8-month-old, most babies sleep an average of 14 hours each day, with most of their sleep taking place overnight and the remaining three to four hours split between two daytime naps. Babies this age are developmentally able to sleep through the night, but some need help learning how. You can encourage healthy sleep habits by creating a consistent routine, and meeting their needs for food, fun, and bonding during the day.
IN THIS ARTICLE
- How much should an 8-month-old sleep?
- Should I put my 8-month-old baby on a sleep schedule?
- What an 8-month-old sleep schedule may look like
Your 8-month-old baby is probably sleeping for longer stretches at night and spending more time happy and alert during the day. Learning about the world around them and moving around takes a lot of their energy, and they need good sleep to fuel their growth and development.
Getting older also means your baby’s sleep patterns are changing. They now have longer stretches of deep sleep and wake up less frequently. Not all babies sleep through the night at 8 months old, but they’re capable of reaching this milestone with some help.
Here’s what to expect from your baby’s sleep and how you can encourage them to form healthy sleep habits.
How much should an 8-month-old sleep?
The time babies spend sleeping varies, but most 8-month-olds will sleep about 14 hours each day. About 10 of these hours will take place overnight, with the other four hours happening during daytime naps. If your baby is still taking three naps during the day, they may transition to just taking two naps when they’re around 8 months old.
When your baby isn’t sleeping, they’ll be up for eating both breast milk or formula and solid foods. They’ll also spend plenty of time watching you and other family members, and enjoy playing inside or outside in the sun.
These periods of time between naps are called wake windows, and they’re steadily becoming longer as your baby gets older. At 8 months old, your baby’s wake window is approximately two to three hours.
While 14 hours of sleep is typical for a baby this age, it’s realistic to expect some occasional changes in their sleep schedule. If your baby gets sick, hits a new developmental milestone, or experiences a disruption to their routine, they might have a sleep regression.
Sleep regressions are common at 8 months old, since your baby is developing so fast and learning so many new skills. These temporary setbacks to sleep are normal, and you can usually help your baby get past them with time and a consistent routine.
Should I put my 8-month-old baby on a sleep schedule?
Eight-month-old babies thrive on a consistent routine. Regular sleep prepares them for daytime learning and growth – and helps them sleep better at night, too. Schedules provide children with the comfort of routine, and consistency tells them what they can expect from their environment and caregivers.
At 8 months old, your baby is most likely capable of sleeping through the night. However, some babies have yet to reach this milestone at this age. With plenty of patience – and these tips – you can help your baby get the sleep they need.
- Meet your baby’s needs while they’re awake. Before your baby will adapt to a regular sleep schedule, their basic physical and emotional needs need to be met. For an 8-month-old, this means making sure they eat enough during the day – both breast milk or formula and solid foods – to keep their tummy full overnight. Babies this age love bonding and playing with their parents, and keeping their waking hours full of connection and fun could encourage deeper sleep at night, too.
- Show them the difference between night and day. Even at 8 months old, babies can benefit from reminders of the difference between night and day. Exposing them to sunlight, especially first thing in the morning, and keeping the house noisy and engaging during the day can help reinforce the idea that daytime is for fun and nighttime is for sleeping.
- Stay consistent. Keep up with a calming bedtime routine, and create a peaceful, screen-free environment in the hour leading up to lights out.
- Be flexible. As your baby spends more time asleep at night and less time asleep during the day, you’ll need to make changes to their routine.
- If you haven’t yet, consider weaning your baby from their middle of the night feedings.
- When it’s time to go to sleep, put your baby in their crib while they’re still awake. It’s okay to rock them for a bit until they’re acting drowsy, but waiting until they’re sound asleep in your arms could make it more difficult for them to fall asleep on their own and go back to sleep if they wake up at night.
- Let your baby practice going back to sleep by themself when they wake up at night. Babies and adults wake during the night, but some babies need practice learning to soothe themself back to sleep. It’s okay to wait a few minutes before checking in on your baby when they wake up. If they haven’t settled back into sleep after 10 minutes, quietly check in on them to let them know you’re near, but avoid picking them up or chatting with them. Lay them back down if they’ve pulled themself up, then quickly exit the room.
- Expect sleep training to take time. It’s possible that if your 8-month-old isn’t sleeping through the night, it could take several days or even a few weeks to teach them new sleep habits. If you sleep train, stick with plan for at least a week, as consistency will play the biggest role in teaching them to sleep through the night.
What an 8-month-old sleep schedule may look like
By the time your baby is 8 months old, they most likely have a natural routine. This doesn’t mean they won’t need help settling into a sleep schedule, but they’ll give you clues about their wake times and naptimes. Knowing that each baby is different, here’s a glimpse at what a day in the life of an 8-month-old baby might look like:
- 6 a.m.: Wake for the day, breastfeed or bottle, followed by solid food breakfast.
- 9:45 a.m.: Morning nap.
- 11:30 a.m.: Wake, breastfeed or bottle, then solid food for lunch.
- 2:15 p.m.: Afternoon nap.
- 4 p.m.: Wake, breastfeed or bottle, followed by playtime.
- 5 p.m.: Solid food dinner.
- 7:30 p.m.: Start bedtime routine with bottle or breastfeeding and calming rituals.
- 8 p.m. to 6 a.m.: May wake up but doesn’t need to eat and is learning to sleep independently.
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