A LITTLE HELP WITH THE DAY
4-month-old sleep schedule: room for changing sleep
At four months, a day can feel different from the one before. Use a log to see what happened without turning every nap into a test.
A possible day, not a rule
The times below are made-up planning examples. They are not population averages, medical advice or a recommendation that your baby take this number of naps. Feeds and care happen throughout the day and night as needed.
| Time | Example |
|---|---|
| 07:00 | Wake up |
| 09:00–09:45 | Nap 1 |
| 11:45–12:30 | Nap 2 |
| 14:30–15:15 | Nap 3 |
| 17:15–17:45 | Nap 4 |
| 19:45 | Bedtime opportunity |
Short naps don’t have to break the day
Suppose the first nap ends at 09:20 instead of 09:45. In this example, keeping the same two-hour interval moves the next nap opportunity to 11:20. Watch your baby and respond sooner if needed; don’t try to recover the old timetable by stretching every later interval.
What about the “four-month regression”?
The AAP describes sleep cycles becoming more regular around four months. That does not mean every baby has the same disruption on the same date. A sudden change is a reason to check comfort, feeding and health, rather than assume a label explains it.
What is useful to record?
Actual sleep starts and wake-ups give you a clearer picture than planned times alone. Keep the distinction between a bedtime opportunity and time actually asleep. A single day cannot establish a sleep problem.
Make the example your own
Adjust wake-up, nap count, awake interval and nap length in the free planner. For ongoing logging, BetterNaps on iPhone stores your latest entry for free; cloud history, caregiver sharing and reminders are paid extras.
Read how wake windows work, or compare the 5-month guide and 6-month guide. These are different examples, not a progression your baby must follow.
