4 Month Old Baby Schedule
Posted by Nicole on January 20th, 2009
This article outlines the average 4 month old baby schedule, including feedings, solids, naps and night sleep.
4 month old baby’s sleep
Pediatricians disagree high and low about when a baby is capable of sleeping through the night and only a handful of parents who reach this page will have a 4 month old that sleeps all night without even a single feeding (those that do are LUCKY!).
At this age, if you are not lucky enough to have a baby who sleeps through the night, many 4 month olds are still waking 1-3 times to eat at night and many will continue to eat 1-2 times until 9 months old. Anything more and likely you have a sleep association problem. If your baby has recently started sleeping worse, you may want to read my article about 4 month old baby sleep. If you’re having trouble with naps, you might be interested in helping your baby nap.
Obviously, all babies vary, but here are some sample (loose) schedules you can use to make your own for your unique baby. Most babies, at this age, can’t be on a strict schedule because many babies are still taking shorter naps while their brain matures and they simply can not stay up very long to get to the next scheduled nap-time, so at this age, it’s likely naps are still on the short side, but come frequently and every day will still likely be different. Don’t worry, that will change! Most babies can get down to just 3 naps around 6 months or 7 months.
I should warn you that I am in the camp that breast milk or formula should be the primary nutrition for the first year and solids come secondary. I did not start my boys on solids until close to 6 months old. If you have or want to start solids at 4 months (some pediatricians do recommend or agree with this), below are the amounts recommended from Super Baby Food, the book I use for reference (as a guide, not as the end-all-be-all because I don’t give my kids nuts before a year or follow other things in the book, but it’s a good reference guide). Another useful reference is Wholesome Baby Food. Although I work full time, I did make most of my baby food (I’d make 1 or 2 big batchs of something each weekend in 1-2 hours), but even if you don’t, the website is useful as a guide when to introduce what food and other meal ideas.
Amounts per day:
• At least 5-6 breastfeeding sessions per day or 2 1/2 ounces formula for each pound of weight (approx. 20-30 ounces) (decrease solids if your baby is not taking in at least this much)
• Water is unnecessary (breast milk and formula have plenty of water in them). If your baby has any constipation issues, focus on “P†foods (pears, prunes, etc.)
• 1-2 servings baby cereal (1 serving = 1-2 Tablespoons dry)
• 1-2 servings fruit (1 serving = 1-2 Tablespoons)
• 1-2 servings vegetable (1 serving = 1-2 Tablespoons)
Note: Don’t worry about feeding this much right away! You will start with just 1 teaspoon of dry cereal (before mixing w/ breast milk or formula) and work your way up. Don’t forget to wait at least 3-4 days before introducing a new food for food allergy reasons.
Sample 4 month old schedule
This schedule assumes baby can stay up 1 hour 15 minutes before needing to sleep again. At this age, wake-time should be 1-2 hours TOPS, to avoid baby getting overtired.
6:30 – Wake and Breast milk or Formula
7:15 – Breakfast
7:45 – Nap
8:15-8:45 – Breast milk or Formula
9:45 – 10:00 – Nap
10:45 – 11:15 – Breast milk or Formula
11:45 – 12:00 – Nap
1:15 – 1:45 – Breast milk or Formula
2:00 – Nap
3:45 – 4:15 – Breast milk or Formula
4:45 – Nap
5:45 – Begin bedtime routine
6:00 – Breast milk or Formula
6:15 – Bedtime (Goal to be asleep at this time)
+Plus probably 1-3 nighttime feedings
Note: This schedule follows the eat-play-sleep routine, however, it is sometimes hard to do at this age when the amount of time between naps is not long enough and your baby wakes too early from his nap because of a feeding.
You may also be interested in tracking your baby’s sleep and schedule, feedings, medication doses, immunizations, etc. using online baby software. You can even use it on your mobile device for when you’re on the go!
If you’re looking for ways to get your baby or toddler into a healthy sleeping routine during the day, I encourage you to explore Mastering Naps and Schedules, a comprehensive guide to napping routines, nap transitions, and all the other important “how-tos” of good baby sleep. With over 40 sample sleep schedules and planning worksheets, Mastering Naps and Schedules is a hands-on tool ideal for any parenting style. For those persistent nighttime struggles, check out Help Your Child Sleep, a Step-by-Step Guide. Using the same unique approach and practical tools for success, this e-book helps you and your baby sleep through the night. Or, join our Members Area packed with premium content and resources: e-Books, assessments, detailed case studies, peer support, and more. It actually costs less to join than buying products separately! For those looking for a more customized solution for your unique situation with support along the way, please consider one-on-one baby and toddler sleep consultations.
