Babies fight sleep for a variety of reasons the seven most common being separation anxiety, overtiredness, overstimulation, teething, hitting a milestone, traveling and discomfort or illness.
This is completely normal. Their brain and nervous system need to recharge often. When a 3 month-old refuses to nap, it's typically because she's over-tired/overstimulated and her system can't relax enough to fall asleep. Start planning for her next nap after she's been awake for about an hour.
Restless sleep at this age can be caused by cognitive and physical developmental milestones—like becoming more aware if their surroundings, teething, Or (wait for it)—a combination. And sometimes, it's all happening just as you're going back to work after parental leave.
Even some babies who have been good sleepers until now can suddenly start fighting sleep. This is a developmental phase they go through, and you can't change it.
When baby fights sleep, it can look all sorts of ways. Most commonly it's exactly what it sounds like- a fight. There might be screaming, crying, squirming out of your arms or fighting at the breast or bottle, and maybe even some tears out of you! Naps and bedtimes don't have to be this way.
The sleep regression at three months is one of the first sleep regressions your baby will have. There is a sleep regression around six and eight weeks, however, the 3 month sleep regression is a little more impactful.
How long does sleep regression last? Baby sleep regressions usually last about two to four weeks — the time for your little one to get used to a new routine or milestone or to recover from an illness — although the exact duration depends on the cause and can vary from baby to baby.
3-month sleep regression symptoms include: Waking up multiple times in the night. Not wanting to nap or go to bed at night. Crying in their sleep and when they're awake.
Most often, temporary things like illness, teething, developmental milestones or changes in routine cause baby sleep issues — so the occasional sleep snafu likely isn't anything to worry about.
Most babies around 3-4 months will take about 4-5 naps per day, and that will likely vary from day to day as well.
3-month growth spurt symptoms.
Increased hunger and frequent feedings, sleeping more than normal, fussiness or irritability, and changes in bowel habits are a few typical symptoms. During this stage, babies may also go through physical changes like increasing weight gain and lengthening.
Bedtime for a 3 month old
Plan for bedtime to be 12 - 14 hours after waking for the day but no earlier than 6:00 PM. That means an optimal bedtime for a baby waking around 6:00 AM will be between 6:00 PM and 8:00 PM.
Signs and symptoms may include: Drooling more than usual (drooling may start as early as three or four months of age, but is not always a sign of teething) Constantly putting fingers or fists in the mouth (babies like to chew on things whether or not they are teething) Swollen, or puffy area on gum.
Being unsettled and crying is very common in young babies up to four months old. Sometimes there is a medical reason for a baby's crying, but usually it is normal infant behaviour that settles as the baby gets older. All babies are different – some cry for longer periods and are more unsettled than others.
While some sleep experts take note of regressions around four, eight, 12 and 18 months, the most well-understood and biggest regression is the four-month sleep regression. The four-month sleep regression may happen up to a month early, or a month late. And for some babies, it might not happen at all.
You also may notice your baby stretching and kicking the legs. This movement strengthens leg muscles, preparing your baby to roll over, which usually happens by 6 months of age.
In the beginning, you may end up having to let baby cry it out for 45 minutes to an hour before she goes to sleep, though it varies from baby to baby.