By the time your baby is 8 months old, they’ve gone through some exciting changes - starting solids, possibly moving into their own room, and maybe even crawling. Around this time you may also experience some sleep disturbances with your baby, and you might be wondering whether they are going through an 8 month sleep regression.
Milestones & Sleep: Why the Disruptions?
Learning & practicing new skills – Babies love to practice their new skills, even at night! You might find your little one on all fours in the cot, trying to crawl.
Teething discomfort – While teething can disrupt sleep, it usually only causes a disturbance for a couple of days when a tooth is actively breaking through
Daytime sleep imbalance – Too much or too little daytime sleep can affect night sleep more than you might expect.
Is There an 8-Month Sleep Regression?
Not exactly. The word regression is often used to describe any sleep disturbance, but a true regression suggests the loss of a skill, which isn’t the case here. Instead, sleep disruptions at 8 months can be temporary challenges caused by developmental progress.
How Long Does It Last?
If your baby has only just started experiencing sleep difficulties, the disruption should be short-lived. The key is to avoid creating new sleep habits (like rocking or feeding to sleep) that may be hard to break later.
How to Support Your 8-Month-Old’s Sleep
Sleep is essential for your 8 month old’s brain development and memory consolidation , especially when processing all the new experiences they’re taking in. Here are some ways to encourage your little one to get the sleep they need:
Encourage plenty of movement during the day – Help them practice crawling, rolling, or pulling up to stand so they don’t feel the need to do it at night.
Maintain an age-appropriate nap schedule – A good balance of daytime sleep prevents overtiredness or too much daytime rest affecting night sleep.
Promote independent sleep – If your baby doesn’t yet self-settle, now is a great time to introduce gentle sleep strategies so they can fall asleep (and resettle at night) on their own.
Keep bedtime consistent & calming – A soothing bedtime routine can help signal that it’s time for sleep.
Final Thoughts
Sleep disturbances at 8 months old are common but temporary. Stay consistent, encourage self-settling, and avoid introducing new sleep associations—your baby will get back on track before you know it.
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