4 Month Old Having Problems Sleeping at Night

I have an 18 week old girl and she has been alot fussier lately, being a bit more difficult when it comes to bedtime. I think my baby's problem is her teeth. She has no teeth buds yet, but is fanging everything during the day, and hardly having daytime naps, so she's overtired when it comes to bedtime. And then sometimes, she just won't settle down unless she's lying in my bed being breastfed. It's the one thing that I know will always put her to sleep.

This is just a friendly suggestion, because I know I do the same thing. If that was the first night it happened, don't stress too much, unless it happens for the next 2 or 3 nights.
He might have just been a bit upset and needed his Mum nearby.
Whenever something changes dramatically with my daughter, I tend to flip out a bit, but more often that not, it doesn't keep happening (whatever it was).

My baby is mostly breastfed and we have a loose routine. I can tell when she's ready for bed and we'll 'usually' shower, then feed, then either rock her to sleep (if she needs) or just pop her in her bed and give her back her dummy if she needs it.

I would suggest starting a sleep routine, if that is what is best for you. If you are happy with the way things are at the moment, then that's fine. Do what works for you.

I would agree that at 4 months sleeping on the pillow is not best. Our 7 wk old is sleeping in a crib that is elevated at the feet, she is in a Swaddle Me blanket, and her feet are inside a boppy to keep her from sliding down the crib. This is what our pediatrician recommended.

As she gets older the boppy will be gone, I would be so paranoid.

We began sleep training at 1 1/2 months with our now 2 year old. We knew it was a bit early but it didn't hurt her. We would lay her down shortly after feeding...she would be drowsy yet awake and we would let her go to sleep on her own. For the 1st month or so we wouldn't really let her cry very long because we knew she was still young. As she got around 3 mos or so we let her cry for longer periods. We never picked her up either. Just soothed her and gave her pacifier back. She also still sleeps with the Baby Einstein CD.

Our 7 wk old now is doing the same thing. She however sleeps with a white noise machine...she liked it better. I haven't fed her in the middle of the night for at least 3 weeks. She is formula fed...

He could be sick - did you check his temperature. If he continues I would call the pediatrician. And yes he could be hungry.

He may be teething. I know my little ones nursed all night during that time. There are also times in which there is no definitive reason it was just a bad night.
Regarding sleeping propped up, have you tried placing a pillow or boppy under the crib mattress. It is equivalent to those wedges that they sell but cheaper. My sons slept better a bit elevated and with the pillow underneath there is no worry.
Hope this helps,
Suzy and her men

Your child is going to have rought nights for the rest of his life, don't you have a restless night every once in a while? Take a breather, it's probably teething (even if you see no teeth for a while, things start to happen beneath the gums), growth spurt, upset tummy, sickness, or just a bad night. Don't be worried unless this last like over 4 nights in a row, then maybe talk to your pediatrician. If you're worried take his temp, massage his gums or give him a cold wash cloth to chew on, massage his tummy in circular motions, gently push his knees to chest (relieving gas or helping bowels) or mylacon gas drops. If you're not using a pacifier he could use extra soothing and you could see if he likes it (maybe why he's wanting to eat, but may not necesarily be hungry). Put your worry aside and use your gut instinct on what it could be and give some remedies a try. He may like sleeping on the boppy because he ate too much and need to be elevated to not throw up! A boppy is unsafe to sleep in, but I think 98% of moms have done something dangerous to get some sleep, I let mine sleep in the swing a few nights! Pay attention to symptoms to help you, moaning when touching teeth, crying after realizing pacifier doesn't give food, grunting from gas or constiptation...

Is it possible your little guy is going through a growth sprut? Both my daughters were constantly nursing at 4 mos. old. My lactation consultant had warned me to expect a growth spurt at that age and my Ped. confirmed it. Both girls had a few days where they nursed non stop then fell back into their regular pattern.

As for sleep training, my Ped told me he prefers parents wait until 6 mos old when the babies are larger and better able to make it through the night.

I know it is hard when your little one doesn't sleep or doesn't feel well. I put my little one on a magnetic pad and a far in frared blanket at 2 days old and she never had problems sleeping, The nice thing when it was a hot day she could sleep under the same blanket and it would cool her down to sleep or warm her body if she were to cold. I also gave her wholefood supplements in her bottle to replace what she was missing to help build her immune system. She is nine and very rarely gets sick when everyone around her at school gets sick. Happy New Year. N. Marie