What is your 4-month old’s routine?
Tags: 4 month baby schedule, 4 month old schedule, 4 month old sleep, baby nap schedule, baby schedules, baby sleep schedule
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January 21st, 2009
my 4 month old’s schedule is
8:00 come off continuous feed / play with mom / therapy
11:00 bolus tube feed 85 cc breastmilk
11:30 nap 30 mins
12:00 play with mom / dad
2:00 bolus feed 85 cc breastmilk
2:30 nap 30 mins
3:00 play with mom / dad / hands
5:00 bolus feed 85 cc breastmilk
5:30-6:00 play
6:30 out like a light til morning
8:00 bolus feed 85 cc breastmilk while sound asleep
11:00 bolus feed while sound asleep
11 pm – 8 pm sleeps consistantly (has since birth) while on continuous tube feed of 34 ml / hr of breastmilk
wakes sometime around 6 I think, but plays quietly by herself!
January 22nd, 2009
6:15 wake in crib, then nurse laying in bed with mom
7:15 awake with mom / play
8:30 nap in crib
9:15 awake, play
9:45 nurse
10:15 play
11:15 nap in crib
12:00 awake, play
12:45 nurse
1:15 play
2:15 nap in crib
3:00 awake, play
3:45 nurse
4:15 play
5:30 change into pj’s, start bedtime bottle (EBM)
6:00 asleep for night in crib
wakes twice during night, around 12:00am and 4:00am for diaper change and nursing (on good nights, wakes only once around 3-4am)
January 24th, 2009
My son is actually 5 months old in a few days, but we have really had trouble with his sleep/schedule more in the past 3 weeks.
7:30 am wake-up
8:00 am nurse
8:00 – 10:00 am play
10:00 am nurse, then nap (45minutes to 1 hour)
11:00 am play
12:30 am nurse
1 pm nap for one hour, then wake up and wants to nurse again! But will go back to sleep for 2 hrs more if I do nurse him a bit more….
4 pm wake up and play
5 pm nurse then play
6:30 pm starting 2-4 tbsp cereal/fruit/breastmilk–he loves it!
7:30 pm nurse and to bed in his crib
usually he wakes up at least 2 times–once around 12 midnight or so, and once around 3-4am. But the last few nights it has been more and more. For example last night, he woke at 11, 2, 3, 3:30, 4, 5:30 and then finally at 7:30. I know I should not be a pacifier for him or go in to comfort quite so much, but letting him cry much is not an option. I have a 2.5 yr old right across the hall and a husband who travels most weeks, so he is not there for support if my other child is awakened….
My older son was a fabulous sleeper right from the beginning, and this is the same basic schedule I followed for him and he was sleeping 12-13 hours (plus 2 2-hr naps) with one waking by 5 months and straight through by 6 months. So this is all very foreign to me. I am going to take your advice about sleep association and try to limit the use of the breast as a pacifier, but it will be tough. I mean, I cannot just let him cry for an hour in the middle of the night….Sigh. Thanks for letting me vent about this at least.
January 30th, 2009
I have a question…..
My 17 week old son will not eat after he wakes up. He will only eat before going to sleep……and he will only go to sleep by sucking =/ is there anything i can do to break this?? he won’t take a paci.
January 31st, 2009
@Jen @Kim @Melissa Thank you for sharing your schedules!
@Danielle Please read my article on sleep associations for more information. http://www.babysleepsite.com/sleep-training/sleep-association
February 18th, 2009
how do i begin dropping the 3am feeding? i heard water and decreasing the amt of food..
February 20th, 2009
Malcolm’s naps are 30-45 minutes and I put him down every 90-120 minutes or so.
8:30am wake, nurse
10:00am nap
11:00am nurse
12:00pm nap
1:30pm nurse
2:30pm nap
3:30pm nurse
4:30pm nap
5:30pm nurse
6/6:30 bedtime
12:00am nurse
4:00am nurse
February 20th, 2009
@Gloria Replacing a feeding with water can still keep a waking going. I have some night-weaning information in my e-Book, http://www.babysleepsite.com/ebook and I hope to make it into it’s own pamphlet sometime, too. It’s too much to type here. Good luck!
