{"id":29843,"date":"2026-02-11T08:00:31","date_gmt":"2026-02-11T08:00:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.may.app\/?p=29843"},"modified":"2026-02-11T09:20:20","modified_gmt":"2026-02-11T09:20:20","slug":"awake-time-for-a-4-month-old-baby","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.may.app\/en\/blog\/infant\/awake-time-for-a-4-month-old-baby\/","title":{"rendered":"Awake Time for a 4-Month-Old Baby"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Awake time is closely linked to babies\u2019 sleep periods. A good amount of sleep allows a 4-month-old baby to be particularly active during their awake periods. Conversely, sufficient awake time helps your baby sleep well. How can you organize awake time according to your baby\u2019s sleep?<\/span><br \/>\n<strong>Awake time for a 4-month-old baby:<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> let\u2019s take a closer look.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Why does a 4-month-old baby need awake time?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At 4 months, your baby is building strength. They can hold their head up better, push up on their arms while on their tummy, and sometimes begin to roll over. Awake time is essential to support these motor skill milestones. <strong>To stimulate their sight, touch, and hearing, you can<\/strong>:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">place your baby on an activity mat,<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">offer high-contrast objects and varied textures,<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">play soft sounds for them.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>However, you remain their main focus of interest<\/strong>: your face, your voice, and your presence provide the richest stimulation.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Good to know<\/strong>: during awake periods, it is important to offer your baby different positions, especially by regularly placing them <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">on their tummy<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, always under supervision. This helps prevent flat head syndrome, known as <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">plagiocephaly<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Want to learn more? Feel free to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/app.adjust.com\/1pblulz8\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">download the May app<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, where you&#8217;ll find plenty of resources to support and guide you throughout your journey as a new parent.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-29811\" src=\"https:\/\/www.may.app\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/baby-lying-on-stomach-and-lifting-head-exploring-2026-01-08-00-00-01-utc.webp\" alt=\"Awake time for a 4-month-old baby - May App Health\" width=\"1000\" height=\"667\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.may.app\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/baby-lying-on-stomach-and-lifting-head-exploring-2026-01-08-00-00-01-utc.webp 1000w, https:\/\/www.may.app\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/baby-lying-on-stomach-and-lifting-head-exploring-2026-01-08-00-00-01-utc-300x200.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.may.app\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/baby-lying-on-stomach-and-lifting-head-exploring-2026-01-08-00-00-01-utc-768x512.webp 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><b>Sleep needs of a <\/b><b>4-month-old baby?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Between 3 and 6 months, your child\u2019s sleep evolves. Around 4 months of age, <\/span><strong>their daily and sleep rhythms become<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong> more regular<\/strong>. Their sleep cycles reach about 70 minutes, compared to 50 minutes when they were under 2 months old.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sleep gradually begins to include phases of light and deep sleep, although <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">your baby continues to fall asleep in active sleep <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(REM sleep)<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. It is only from 6 months onward that <strong>deep sleep accounts for more than 50% of total sleep time<\/strong>.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A 4-month-old infant sleeps more as their biological clock<strong> begins to align with a 24-hour cycle<\/strong>. As a result, the day\/night pattern becomes clearer, and they are better able to stay asleep, especially at night.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lack of rest can cause drowsiness or, conversely, crying that is difficult to soothe. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Establishing a bedtime routine also helps your baby sleep through the night and<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> sleep in their crib<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. On average, <strong>a 4-month-old baby needs<\/strong><\/span><strong> 15 to 16 hours of sleep<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong> per day<\/strong>.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here is the awake time between each nap depending on your baby\u2019s age. These figures are provided for guidance only and may vary from one child to another:<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At 4 months, your baby takes about 4 to 5 naps per day, lasting from 30 minutes to 2 hours, and has 1 to 2 hours of awake time between each nap.<\/span><br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-4140 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.may.app\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/tableau_tempsdesommeil_300dpi-847x1024-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"847\" height=\"1024\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.may.app\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/tableau_tempsdesommeil_300dpi-847x1024-1.jpg 847w, https:\/\/www.may.app\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/tableau_tempsdesommeil_300dpi-847x1024-1-248x300.jpg 248w, https:\/\/www.may.app\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/tableau_tempsdesommeil_300dpi-847x1024-1-768x928.