By 4 months old, most bottle-fed babies are able to sleep through the night, reports Kids Growth. Breastfed babies can take a bit longer to sleep through the night, sometimes until 5 months old. If your 4-month-old isn't sleeping well at night, the problem could be one of several things. If your child has trouble sleeping at night, remember to keep the room dim and the house quiet so she is not disturbed.
Naps
For babies that have trouble sleeping, naps can be tricky. Not having a nap or only napping for very short periods can make your 4-month-old cranky and too upset to sleep well at night. However, sleeping for long periods during the day or napping in the evening close to bedtime can make your baby feel not tired enough to sleep through the night. Parents need to experiment with napping to see what works best for their baby.
Loneliness
According to KidsHealth, babies want to be with their parents more than anywhere else, and a baby might wake up because he is lonely for his parents. Your baby might not be sleeping well because he'd rather be playing with you than sleeping. Make sure your baby gets lots of attention and one-on-one time during the day so that he doesn't feel like he's missing out by sleeping at night.
Feeding Habits
If your baby is still waking up frequently at night, it might be due to habit rather than need. It's possible she has just gotten used to waking up to be fed several times a night. Even a breastfed baby will likely only need to be fed once during the night by this stage. If you suspect that nighttime wakings could be due to habit, try going into the baby's room and giving her a soothing pat instead of a bottle. This should help her wean off unnecessary overnight feedings
No Routine
Some babies have an easier time settling in for sleep than others, points out Healthy Start, Grow Smart. Establishing a bedtime routine will help signal to your baby that it's time to sleep. An example of a bedtime routine is a bottle, bath, and story or song. Try to be as consistent as possible with your before bed routine.