September 2nd, 2009
If i put my 4 month old to be at 6:30, i would be feeding at midnight, then 4 am to. he goes to bed around 10, and sleeps until 6 or so. i like that schedule much more!
September 13th, 2009
My daughter will be 4 months in 10 days.
Every time it says “wake” I physically go and wake her up from her crib. I have tried to teach her to sleep until I wake her…
8:30 Morning wake and feed
9-10 Play
10:00 Nap
11:30 wake and feed
12-1 Play
1:00 Nap
2:30 wake and feed
3-4 Play
4:00 Nap
5:30 wake and feed
6-7 Play
7:00 Put her to bed for the night
8:30 wake and feed, then right back to bed (not followed by a playtime)
5:00 am Wake and feed (I do this to ensure I’m getting enough stimulation to produce breast milk… I will eventually drop this feeding).
September 18th, 2009
@Lisa We all find the schedule that works for our families. Just make sure your 4 month old is getting enough sleep in 24 hours. At this age, they typically sleep 11-12 hours at night and 3-4 hours during the day.
September 25th, 2009
@Hailey Thank you for sharing your routine and schedule. You’re so lucky that your daughter is not cranky being woken up. My sons would be cranky, I’m sure.
Looks like she’s a great sleeper. Congrats!
October 24th, 2009
Bedtime bath is around 8:00pm
Asleep by 8:30pm (most days)
Diaper check around 10:30pm + a nursing
Usually eat just for a second to put her back to bed
Then another diaper check around 12:30am
Along with the nursing (she’ll really eat this time)
Back to sleep until around 2:30am for diaper check/nursing
Then again around 4:30am diaper check/nursing
6:30am diaper check/nursing
Then it’s already 8:30am Goodmorning time!
This time it’s nurse then the diaper change
Awake snacking, playing, tummy time, watching tv with grandma until around 10:30am
Diaper change/nurse then nap around 30mins (1hr on a good day)
Wake jumperoo time/swing time/play time
1:00pm nap for 30mins (1hr on a good day) up to 2hrs if we nap together
Wake change then eat baby food/watch tv
Around 3:30pm change then play in walker or go in swing
5:30 change/nurse then nap 30mins
change around 7-7:30 then bathe then Goodnight!
*I did not make this schedule, my baby did! Works great for us so we follow it. Everynight bedtime bath is with the calming bedtime wash.
October 24th, 2009
My daughter is 2 months old, but I have been working with kids for a long time. I will put her on a schedule when she reaches 4 months old when she starts eating cereal. I work full time- and she goes to school so What I will do for her is..
6:00am- if she wakes up to eat.. Bottle
play a little
nap
next feeding
1 tablespoon of rice cereal then a bottle after
play for a little
nap
bottle
play time
nap
1 tablespoon of rice cereal then bottle
play
bath
bed
Hope that helps some of you moms!
November 13th, 2009
@Thalia You might want to read my article about sleep associations as your baby is waking every 2 hours to breastfeed. Here is the article: http://www.babysleepsite.com/sleep-training/sleep-association/ Good luck!
@Robin Thanks for sharing your routine!
December 27th, 2009
my baby is 41/2 months and she has been in a very good routine since 6 weeks wert i have woken her up for a feed ..we found this to be better as if we left her to wake up when she wanted then she wouldnt sleep through the nite now she wakes up about 7.30 am
7.30- 8 am wake feed and change 6-7 ounces
9 -10 am play
10 -11 nap time
11.30-12 feed (now solids)
12.30 – 1.30 play
2-3 nap
3.30 feed 4ounce bottle
6.00-6.30 solid feed
7-8 play
8.30 bath time
9pm feed and 9.30 bed
she usually sleeps through with the odd nite she will wake up and just want her dummy and go back off although she does not need her dummy to fall asleep with
January 7th, 2010
My son
Wake 7:00 breastfeed
breakfast 7:45
Nap 9:30
Wake 11:15 breastfeed
nap 1:30
Wake 3:15
breastfeed
nap 5:30
wake 6:45 daddy gives bottle
breastfeed at 8:30
bedtime routine starts at 9 with jammies then a story, no feeding or pacifying
Asleep at 9:30
I am a HUGE fan of Ferber. Worked with my older daughter also.
January 22nd, 2010
@Rachael Thank you for sharing your schedule!
January 29th, 2010
@Catherine Thank you for sharing your schedule!