With over 15 years of experience as a pediatric sleep consultant, I’m happy to share sample 4 month old sleep schedules with feedings. These sample schedules include milk feedings for breastfeeding and formula-feeding babies, solids, naps, and nighttime sleep.
4 Month Old Baby’s Sleep and Development
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 who sleeps all night without even a single feeding (those that do are LUCKY!).
Most 4-month-olds need 11-12 hours at night and 3-4 hours during the day. And, many 4-month-olds are still eating 1-2 times a night and some naps are just 30 minutes. In addition, most 4 month olds will take 4 naps a day. Consequently, short naps are normal development at this age as it’s highly unusual for babies to take four 1-hour naps.
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 breastfeeding babies will continue to eat 1-2 times until 9+ months of age. On the other hand, formula-fed babies will often be night-weaned by 6 months old. More night feedings than that and likely you have a sleep association problem.
How Many Naps for a 4 Month Old?
Most 4-month-old babies take 4 naps each day totaling 3-4 hours of sleep. The reason for so many naps is primarily because babies this age can’t stay awake longer than 1-2 hours at a time. 4 month old wake windows are still short. Therefore, t’s still common to spread out daytime sleep among multiple sleep periods. However, some babies this age can stay awake longer and drop the fourth nap transitioning to a 3-nap schedule early.
4 Month Old Wake Windows
The typical 4-month old wake window is 1 to 2 hours with the first wake window being one of the shortest. Sometimes, that first wake window is just 75 to 90 minutes.
When Your 4 Month Old’s Sleep Gets Worse
If your baby has recently started sleeping worse, you may want to read more about 4 month old baby sleep. Keep in mind that one of the biggest sleep challenges families face around 4 months is the 4 month sleep regression. During this time period, babies change their sleep permanently and will wake up frequently at night and take shorter naps.
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!
Babies typically transition to just 3 naps around 6 months or 7 months.
If you’re having trouble with naps, you might be interested in helping your baby nap better.
4 Month Old Feeding
Breast milk or formula should be the primary nutrition for the first year and solids come secondary. Below are the amounts we recommend if your pediatrician recommends solids before 6 months, the age at which most are recommending now. For more information on starting your baby on solid food, we have a series of blog posts dedicated to the subject. We include recommendations about how and when to start solids, as well as helpful information on food allergies, recommended products, baby-friendly recipes, and more.
Average 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).
And, ONLY IF your pediatrician recommends solids this young (it is now recommend at 6+ months):
• Up to 1-2 servings baby cereal (1 serving = 1-2 Tablespoons dry)
• Up to 1-2 servings fruit or veggies (1 serving = 1-2 Tablespoons)
Note: With your doctor’s approval and guidance, you will start with just one teaspoon of solids (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.
“Thank you for your articles, they’ve shown me that my 4 month old baby is perfectly normal and I’m doing the right things in relation to his sleep. This is such a relief! So many sources just don’t seem to give realistic information about baby sleep – not for myself or for any other mum I know.
Great care has obviously been taken by The Baby Sleep Site in reflecting a realistic and true picture of what a ‘normal’ baby is. Thank you.”
-Sincerely, Elizabeth
Sample 4 Month Old Schedule
This schedule assumes a 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.
| 4-Month-Old Sleep Schedule | |
|---|---|
| Time | Activity |
| 6:30 AM | Wake and Breast milk or Formula |
| 7:15 AM | Solids (Only if your pediatrician has recommended starting this early) |
| 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.
Want more information about how to help your 4 month old sleep well? Check out our detailed case study about Nadia, Brad, and their 4 month old, Abigail.
Abigail’s Story
Read how they helped Abigail learn to sleep longer stretches at night and take better naps – and how they helped to change those sleep associations that were keeping her awake! Just join our VIP Members Area, and access the case study instantly. And that’s not all – our VIP Members Area is packed with additional premium content and resources: e-Books, assessments, more case studies, peer support, and more. It actually costs much less to join than buying products separately!
