From Chaos to Calm: How My Babies Started Sleeping 12 Hours by 4 Months

Something wild happened the other night — both my babies slept through the night.Twelve. Full. Hours.

Treasure (my first) started sleeping through the night at 4 months, and just recently, baby Zoe did the same. That means — for the first time in a long time — I felt like a functioning human. A mom who got actual rest? Unheard of.

But it didn’t happen by accident.And I started noticing other moms struggling. Not because they weren’t amazing — but because they weren’t doing what I was doing. So, I decided to share what’s been working for us.

🛁 My Nighttime Routine (aka the secret sauce)

Bathtime Begins

We start with the Frida 4-in-1 baby tub — because she deserves a spa soak. I alternate between CeraVe Baby Wash and Aveeno Baby Wash & Shampoo, depending on which one my toddler hasn't hidden.

Zoe’s Fancy Skincare Routine

Zozo doesn’t play. After her bath, I slather her up with La Roche-Posay Lipikar Triple Repair Moisturizing Cream (say that three times fast) and regular Aquaphor to seal in the glow.

Quick side note: Her pediatrician had me investigate if baby Aquaphor vs. regular Aquaphor was a thing. I did the research — zero differences. It’s all marketing. My graduate training came in handy somewhere.

Treasure, on the other hand, was low-maintenance. She used Aveeno Eczema Nighttime Balm with Aquaphor on top and we called it a day.

Key tip: Cream + ointment combo = magic for dry skin.

👶🏾 White Noise, But Make It Smart

We use the Nanit baby monitor. It has white noise, a nightlight, growth tracking, and it monitors breathing.For moms who check their baby’s chest 37 times a night — this is a holy grail.

🍼 Feeding Bottles

I started with Dr. Brown’s, but switched to Lansinoh Anti-Colic bottles because they’re shaped like the breast. Might help with nipple confusion. (Or might not. Ask your lactation consultant 😅)

🛌 After Feeding

Once she’s lotioned, fed, and prayed over (yes, we confess scriptures out loud!), we wrap Zoe in a Halo Sleep Sack, turn on the Nanit, and she’s out like a light by 6pm. Feel free to ditch the sleep sack if your baby hates it!

Treasure has her own 7pm bedtime routine, so by 7:30pm… I have my life back. I can breathe, pray, read a book, talk to my husband, or stare at the wall. Bliss.

🧠 What Helped Us Sleep Train

✅ Routine (a.k.a. Embrace the Baby Clock)

Babies thrive on predictable rhythms. I started noticing that both my girls got super cranky around the same time every evening. For Zoe, it was like clockwork — 6:00pm on the dot.

Instead of pushing through, I leaned in.

So I shifted our entire routine. Bathtime starts at 5:30pm.Yes, you read that right. Babies are not night owls — they usually don’t enjoy staying up late the way adults do. So if you’re someone who naturally stays up late, you might need to make a few adjustments.

Trust me, the peace is worth it.

✅ Crib After Month 3

Controversial, maybe. But I believe in helping babies transition to their own space early — if you have a safe room setup.

✅ The 20-Minute Wait Rule (a.k.a. My Personal Sleep Training Mantra)

I once read somewhere that you should leave your baby for 45 minutes at bedtime before picking them up. I couldn’t do that. I didn’t have the heart for it.

So I started with 20-minute increments instead — and honestly, it worked for us.

Side note: Mamas, we’ve got to learn how to walk away.No, I’m not saying abandon the child. I’m not saying ignore every cry. But think about it…

As an adult, you toss and turn before bed.There’s a whole melody in your mind that won’t shut off.You’re making to-do lists in your head.The refrigerator decides to become a percussionist at midnight.

It’s mental gymnastics.You’ve just learned to keep that dialogue internal before falling asleep.

Babies haven’t. So what do they do?They cry. Or in Treasure’s case… sing “You Are My Sunshine” 20 times in a row. 😩

It’s not a cry of pain. It’s not suffering. If your baby is fed, changed, clean, and safe — it’s OK to walk away.Let me say it again for the mom in the monitor aisle at Target:

It. Is. OK.

Take a deep breath in.Now breathe out.

Say it with me:

“My baby is fine. I can walk away. I am not a criminal. I can let them sleep.”

Don’t just skim past that — say it out loud. Yes, you. I’m watching. 👀Go ahead:

“My baby is fine... I can walk away.”

👏🏾 Good job, mama.

Now give that precious bundle a kiss, say good night, lay them down gently, and walk away.(Stay close — or watch your monitor — but make up your mind not to go back for 20 minutes.)

And if you do go back?Take your time. Re-center. Try again.

You’re doing just fine.

✅ Bottle Feeding at Night

Breast is great — I still use mine! But at night, I bottle feed because I noticed my babies weren’t getting enough to stay full.→ I use Enfamil NeuroPro Gentlease, and it’s worked well for both girls.

🧸 Other Random (but life-saving) Tools

• Satin crib sheets – helps with hair + skin

• Humidifier – especially during the dry winter months

• Organic coconut oil – for those little curls and dry spots

• Treasure’s Devotional – we confess scriptures over both girls before bed

  
  

✨ Final Thoughts:

What worked for me might not work for you — and that’s okay.This post is for the tired mama searching for hope, a plan, or a story that feels a little like her own.

Whether you breastfeed or bottle-feed, co-sleep or crib-train, just remember: you’re doing better than you think. And you’re not alone.

We're all Still BeKoming — one night, one nap, and one routine at a time.

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission — at no extra cost to you — if you choose to purchase through them. Every product mentioned here is something I’ve personally used and genuinely love. No fluff, just real-life favorites from one tired, prayerful mama to another. 💛