At 8 months, your baby is eager to move, explore, and be part of everything: crawling to new corners, pulling up on furniture, and watching closely to make sure you’re still near. With all this growing, sleep can shift again, and an 8-month-old sleep schedule might not feel as steady as it once did.
This guide walks you through what sleep typically looks like at this age – wake windows, nap lengths, sample routines, night wakings, and the changes that come with new milestones and separation awareness. Every baby’s rhythm is a little different, but understanding the patterns behind this stage can make the days (and nights) feel a bit more predictable.
Sleep Needs for 8-Month-Olds
Most 8-month-olds sleep 13–15 hours in 24 hours, including daytime naps. By now, most are comfortably on a two-nap schedule, though an occasional “bridge nap” may still appear on tougher days. Watch your baby’s cues more than the clock. Content, engaged wake times and easy bedtimes mean the schedule is working.
Typical sleep patterns for this age:
- Total sleep: 13–15 hours
- Daytime sleep: 2.5–3.5 hours
- Number of naps: 2 (sometimes 3)
- Wake windows: 2h 15min to 3h 30min
At this stage, most babies have fully transitioned to two naps, although every baby adjusts at their own pace. The key is to watch your child’s cues – happy, engaged wake times and easy bedtimes are signs their schedule is working.
Wake Windows at 8 Months
As your baby grows, their awake times stretch a bit longer, enough for meals, play, and a few giggles before that next nap.
A common rhythm looks like this:
- Morning wake window: ~2 hours 15–30 minutes
- Midday wake window: ~2.5–3 hours
- Before bedtime: ~3–3.5+ hours
If naps start shortening or bedtime becomes a struggle, try adjusting wake windows by 15 minutes to find your baby’s sweet spot. Minor tweaks often make a big difference.
Sample 8-Month-Old Sleep Schedule
Every baby’s rhythm is unique, but most families at this age follow a similar 8-month-old sleep schedule that balances wake windows, naps, and bedtime routines.
Sample 8-Month-Old Sleep Schedule (2-Nap Day – most common)
| 7:00 AM | Wake up |
| Wake window (2h 45min) | |
| 09:45 – 11:15 AM | Nap 1 (1h 15min) |
| Wake window (3h 15min) | |
| 2:30 – 4:00 PM | Nap 2 (1h 15min) |
| Wake window (3h 30min) | |
| 7:30 PM | Bedtime |
Sample 8-Month-Old Sleep Schedule (Occasional 3-Nap Day)
| 7:00 AM | Wake up |
| Wake window (2h 30min) | |
| 9:15 – 10:30 AM | Nap 1 (1h 15min) |
| Wake window (2h 30min) | |
| 1:00 – 2:15 PM | Nap 2 (1h 15min) |
| Wake window (2h 30min) | |
| 4:45 – 5:15 PM | Nap 3 (1h 15min) |
| Wake window (2h 30min) | |
| 8:00 PM | Bedtime |
Remember: If naps run short or bedtime feels off, an earlier bedtime can help prevent overtiredness.
Navigating the 3-to-2 Nap Transition
By 8 months, most babies have dropped that third nap for good. If you’re still in the middle of this shift, don’t worry, it can take a few weeks to settle. Some babies even switch between two and three naps for a bit before things settle into a routine.
A few gentle adjustments can help: keep mornings consistent, stretch wake windows slowly by 10–15 minutes every few days, and offer an earlier bedtime on short-nap days.
Tip: Use Nap Predictions
If nap timing feels tricky, the Baby Daybook app can help by analyzing your baby’s real sleep patterns and predicting their next nap or bedtime. Personalized insights make it easier to find the right rhythm without guesswork, a big help during the 3-to-2 nap transition.
The 8-10 Month Sleep Regression
Just when sleep feels smooth again, your baby might start waking more often or resisting naps. Welcome to the 8-month sleep regression – a normal, temporary phase that usually starts around 8 months, but can show up a little earlier or later (closer to 9 or 10 months).
What’s going on?
Your little one is practicing new skills, such as crawling, sitting, or pulling up, and is beginning to understand that you still exist even when you’re out of sight, which can make separation at bedtime feel challenging. Changing nap needs (often shifting from three naps to two) and overtiredness can also play a role.
Most regressions last about 2–6 weeks. Stay calm and consistent: keep bedtime routines predictable, offer extra comfort when needed, and give your baby plenty of practice time for their new skills during the day. Once your baby adjusts to these exciting new milestones, sleep usually returns to a smoother pattern.