You May Also Be Interested In:
- The 4 Month Sleep Regression: What It Is and How to Fix It
- Which Sleep Coaching Method Fits? (VIP Members Area quiz)
- Abrupt Changes in Sleep Habits (VIP Members Area article)
- 4 Month Sleep Regression Checklist
- Baby Immunizations and Sleep
Related posts:
8 Month Old Baby Feeding and Sleep Schedule: With Milk, Solid Food, Naps, and Nighttime Sleep – For Breastfeeding and Formula-Feeding Babies
6 Month Old Baby Feeding and Sleep Schedules: Samples for Breastfeeding and Formula-Feeding Babies
7 Month Old Baby Feeding and Sleep Schedule: For Breastfeeding and Formula-Feeding Infants
11 Month Old Baby Feeding and Sleep Schedule With Milk, Solid Food, Naps, and Nighttime Sleep – For Breastfeeding and Formula-Feeding Infants
Hello, my 4.5 month old has been in the sleep regression for almost 6 weeks! After sleeping at night with one feeding from 5ish weeks -14.5 weeks.
Now shes up usually 2-3x night. Her schedule is:
6:30 awake start day
8:00 first nap
10:30ish second nap, usually a catnap in carrier
12:30 third nap
3:00/3:30 fourth nap
6:45/7:00 in bed asleep
Is she awake too long from last nap to bedtime? All these naps are a pain especially with 3 other children I cant stay home all day! help! All naps are 45 min, sometimes if I’m lucky i get a 1 hour one. Again this is all new since the 4 month sleep regression before she took longer naps!
Hi @Mandy – Thanks for writing! I’m sorry that your little one sleep has been regressing! You’re definitely not alone! Feel free to make the suggested schedule your own, and adjust as needed, and since her naps are so short, feel free to add one more cat-nap too! For help now and for suture help too, I’d like to recommend our Members Area, which gives you access to all of our e-Books as well as audio tele-seminar recordings, case studies, and do-it-yourself tutorials, including a workbook designed to help you create your own sleep plan. There are TONS of sample schedules, and my favorite feature is the access to our “members only” expert chat sessions, where one of our sleep consultants will answer your specific questions live via chatroom! The Members Area subscription is very affordable, and available in sizes to fit every budget. Members also receive 20% off of all personalized sleep consultation services, should you find that you would like more personalized assistance.
You can read more about our Members Area here:
https://www.babysleepsite.com/diy
Good luck Mandy and hang in there!
My baby is 4.5 months old. She has been taking four 30-45 minute naps/day since she was about 10 or 11 weeks old. She wakes crying from almost every nap. I went back to work full time when she was 12 weeks old and the short naps have continued.
She spends time with three different caregivers during the week (one per day, but three different parties per week). I have her in the evenings after 4:30pm and on weekends. She does not nap after she gets home at 4:30pm. When she’s with me on the weekends she wakes crying from almost every nap. It sounds like she usually does the same for her caregivers. She seems exhausted all the time and rubs her eyes not long after she wakes up from her nap. She sleeps great at night, from 8:30 pm until 8:00 am with a 6 am dream feed just because I want to.
For the schedule above, are those 15 minute naps or is the 9:45-10:00 nap, for example, a start time for the nap? Should I try to get her to bed earlier at night since she is so exhausted all day? Maybe I should ask her caregivers to try the wake to sleep method? Should we make sure her nap space is dark? Should we remove the nightlight from her room at night so we can put her to bed earlier and maybe get her to sleep earlier? I’m not sure where to start.
Hi @Carmen, thank you for writing to us, I am happy to help. I’m sorry you’ve been struggling with your daughters naps. The 9:45-10 you see on the schedule is the general range that your baby should begin napping (hopefully). This is going to be different from baby to baby because at this age babies should be put down for a nap every 1-2 hours (meaning: once they wake up, the clock starts and they need to go to sleep again 1-2 hours later). With that said, I’d suggest trying to get one more catnap in after you get her, or bringing her bedtime back. It may be a bit of a transition either way (say if you made bedtime at 6 she may wake up and need a feeding before she gives you a really long stretch at night) but it may improve the daytime. Here is a link to a free guide with nap tips that may give you a little more info: https://www.babysleepsite.com/free-baby-nap-guide/
If you want more information on naps and schedules that goes more detailed than the free guide, I’d suggest checking out our ebook Mastering Naps & schedules here: https://www.babysleepsite.com/mastering-naps/
And if you need more help please let us know! You can contact us directly anytime at [email protected]. Hope this helps!
