4 month old screaming hysterically at bedtime

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My 4.5-month-old baby has started crying hysterically at bedtime for 10 minutes to an hour before falling asleep. He sleeps through the night and is happy and playful during the day, napping well. Everything is great except for this screaming period. Is this normal? I try to comfort him, but he seems terrified and can’t calm down. Sometimes I can distract him, but he goes back to screaming after.

I’m unsure what to do. Not comforting him upsets me, but I’m not sure if my efforts help. He eventually falls asleep from exhaustion. My husband thinks I should stop trying to comfort him, believing he’s just burning off energy. Is he right?

I feel silly asking because he was such an easy baby and used to fall asleep without issues. Recently, he’s missed his last cat nap and gone down earlier, and the crying hasn’t happened, so he might be happier with two long naps instead of 3-4 short ones. Thanks for all the advice and reassurance; it’s made me feel so much better.

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It’s not unusual for babies to go through phases of crying before bedtime, even if they were previously easy sleepers. Your baby’s crying could be due to developmental changes or adjustments in his sleep schedule. Trying fewer naps might help, as you’ve observed. Trust your instincts, and consult your pediatrician if the behavior continues or worsens.

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My 6-week-old baby usually cries for 30 minutes to 2 hours straight before going to sleep, but he eventually keeps quiet and sleeps a good night’s sleep.
His mother is often distressed when he is crying but he just has to cry because he is just a baby.