Presented by Bugaboo

Good morning! Today we've shared some valuable insights we picked up from our own experience with reverse cycling or what some refer to as 4-month sleep regression.

You might have noticed we are sending our newsletter at different times and days in the week now. Being a parent to a 4-month old is hard but reply back to us and share which time you prefer!

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Solutions For Your Baby's Four-Month Sleep Regression

Understanding reverse cycling

TL;DR: Reverse cycling is when a baby consumes a large number of ounces or calories during the night which leads to a reduced appetite during the day. Reverse cycling can be spurred by a number of factors. Understanding these factors can help parents navigate and address reverse cycling, ensuring everyone stays happy and healthy.

It all began when our baby started waking up more at night, super hungry. Like clockwork, we'd feed her and coax her back to sleep. We chalked it up to a growth spurt, thinking, "Yep, she's definitely growing!"

Then came the hints—those subtle signs suggesting she might be ready to switch to an age appropriate nap schedule. So, we adjusted, thinking we were being savvy parents. But, little did we know, we were unintentionally cutting back on naps and stretching out the time between feedings. We were so focused on avoiding overtiredness that we found ourselves battling to get her to snooze when she wasn’t ready to. Our old method of putting her down at the first sleepy cue? Yeah, that was a no-go now.

As the nights went on, something interesting started happening, our baby became harder to sooth and we struggled to put her down. In just a few days, our baby was still eating well during the day, but the feeding sessions were fewer, thanks to the new schedule and longer wake windows. We realized we needed to up her calorie intake during the day while accepting the fact that she was keeping up with longer wake windows. We are familiar with the research that babes fed well during the day sleep better but the question was how are we going to increase feedings while wake windows stretched longer.

The solution? Adding in a feeding right before the next nap. By this point, our baby's wake windows had stretched from 1-1.5 hours to 2-2.5 hours—a good chunk of time for her to digest her food. Topping off her tank before naptime turned out to be a game-changer. Not only did it help curb the reverse cycling, but it also prepped her for a peaceful snooze. Accommodating the wake time during the day also helped with bedtime struggles.

Remember, parenting is all about learning and adapting. So, if you find yourself in a similar situation, don't worry—you've got this!

In last week’s poll, most people said they tired to limit caffeine while breastfeeding but they did not cut it completely

Bugaboo Butterfly Compact Stroller

Bugaboo has once again raised the bar in the world of strollers with the Butterfly. Bugaboo sits at the top end of the market and with their latest edition and it’s easy to see why it is such a popular brand with parents and celebrities. We searched for the “it” stroller to avoid building a collection of specialized models. We needed one that did most of it all.

The Butterfly is elegant, compact, and functional in equal measure. It seems to be the perfect blend of light weight and precision build that makes traveling enjoyable. We still use this stroller for errands, visiting friends, and for doctors appointments.

But it's not just its weight that sets the Butterfly apart. With its one-hand, one-second fold mechanism, this stroller epitomizes convenience and ease of use. Its ultra-compact design makes it an ideal companion for parents on the move, offering unparalleled portability without compromising on comfort or style.

A small stroller for big adventures

The Ultimate Living Parenting Guide & Free Resource List

We decided to compile The Ultimate Living Parenting Guide & Free Resource List for you to explore at your own pace. It is full of everything from free resources to courses, books, podcasts, and online content - all centered around better parenting.

Tell us if you feel we missed anything!