1. Introduction
What is the sleep regression of the 3/4/5/6-month-old infant, how it manifests itself and what to do to manage it in the best possible way.
In this article and the video below, Marika Novaresio, professional lactation consultant IBCLC, sleep consultant and author of the video course Sweet dreams, peaceful nights explains what regression is, what to expect e how best to manage them to promote your baby's sleep, month after month.
Before continuing, know that in many cases i awakenings e the difficulty nocturnal which the families experiment are physiological.
Other times, there are routines and practicalities that can really improve the situation and help children who have difficulty falling asleep.
In any case, what serves to overcome the difficulties of sleep of the child (which can generate a sense by challenge, fatigue and nervousness) is the awareness, the right scientific information and the best practical precautions on sleep. These elements will contribute to find a correct balance family (in the course of Sweet dreams, peaceful nights I talk about it inpprofoundly).
2. Infant sleep regression: what is it?
3. Sleep regression 3/4/5/6 months
Your child has between 3 and 6 months?
Have you noticed that the nocturnal awakenings have increased?
May your baby wakes up more frequently, cries and struggles to fall back asleep?
That the daytime naps have decreased and made worse?
Raise your hand who is experiencing or has experienced this phase! 
I am sure you have heard of the fateful 4-month sleep regression (most frequent period of occurrence of regression), but on this expression there is much to be said!
First of all, that of 3-6 months is not a real 'regression'.
It is not very appropriate to speak of regression because in this period the child acquires a mature sleep cycle; what does it mean? that everything that happened before was for its own sake.
Now that the child has amore mature sleep architecture, transits through the various sleep cycles in different ways.
One should therefore not speak of regression with a sense of transience, but rather of development.
Secondly, this period transient involves the majority of children (biological standard), but not all.
Third, this 'sleep regression' does not always occur in a specific month (most often the 4th month) but, most children, manifest it between '3 and 6 months of age'.
Factors in sleep regression
Let us now go into more detail about the sleep regression of 3/4/5/6 months of life of the newborn child and I explain various factors that will help you understand it better.
First of all, at this age children begin to incorporate a deeper period of non-REM sleep in their sleep cycle at this age.
This is certainly a positive aspect but most children, at the beginning, may find challenging the transition between these sleep states. So, consequence, tends to wake up more easily at the end of each sleep cycle.
In addition, how many new skills it is acquiring your baby/your child?
In this period, thanks to a gradual improvement of the psychomotor developmentyour baby is growing rapidly and experiences months of great change.
The world is very interesting and sleep can slip into the background!
For this reason a worsening of sleep night, frequent awakenings i short naps can become the norm at this age.
You may notice that he now sleeps only one sleep cycle (40-50 minutes) asking your continuous contact!
Maybe you have also noticed that the feedings are more distracted and fragmented!
It's very normal, everything is fine! You are doing great, keep trusting you and you!
PS: in this period also begins the teething phase and the child salivates more, puts his hands in his mouth and is more annoyed.
4. How to recognise Sleep Regression at 3/4/5/6 months
What are the symptoms and the most obvious signs that manifest the fact that the 3-4 month old child is experiencing a sleep regression?
Below is a list of the main signs of a newborn/infant that will help you to recognising sleep regression.
- The child's night sleep is more agitated;
- Nocturnal awakenings are more frequent;
- The baby whimpers in his sleep and keeps tossing and turning;
- The newborn baby needs to be cuddled or breastfed to get back to sleep;
- The newborn baby is also more irritable at the breast (often also related to sore gums and teething);
- The falling asleep phase is more tiring and challenging;
- Daytime naps are less frequent and shorter;
- The infant is more nervous and irritable in general during the day.
5. Sleep regression 3/4/5/6 months: what to do and how to deal with it
To address consciously sleep regression of 3/4/5/6 months, also take into account that your baby/your child also needs a little less sleep at this age.
On average, according to World Health Organisation guidelines, an infant of 0-3 months sleep (or rather, needs) approximately 14-17 hours of total sleep in 24 hours; between 3-6 months of only 13-15 hours.
Trying to be proactive towards these new and transient rhythms is incredibly important and valuable!
Ha need your help and your security to navigate these new experiences and learned skills.
If you find it challenging to experience this increase in awakenings, I have created the video course for you Sweet dreams, peaceful nights in which I reveal to you the best practice and the more effective tools to improve your baby's sleep from birth onwards.
6. Frequently asked questions about Sleep and Bedtime
Most parents one wonders:
- Why does the newborn struggle to fall asleep?
- What to do if the infant does not sleep?
- What to do to fall asleep an infant?
- How come he wants sleeping only in one's arms and not in the cot?
- Why wakes up so early?
- Because the rests are so short or does it not?
- When will sleep all night?
- It is wrong if falls asleep while feeding breast?
- If I remove my breast and stop breastfeeding, will sleep longer?
- So many more questions...
It is normal to ask these questionsalmost every parent has done this at least once and in the course of Sweet dreams, peaceful nights I want to show you the best practice and the more effective tools to improve your baby's sleep from birth onwards.
My name is Marika Novaresio, I am a professional lactation consultant IBCLC, sleep consultant and mother of two beautiful children.
Over the past 10 years, I have helped thousands of families to improve their baby's sleep and breastfeeding, and I look forward to helping you (and your baby) to have a peaceful sleep experience too.
See you in the course,
Marika
Follow me on Instagram and get the link to the Motor Development Mini-Course via Direct Message