My twins have been sleeping through the night for at least a month now, I wake them at 6:30 on weekdays, and let them sleep till 7/7:30 on weekends then feed them about ever 2.5 hours, with play/naps in between. I usually feed them around 6pm, then let them nap downstairs with us while we eat dinner etc. and then take them up for a final feeding and bed around 8/9pm.
Lately, they have been pretty fussy in the evening, having more trouble napping than during the day, and not being happy just awake playing as they are when they aren’t napping during the day. I am wondering if we should go ahead and put them down in the bassinet after the 6pm feed to help them sleep better, and then wake for a “dream feed” at the time that we go to bed. What are your thoughts?
Hi @Cindy – Thanks for writing! Sorry your twins are having a tough time with their last nap of the day! Do feel free to use the free sample schedules as guides, but make them your own to fit your family! If you think that they are ready for the night of sleep at 6pm, then do feel free to try for an earlier bedtime! It may effect their wake-time and such of course, but do see what works best for you! Without one of our expert sleep consultants taking an in depth look at your sleep history and schedules, it is hard to diagnose and come up with an exact plan. I do hope that you find exactly what works best for you, and if you’d like help with this, please do contact us!
Hi my son is 4 months 9 days and has never slept particularly well but as of the last 4 weeks his night time sleep has become pretty awful. He had awful colic and reflux from 2weeks -12 weeks.
He has been in his own room from 8 weeks. Since colic eased up we start bed time routine at 7.00pm and he’s normally asleep by 8.30pm, if were lucky he will sleep for 2/3 hours uninterrupted -if we are lucky!
And from then he wakes every 30/40 minutes until 7.30am
Throughout the day doesn’t seem to have a pattern he would sleep for 1 hour with day time naps now they are 30 mins, he is now becoming more tired throughout the day due to not sleeping at night, please help 🙁
Hi @Nicola – Thank you for writing to us and for using The Baby Sleep Site as a resource for sleep! I’m sorry to hear that sleep has been rough for your 4 month old son. He sounds like my son, and I completely understand how tough it is when baby is waking SO often at night, and taking very short naps! You’re not alone Nicola! This age can be a difficult one for many babies, since their sleep is permanently changing from a “newborn’s” sleep, and this often leads to more frequent wake ups at night and disrupted naps. Even those that may have slept well, start to have troubles around 4 months of age, and it may be time for some sleep coaching to help him learn how to sleep more independently and in longer stretches!
If you would like a DIY option, or one on one help from our experts, we can definitely help! Please consider our Personalized Sleep Consultation packages or our selection of e-Books. If you choose to purchase a consultation package, one of our trained expert sleep consultants will craft a Personalized Sleep Plan for you and your son, based on both your unique family history and on our own 10+ years of experience working with tens of thousands of parents from around the world. Then, your consultant will help you implement the plan at home, and will answer any follow-up questions you may have. The consultant will also make changes to the plan as necessary. You can read about all of our sleep consultation packages here:
https://www.babysleepsite.com/services
And, you can read about our DIY or Do It (Mostly) Yourself options here, if you don’t think you want or need one-on-one expert help but could use some direction:
https://www.babysleepsite.com/diy
Hang in there, and please let us know if you have any questions at any time!
My son, 4 months 4 weeks, is really struggling with getting to sleep. We’ve been trying to get down a schedule but are struggling. We start bedtime at 7, usually are able to get him to sleep by 9 after lots of crying on his part when he gets laid down. We usually have one wake up at night between 3:30 and 5 and then he’ll go back down until 9 with no problems. Naps anytime I try to put him in his crib he’ll cry, and if I manage to get him calmed enough to go to sleep he’ll only sleep for 20-30 minutes, so I often end up holding him while he naps trying to keep him from getting so overtired at night. Not sure what I can do to improve naps.
@Jennie – Thank you for reading and for sharing with us. Managing a 4 month old’s schedule can be super challenging since babies this age can still be a bit unpredictable. The best thing we can suggest for helping your baby sleep better and manage through what you’ve described is to come up with a plan that you can stick to consistently for getting him to fall asleep at night and during the day. Finding a plan that works for you and your little guy should be helpful in getting him on a better schedule (if needed) and supporting him through learning how to sleep independently at the right times during the day and for a longer period of time. If you find you need or just would like more support, please let us know and we’d be happy to help! Hang in there, Jennie!
4 months old baby girl, exclusively breastfed.
