Sleep Needs at 8 Months
At 8 months, babies need 12-15 hours of total sleep with 10-12 hours at night and 2-3 hours across 2 naps. The third nap should be fully dropped by now, and your baby is settling into a predictable 2-nap rhythm that will carry you through the next several months.
Wake windows are now around 180 minutes (3 hours) between sleeps, with the pre-bedtime window at 210 minutes (3.5 hours). Your baby has enough stamina to handle longer awake periods without getting overtired.
Sample Schedule
- 6:30 AM — Wake up
- 9:30 AM — Nap 1 (1-1.5 hours)
- 1:30 PM — Nap 2 (1-1.5 hours)
- 7:00 PM — Bedtime
The 8-Month Regression
Around 8-10 months, many babies experience a sleep regression driven by separation anxiety and major motor development (crawling, pulling up, cruising). Your baby now understands object permanence — they know you exist even when they can't see you — which makes separations at bedtime harder. This regression typically lasts 2-4 weeks.
Play peek-a-boo and other separation-reunion games during the day to help your baby build confidence that you always come back. A brief, predictable goodbye routine at bedtime (same words, same sequence) also builds trust.
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