Keeping Good Sleep Habits in 4 Month Old

well, cio doesnt work!
some babies are releasers; they need to fuss for a few minutes (under 5) to relax, release stress, and sleep.
other babies are increasers; any leaving alone just increases in intensity and urgency. please just listen to your baby.

rocking to sleep is not an issue! its really ok to listen to your child and give him what he needs. i promise you that you wont regret it when hes older. my son (now 4) was an increaser; and we NEVER made/let him cry it out. he sleeps like a dream. he literally goes to his bed and goes to sleep. sometimes he reads a little before he wants the light out, but we have no issues. he comes to bed with us most nights, but we can easily put him on the floor too and hes fine. he would rather be with us, but think about it; who wants to sleep alone!? if my husband isnt with me at night, i dont sleep well; i prefer it when hes there with me. our kids are just kids, why should we expect them to want to sleep alone, when we dont! LOL

anyway, just do what you have to do. i got much more sleep when i allowed my son to have needs, and fulfill them. good sleep habits are nurtured, loved, and grown, not "taught". :) you will teach your son that sleep is safe when you always respond to him unconditionally.

ps: our son's crib was in our room until he was nearly 3. and most of last year, his matress was on the floor of our room. we got him a race car bed for his birthday, and he at least sleeps half the night there now LOL. make it fun if you can, but never forget; parenting is 24/7. :)

Hmm....well here are some sleeping tips that may help you out with your situation. You may just need to switch up the sleeping routine or change a little something in your LO's room for a different ambiance that could help him seep better..hope it helps!

http://www.theskinnyscoop.com/search/sleep?utm_campaign=t...

Hi, Leah!

Our (second) babe was a great sleeper at 4 mos. (had to wake her after 10 hours sometimes just to keep her from getting dehydrated!). Slept well, napped well. Well . . . now she's putting us through the wringer. Her schedule hardly exists anymore, and I'm up quite a few times most nights. I think it's partly discovery, like Manda said, partly winter sniffles, partly teething, partly rolling, partly baby mystery, but I think it's pretty normal. That time around 4/5 mos. is kind of the golden age. Enjoy it, and be prepared to roll with the punches if you aren't a CIO person (I'm not, personally). A routine helps, but it isn't a cure all. Sleep problems won't last forever in any case. ;-)

He's right at the point where babies become aware of their surroundings, so that's what's happening.
If he hasn't yet, he'll find his hands, his feet, follow you in the room (with his eyes)...he's learning about his surroundings. Totally normal.

You can start teaching him to sleep, now, however you do it.
When it comes to sleep training of any sort, you need to be "all business" when it comes to your responses after bedtime. Even if you rock him, or just give him the paci...whatever. No smiling, talking...anything. That just reinforces the desire to have you in the room, rather than sleeping.

My daughter is 5mos. We do bath, PJs, bottle, and rock a little. I put her down drowsy, turn on her soother, give her the paci and walk out of the room. If she doens't go right down, I go in after about 10 minutes, give the paci back to her and walk back out. Same thing with overnight, now. I'm in the process of weaning feedings, too.

Read "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child." It's the best.

Hi--
I like the baby whisperer's way of doing it. Put him in his crib and pat his back until he stops crying. As soon as he stops, you stop patting. If he starts again, pat. etc. He will still fall asleep without constant help from you, but won't be scared either because he knows you're still there. It might take awhile at first, but he'll get it quickly enough.
J.