in there maybe he is just teething and if his gums hurt he wont sleep. But it gets better once the tooth surfaced he started sleeping better again. Good luck.

I don't know why doctors say start cereal, the AAP and the WHO don't agree, and scientifically, it doesn't make sense...carbs give a spike in blood sugar that wear off which means that you're actually going to make him hungrier later. Yes some babies do sleep longer when given cereal, this is because their bodies can't digest it so it just sits in their stomaches making them feel full. But if they can't digest it, it hardly seems like a good idea, right?
I'm guessing it's one of three things.
1) Beginning of teething. As the teeth come in to the jaw they can get pain even if the teeth aren't coming through the gums yet. Average age for a first tooth to break through is 4-6 months, so he could even be getting his first tooth.
2) Growth spurt. Not much you can do except feed him frequently, especially during the day, and ride it out. Demand feed instead of sticking to a schedule, it might help.
3) Getting ready to do something new. As babies learn something, their sleep can be interrupted. He may just be working on rolling or something.
At this age, he's becoming very aware of his surroundings and that can be part of it as well. He misses you and wants to make sure you're around. Don't let your doc tell you he should be sleeping through the night and to start letting him cry it out (our doc said that). I know plenty of babies who didn't until 6 months of later (ours included) and once they started slept better than many of those that did early.
Good Luck!

I agree with one of the previous posts. At 4 months it is not too early to eat cereal. Of course consult your Dr. first. My daughter was on cereal at 4 months and did great. It does sound like your son is satisfied though with his feedings. I agree try swaddling. My son is 13 weeks old and we still do or he won't go to sleep. Does your son use a pacifier? If so, when he wakes try putting it back in his mouth quietly. Did your routine change at all? Yes, teething could be an issue. If your son is due for a check-up and your not quite sure if he is teething they can check for you also.