Common Sleep Challenges (and What Helps)
Night Wakings
Some 8-month-olds wake once to feed; others sleep through the night. Both are normal. Try to give your baby a few minutes to self-soothe before responding. When you do step in, keep the lights dim and the voices soft.
Short Naps
Short naps often mean undertiredness or overtiredness. Wake windows at 8 months are getting a bit longer, so try adjusting them slightly. Keep the room dark, cool, and calm to promote longer rest.
Early Mornings
If your baby is up before 6 AM, bedtime may actually be too late. Make mornings calm and dim until your desired wake time.
Separation Anxiety at Bedtime
At around this age, your baby is developing the ability to understand object permanence. They know you exist even when they can’t see you! A short, loving check-in (“I’m right here, sweetie. Time to rest.”) and a consistent routine can help them feel safe and secure.
Most sleep bumps at this age are completely normal and temporary. But if your baby’s sleep suddenly changes, feels unusually restless, or you notice other signs of discomfort, it’s always worth checking in with your pediatrician. A quick chat can help rule out any medical causes and give you peace of mind.
How to Support Healthy Sleep at 8 Months
- Stick to a calming bedtime routine: Bath, feeding, cuddles, soft lights, a short story, or a lullaby.
- Give plenty of daytime play: Practicing new skills helps your baby rest better later.
- Use light cues: Bright mornings and dim evenings help set your baby’s circadian rhythm.
- Encourage small steps toward independent sleep: Some babies benefit from being put down slightly drowsy, rather than fully asleep.
- Stay flexible: Every baby has off days, consistency and comfort go a long way.
At 8 months, many babies are ready for small steps toward more independent sleep. Some families explore gentle sleep training. Give your baby a few moments to settle, or offer quiet reassurance. These gentle, responsive steps can help them learn to fall asleep on their own.
Final Thoughts
Eight months bring curiosity, crawling, and significant developmental leaps, so a few sleep bumps, such as the 8-month sleep regression, are entirely normal. Most babies follow a two-nap schedule, with wake windows at 8 months stretching a bit longer; occasional night wakings are also normal.
Maintain consistent routines, respond gently, and pay attention to your baby’s cues rather than the clock. Tools like Baby Daybook can help track patterns and predict naps, but flexibility is key. If sleep suddenly changes or your baby seems unusually restless, a quick check-in with your pediatrician can give peace of mind.
With calm consistency and observation, you’ll help your little one rest, grow, and explore, even when sleep isn’t perfect every day.
Still working through last month? Revisit the 7-month-old sleep schedule.
FAQ: 8-Month-Old Sleep
How many naps should my 8-month-old take?
Most 8-month-olds take 2 naps per day. Some may occasionally need a short catnap if naps were brief.
What’s the 8-month sleep regression?
The 8-month sleep regression is a temporary sleep disruption often caused by developmental milestones like teething, separation anxiety, and increased awareness. It typically lasts 2 to 6 weeks and resolves on its own.
How long should my baby stay awake between naps?
Typical wake windows at 8 months are about 2.5–3.5 hours, with the longest stretch usually before bedtime. Adjust slightly if naps are too short or bedtime is difficult.
Why does my 8-month-old wake up at night?
Night wakings can be due to hunger, teething, separation anxiety, or practicing new skills. Most 8-month-olds still wake occasionally, and gentle reassurance or self-soothing often helps.
My baby wakes up early to practice crawling. What should I do?
This is common! Offer plenty of daytime opportunities to practice new skills and keep nighttime interactions calm and brief. Early wake-ups usually resolve within a few days or weeks.
How can I help my baby sleep longer at night?
Keep consistent bedtime routines, respond gently but minimally to night wakings, and make sure wake windows, naps, and daytime activity are balanced.
Sources
American Academy of Pediatrics. (2024). Getting your baby to sleep. Healthychildren.org. www.healthychildren.org
Dumaplin, C. (2025). 3 to 2 nap transition. Taking Cara Babies. www.takingcarababies.com
Mayo Clinic Staff. (2025). Infant development: Milestones from 7 to 9 months. Mayo Clinic. www.mayoclinic.org
Nemours KidsHealth. (2022). Sleep and your 8- to 12-month-old. KidsHealth. kidshealth.org
Stanford Medicine Children’s Health. (n.d.). Infant sleep. Stanford Children’s Health. www.stanfordchildrens.org
Suni, E. (2025). 8-month sleep regression. Sleep Foundation. www.sleepfoundation.org