Usual schedule:
6:30a-7:30a: wake, feed
9a-9:30a: nap (1.5-2 hrs)
10:30a: feed
12p: nap (1-2 hrs)
2p: feed
3:30p: nap (this nap is always messed up. Sometimes only 20-30 mins, sometimes she doesn’t go down til 5p..weird..)
5p: feed
6:45p: Bath
7p: feed
7:15: read
7:30: asleep
She usually sleeps 11 hours at night. No night feedings for a few weeks now. She wakes up once at night (usually between 2a-3a) and fusses for a little bit, but is back to sleep within 20 minutes). Seems to be working out ok..except for her last nap and the middle of the night wake up.
Hi Sheila,
Thank you for visiting The Baby Sleep Site! It sounds like your baby is doing really well for her age 🙂 It is totally normal for the later naps to be a little different every day at this age – most babies are not on a full-day, solid schedule until closer to 6 months-old. We recommend keeping wake time, first nap, and bedtime the same every day, and it sounds like you’ve got that down!
Hello so I have a daughter ( Lohgan) she’ll be 4 months on the 27th her night time schedule is down pack!! I’m a night hawk and she picks up from It she sleeps between 12 at night to 8:30 or to 9:30 In the morning and takes periodically naps thru the day but I feel she is ready for a daytime scheduled! Which I’m
Starting today Meaning I’m getting prepared to jot down her feeding from that time.
After the 8-9am feeding 6 oz bottle i will wash her up with semi hot water get her comfy and we play and talk for a hour ( mind u) she’s very active (kicking talking laughing ) today she woke
Up at 8:30
We just played for 45
Mins and she literally just fell asleep as I’m
Typing this when she wakes up I’m going to repeat this but without the washup. When midnight come
I’ll have more
Results !
Good luck @Krysten! It sounds like you have a good plan! : )
Hi, my 4month old sleeps from 6pm usually he has 3,4h of uninterrupted sleep but then he wakes up every one or two hours. Definitely a sleep association. During the day he only falls asleep if rocked and for about 30-45 min and during the night he wakes up i feed him horizontally and back to sleep. Have two questions :what is the association that is the problem? And two, if he wakes up at 4,5 am it means he went to bed too early or its just his schedule?
Hi @Venera – Thank you for writing, and for using us a resource for your baby’s sleep! You may have both rocking and feeding to sleep as associations. It is common to see multiple sleep associations all at once! Perhaps there is a rocking to sleep association for naps, and a feed to sleep issue at night? It is hard to say without having a sleep consultant take an in depth look at your sleep history. The same can be said for the wake time as well. For most families, this is too early, and wake time can be adjusted! For more help with this, I’d recommend one-on-one help from a consultant who can take a whole holistic look at your family’s sleep, and answer all of your questions and hep you reach all of your goals. : ) You can read about all of our sleep consultation packages and purchase directly online here: https://www.babysleepsite.com/baby-toddler-sleep-consulting-services
Good luck Venera, and contact us if you need any assistance!
I have a 3 month old that pretty much follows your 3 month schedule (eat 7pm nap at 8pm, bath 9pm, eat again 10pm and bed for the night 10:30-11:30pm) … how do i start bedtime 6:30 now? Should i expect her ‘cat nap’ at 8pm to be a longer stretch slowly? Possibly move her bath time to 5:30 from 9pm?
Hi Amelia,
Thank you for your comment and for visiting The Baby Sleep Site! It is completely normal for a 3 month-old to still have a very late bedtime. As she approaches 4 months-old, she will likely start going to bed earlier herself, by extending that late nap into the night, and possibly dropping the 10PM feeding. Almost all babies will do this on their own, without any intervention needed 🙂 I hope this helps, but please get in touch if you need any further support!
Wow i hope it happens with her, too. Thank you so much for your reply, you are my favorite person today 😉
Aw, thanks Amelia! I’m glad to help!
This schedule is SO helpful! Thank you. It’s also helpful to read that it’s normal to have 1-2 night feedings still (of course everyone I know with babies the same age are sleeping through the night!).
Hi @Natalie, we’re so glad the schedule is helpful! And yes I agree, it is SO comforting to know it’s still okay to have wake ups too when you start to compare to other babies. No need to compare though, your baby is not the same as the rest, and you are doing a great job! Please let us know if you every need anything else, we are happy to have you here. 🙂