Sleep Needs at 4 Months
Four-month-olds need 12-16 hours of total sleep, including 10-12 hours at night and 3-4 hours across 3-4 naps. This is a pivotal age because your baby's sleep cycles are maturing from newborn patterns into the adult-like light-deep cycle pattern they'll keep for life.
Wake windows have stretched to about 110 minutes (nearly 2 hours), with the pre-bedtime window slightly longer at 120 minutes. Your baby is likely transitioning from 4 naps to 3 naps during this period.
Sample Schedule
- 7:00 AM — Wake up
- 8:50 AM — Nap 1 (1-1.5 hours)
- 11:40 AM — Nap 2 (1-1.5 hours)
- 2:30 PM — Nap 3 (45 min-1 hour)
- 5:00 PM — Nap 4 (catnap 20-30 min, if needed)
- 7:00 PM — Bedtime
The 4-Month Sleep Regression
The 4-month sleep regression is actually a permanent reorganization of sleep, not a temporary setback. Your baby is now cycling between light and deep sleep like an adult, which means more brief awakenings between cycles. Babies who were previously great sleepers may suddenly start waking every 2 hours. This is the most common age parents consider sleep training.
Ride out the regression by keeping sleep conditions consistent. If you're considering sleep training, most pediatricians give the green light at 4 months as long as your baby is gaining weight well and has no underlying health concerns.
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