A 4-month-old baby should typically sleep between 12 to 16 hours in a 24-hour period, including both nighttime sleep and naps during the day
. More specifically:
- Total sleep: Around 14.5 hours on average is recommended
- Nighttime sleep: Approximately 10 to 12 hours, which may include brief wakings for feedings
- Daytime naps: About 3.5 to 4.5 hours of sleep spread across 3 to 4 naps, with each nap ideally no longer than 2 hours to avoid interfering with nighttime sleep
- Wake windows (time awake between naps): Typically range from 1.5 to 2.5 hours
At this age, babies often experience the "4-month sleep regression," a developmental phase where sleep patterns change, leading to more frequent night wakings and shorter naps, reflecting maturation of their sleep cycles
. A sample daily schedule might include waking around 6:30-7:00 AM, followed by naps spaced every 1.5 to 2.5 hours of wakefulness, and bedtime between 6:00 PM and 8:00 PM
. In summary, a 4-month-old should get about 14 to 15 hours of total sleep daily, balancing nighttime sleep and multiple naps, with wake times of about 1.5 to 2.5 hours between sleep periods