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 847px) 100vw, 847px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How can you prevent sleep deprivation in a 4-month-old baby?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Since awake time is very important for your baby\u2019s proper development, it is essential that your child <strong>is well-rested and therefore gets enough sleep<\/strong>. Here\u2019s how to recognize the signs of sleep deprivation and address it if necessary.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Recognizing signs of sleep deprivation in a 4-month-old baby<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The accumulation of the following signs may indicate a lack of sleep in your baby:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your baby <strong>seems tired<\/strong> first thing in the morning and may even start crying upon waking.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Falling asleep becomes difficult<\/strong>, both for naps and at bedtime.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Daytime rest periods <strong>become shorter and lower in quality<\/strong>.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nights are <strong>short and interrupted<\/strong> by very frequent awakenings.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How can you improve sleep in a 4-month-old baby?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To address this lack of sleep, several adjustments can be made:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Establish <strong>consistent bedtime and wake-up times<\/strong>.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Create a reassuring and predictable <strong>bedtime routine<\/strong>.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Maintain <strong>regular nap times<\/strong>.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Try to extend naps by leaving your baby in their crib for <strong>a few extra minutes<\/strong> (10, then 15 minutes), in a dark and quiet environment.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Carefully observe their <strong>sleep cues<\/strong> and respond quickly.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-29821\" src=\"https:\/\/www.may.app\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/sweet-newborn-boy-lies-on-the-sofa-beautiful-infa-2026-01-06-08-43-49-utc.webp\" alt=\"Awake time for a 4-month-old baby - May App Health\" width=\"1000\" height=\"563\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.may.app\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/sweet-newborn-boy-lies-on-the-sofa-beautiful-infa-2026-01-06-08-43-49-utc.webp 1000w, https:\/\/www.may.app\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/sweet-newborn-boy-lies-on-the-sofa-beautiful-infa-2026-01-06-08-43-49-utc-300x169.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.may.app\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/sweet-newborn-boy-lies-on-the-sofa-beautiful-infa-2026-01-06-08-43-49-utc-768x432.webp 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What time should a 4-month-old baby go to bed?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At this age, it cannot be said that babies fully sleep through the night, but many are able <strong>to sleep continuously between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. without waking<\/strong>. Indeed, sleep and wake rhythms are no longer based solely on hunger or fullness, as the infant begins to have sufficient energy reserves to feel less hungry at night.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If your baby wakes between two sleep cycles, we recommend waiting a few minutes before picking them up or soothing them, as it is likely that <strong>they will fall back asleep very quickly<\/strong>, if not immediately after waking.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The development of wakefulness also influences infant sleep. During this period, nights may be more restful for <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">you as your baby<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> becomes tired during the day. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In fact, days are <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">more active as your baby is constantly seeking new discoveries <strong>despite signs of fatigue<\/strong>. As you can see, every baby is different. Every parent hopes their child will sleep through the night as soon as possible.<\/span><br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-29825\" src=\"https:\/\/www.may.app\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/portrait-of-a-young-family-in-the-studio-2026-01-05-05-44-31-utc.webp\" alt=\"Awake time for a 4-month-old baby - May App Health\" width=\"1000\" height=\"667\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.may.app\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/portrait-of-a-young-family-in-the-studio-2026-01-05-05-44-31-utc.webp 1000w, https:\/\/www.may.app\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/portrait-of-a-young-family-in-the-studio-2026-01-05-05-44-31-utc-300x200.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.may.app\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/portrait-of-a-young-family-in-the-studio-2026-01-05-05-44-31-utc-768x512.webp 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><b>How should you organize <\/b><b>awake time<\/b><b> for a 4-month-old baby?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><strong>From 4 months onward, your baby will gradually move toward a well-defined daily routine with 3 naps<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong> during the day<\/strong>: one in the morning, <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">one in the afternoon<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and one at the end of the day. They wake up after each nap, and these moments make up their awake periods.