How to Train a Four Month Old to Sleep

By the fourth month, a baby is usually ready for sleep training. According to experts at Baby Center, most babies between three to six months old have started to develop a regular sleep-wake pattern and have also outgrown their need for night feedings. By this time, your baby is most likely able to sleep continuously for five to six hours at night. With a bit of careful planning, a four month old baby can be trained to sleep through the night.

Instructions

    • 1

      Establish a bedtime routine. Give your baby a bath, read a book, give a gentle and soothing massage with baby oil, or sing him or her to sleep at the same time each night. Establishing a routine lets your little one know it's bedtime. Once he is familiar with the pattern, he will fall asleep more easily.

    • 2

      Help your baby differentiate night from day by filling daytime with activities and making nights more restful. Play with him, feed him, take him out for walks or a stroll in the park, and give him toys to keep him busy. Maintain a more stimulating environment during the day and one that is quieter, more conducive for sleep during the night. This also helps your baby differentiate night from day and eventually will help them respond accordingly.

    • 3

      When it is time for bedtime, darken the baby's room by shutting lights out and pulling the blinds to create a more restful atmosphere. When it is time for the baby to be awake, have the baby's room be full of light. These two extremes will help establish the difference between rest times and play times.

    • 4

      Make sure your baby gets enough, good nutrition during the day and is nursed before bedtime. A full stomach encourages longer sleep allows and will often prevent her or him from waking up every two or three hours crying, due to hunger. Giving the baby foods rich in vitamins and minerals also helps keep the baby calmer and more prepared to go to sleep by the established time.

    • 5

      Gently wake him or her up after more than three hours of napping, to save his longer sleeping hours for nighttime. This will help the baby be ready for a long rest at night, when evening approaches.

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