Sleeping FAQ: 4-6 Months – Early Morning Waking

When we are away from home our 4-month-old wakes early in the light room

My son of 4 months has been following the CLB routines now since he was 6-weeks-old; we had a few problems initially but now he is a real contented little baby. He has always woken up at around 3.30-4am, but always gets himself back to sleep again as we have sleep trained him to do so. However, when we visit family and friends, the room we have is never as dark as his room at home, which has black-out blinds. So when he wakes during the early hours, he cannot get himself back to sleep. My son is such a good little baby and loves his bed, but is there any way that I can also train him to go to sleep in a lighter room environment, other than the pitch black room that he is used to, so he can get himself back off to sleep when he is in lighter rooms?

Being away from home in a different room can be unsettling to both a baby and their parents. At home you are aware of him stirring but know he will settle himself. When away visiting you are probably far more aware of any noises he makes, which may disturb other people, and may go to him more quickly, rather than leaving him to settle back alone. In a strange house this may take him longer, as even at this age he will be aware of being in different surroundings. Take his familiar toys with you, and any musical toy you may use to help him to settle. Some mothers find it best to take sheets with them which have been slept on already, as the smell of them will be comforting to him. If you know that a room is going to be much lighter in the mornings, then use towels pinned to the curtains to help darken it. If you go away often, he will become accustomed to sleeping in different places and learn to settle himself back wherever he is.

Now that your son is sleeping well at home, you can begin to take him out and about a little more and have occasional naps away from his room. This will get him used to sleeping in a lighter environment. Use the lunchtime nap to go out for shopping or lunch and let him sleep in his pram. Once a baby has good sleep habits you can be less strict about every nap taking place in a dark room, providing he still sleeps enough overall. Most babies, like ourselves sleep best in familiar surroundings but going away should not pose too many problems if you adapt his routine a little at home.