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These awake periods may be longer or shorter depending on your baby\u2019s age. At 4 months, your baby reaches a new milestone. They develop further in several areas (language, understanding of their environment, motor skills, sensory awareness, etc.) and respond more to your stimulation.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">During awake time, feel free to offer <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">developmental games<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (books with different textures, colorful toys, etc.) and tell stories using puppets, as your baby enjoys the sound of your voice. <strong>Bath time can also be a moment of play and bonding between parents and children<\/strong>.<\/span><br \/>\n<strong>Good to know<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: at 4 months old, awake time is just as important as sleep time. If your baby sleeps a lot but tends to be very active during awake periods, there is no need to worry! They are probably a heavy sleeper! So don\u2019t hesitate to respect your baby\u2019s sleep needs.<\/span><br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-29835\" src=\"https:\/\/www.may.app\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/portrait-of-baby-girl-at-home-2026-01-09-09-17-28-utc-2.webp\" alt=\"Awake time for a 4-month-old baby - May App Health\" width=\"1000\" height=\"667\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.may.app\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/portrait-of-baby-girl-at-home-2026-01-09-09-17-28-utc-2.webp 1000w, https:\/\/www.may.app\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/portrait-of-baby-girl-at-home-2026-01-09-09-17-28-utc-2-300x200.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.may.app\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/portrait-of-baby-girl-at-home-2026-01-09-09-17-28-utc-2-768x512.webp 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><b>What is the 4-month sleep regression?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> 4-month sleep regression<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> has no scientific explanation but is sometimes observed by parents when there is a sudden deterioration in sleep around 4 months. This regression is often difficult for parents who thought their baby had mastered sleep.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, sleep regression is a sign of development in infants. Sleep regressions occur at different stages in childhood. <strong>They often appear after a change in the child\u2019s life<\/strong> (disrupted sleep habits, change of environment, new developmental milestones, etc.).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At 4 months, they can be explained by the development of wakefulness. Indeed, <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">your <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">infant <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">may <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">go through<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> an important relational development phase that drives them to become more alert and want to discover the world around them. During this period, awakenings may be more frequent, especially during naps, as <strong>they want to quickly return to interacting with their environment<\/strong>. Similarly, they may wake more often at night because their sleep is lighter, much to parents\u2019 dismay.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In summary, at 4 months, your baby\u2019s awake time and sleep are closely linked and evolve rapidly. Awake periods not only support motor, sensory, and emotional development but also promote better-quality sleep. By carefully observing their sleep cues, maintaining regular routines, and offering rich yet calming awake experiences, you help them gradually find their balance.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>**<\/p>\n<p>Photo credits: nenetus | valuavitaly | yavorandriy | Image-Source<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This text was translated from French by an artificial intelligence. The information, advice, and sources it contains comply with French standards and may therefore not apply to your situation. Make sure to complement this reading by visiting the May US\/UK app and consulting the healthcare professionals who are supporting you.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Awake time is closely linked to babies\u2019 sleep periods. A good amount of sleep allows a 4-month-old baby to be particularly active during their awake periods. Conversely, sufficient awake time helps your baby sleep well. How can you organize awake time according to your baby\u2019s sleep? Awake time for a 4-month-old baby: let\u2019s take a [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":23,"featured_media":10983,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[196],"tags":[160],"class_list":["post-29843","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-infant","tag-baby-awakening"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.may.app\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29843","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.may.app\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.may.app\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.may.app\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/23"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.may.app\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=29843"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.may.app\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29843\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":29844,"href":"https:\/\/www.may.app\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29843\/revisions\/29844"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.may.app\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10983"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.may.app\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=29843"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.may.app\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=29843"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.may.app\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=29843"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}