Sleep Issues with 4 Mo Old

I have to agree with the other two Mommies, this is not a sleep issue...for all intensive purposed babies don't sleep when WE want them too, but when they need to. Your little girl is most likely adapting to a new stage of development, and experiencing growth spurts.

After reading your 'more info', I think you need to pick either a feeding schedule or on demand...both is kind of confusing for little one's. My son was feed on demand, and he slept for good two-three hours chunks of time that allowed me to nap in the morning and catch up on sleep and get stuff done in the afternoon. This was usual for us until he was seven months old and had been on solids for a couple of months, then it was another change. Truthfully, I would advise you to just go with the flow, and let your little one guide as to what SHE needs from YOU right now. Waking her up to feed her so, she doesn't wake you up almost seems counterproductive to me...let her needs be your guide to feeding and sleep.

It was tough for me when my son was that little because I worried if he was getting enough to eat, and enough sleep. But, he was the best judge of what he needed from me and just had to listen and watch the signs. Once he was ready to transition to longer sleep periods that was a whole other experience, but you just have to be prepared for constant changes to the 'routine' and forget about all the timelines or what other peoples kids are doing.

Good Luck.

sounds like you have a very normal and healthy baby and that you are doing what great moms do.

i suggest to just relax and go with the flow. i always found that once my kids got into a routine something would happen and then we'd have to find another routine again.

the 1st year has so many changes and stages that it's hard to keep a routine. i like how you said that she's mostly a feed on cue baby and sometimes when you need (because often times engorgement occurs when babies actually need to eat but aren't fed)

normalfed.com has lots of information on hows/whys on babies needs

and while this article is about bed sharing, i think it helps to put into perspective sleep and eating needs well in the 1st several years of life. http://drjaygordon.com/development/ap/sleep.asp

good luck and hang in there!

Go to amazon.com and check out Gina Ford's 'New Contented Little Baby Book.' Gina Ford also wrote 'The Complete Sleep Guide for Contented Babies and Toddlers', among other helpful titles.

i personally dont think its just the time change. babies go through a huge growth spurt at 4 months old. this will affect her sleep. she may also start teething around this time. you may look at her gums and see if they are red and swollen. you may also try some rice cereal before she goes to bed this will help her sleep longer at night because it is heavier then breast milk. i hope this is helpful! good luck and great job with the bf!

I hate to tell ya this, but there is no such thing as "sleep issues" with a 4 month old! lol They pretty much sleep when they want and she is still too young for any type of "sleep training". Most likely it is just a phase and it will go back to something more normal eventually. Just do your best to deal with it and try sleeping when she sleeps if you can (or, if you're one of those persons who just can't nap during the day, just try and relax instead - read a book, watch tv, or something else quiet you enjoy. The house work can wait! These first few months are the hardest, but soon you will have a much more normal "routine") Good luck to you!!!