The 8 Month Sleep Regression: What it is and How to Survive it
Is your 7-10 month old suddenly fighting sleep, skipping naps, or waking up in the night? If yes, the 8 month sleep regression is likely to blame. Keep on reading to learn what it is, why it happens, and how to minimize the sleep loss and stress so that your little sweetie (and YOU) get back to sleeping well ASAP.
The 8 Month Sleep Regression is Actually a Progression
Just liked we discussed with the 4 Month Sleep Progression, this “regression” in sleep happens because your baby is learning and growing: sleep may be disrupted because they’re working on new skills like crawling or pulling up, teeth are about to pop, separation anxiety is surging, or because their sleep needs are evolving. These are huge progressions, so the term sleep regression really shouldn’t apply here at all. Your child is not regressing. They are growing and thriving and sleep is a little—or a lot—out of whack as a result.
What do sleep regressions look like?
Well, they’re disruptive for sure. Whether you’re dealing with the 4 month sleep progression, the 8-9-10 month, the 12 month, 18 month or 2 year “regression,” it can lead to more frequent night wakings, short and sporadic naps, and trouble falling asleep both day and night. And since the child is not sleeping well, they may also be a hot mess. They become overtired, which pumps cortisol through the system, makes their limited executive functioning more limited, and often leads to increased crying and crankiness day and night. YIKES.
7-9 Month Old Development => This is why your baby’s sleep is wonky
Your baby’s development is in overdrive. So much is happening and it’s likely that this boom of development is the reason your kiddo’s sleep is struggling. Let’s talk about the top contributors to the 8 Month Sleep Regression
Schedule Changes (3 to 2 Nap Transition)
Most babies start to outgrow 3-Nap Schedules between 7-9 months, some a little earlier, some a little later. But here’s the kicker: they get overtired with just 2 naps! So babies fight naps because they aren’t tired enough for the shorter awake windows that come with three naps, but they get overtired when stretched to just two nap. WTF?! It’s messy. But I promise you it smooths out, they adjust, and they’ll stop resisting naps and waking in the night due to schedule wackiness.
New Feats of Strength and Mobility
Chances are your baby is working on new feats of strength and coordination, like scooting, crawling, or pulling up to standing. When babies are first learning these skills, it can disrupt sleep because who can be bothered to rest when you’re so jazzed about new tricks?
Separation Anxiety
When your baby was younger, out of sight was equivalent to out of mind, whether the object in question was your teether, toy, teddy, or even you. But by about 8 months old (and earlier for some babies) things continue to exist, even when out of sight. This awareness is called object permanence, and its a massive progression in your baby’s thinking. As this cognitive ability grows, your baby will begin to miss you when you’re gone.
Wonder Weeks Leap 6
In the same way they go through physical growth spurts, babies also go through major booms in cognitive development. This phenomon been researched extensively and is often referred to as the Wonder Weeks. Leap 6 happens right around 8.5 months (or between 36 and 40 weeks) and unfortunately for us, the leap often comes with sleep disruption, fussiness, clinginess and loads of crying. Your baby’s world is getting turned upside-down and reconstructed, which makes them need you for security more than ever. And this applies to the middle of the night too. 😭
You can see now why the 8 Month Regression can be such a doozy. Take the mental reconstruction of Leap 6 and throw in some separation anxiety, schedule wonkiness, frustration and excitement in new mobility, and painful little teeth poking through the gums, and it’s a recipe from crap sleep.
Hang in there, dear parent. Let’s talk now about how to get through it.
Tips to Manage the 8 Month Sleep Regression
Take a look at your baby’s schedule, and consider whether it may be time to drop a nap. If you want help with the transition to two naps, we’ve got you covered with this guide through nap transitions. You can also check out this blog or download our free Sleep Needs by Age guide for more schedule help.
Facilitate loads of floor time during the day to work on mobility and feats of strength! The more opportunities your baby has to practice and master those skills during the day, the less they’ll need to do so at night. Also, positive, playful, practice time in the crib (if this is where they sleep) is super helpful so that they can learn how to navigate pulling up and getting back down, and being mobile in their sleep space so that feeling comfortable and secure in the night becomes easier.
Give your baby some space. Sometimes, babies just want to be awake and practice new skills. Getting frustrated and trying to force sleep won’t help anyone. You’ll get even more frustrated and your baby will get more worked up and likely overstimulated. So, if you can, give them space to work it out on their own. If soothing them helps them calm down and sleep, great, do that! But if it’s just pissing them off even more, laying on their floor or back in your bed and practicing deep breathing would be far more helpful than trying to force them to sleep. Don’t let this become a battle of wills.
If your nighttime sleep is disrupted, embrace parental power naps. If you can grab a 15 minute snooze either at home while your baby is sleeping, in your office or cubicle at work, or even with the front seat reclined in your car, you’ll be surprised what a huge difference closing your eyes and resting for a few minutes will do for your mental and physical health. If you’re awake for a long time, or times, in the night, a longer nap may be warranted if you have the time.
If you haven’t already, Create a “baby cave” to promote the best sleep possible during this crapola time. Making the room extremely dark will block out stimulation that could activate your babies booming braining.
If you haven’t already, now’s the time to establish a consistent bedtime and naptime routine to help soothe your baby and teach them what to expect. Check out our 3 C’s of the bedtime routine to ensure your baby is getting what they need.
Finally, I know, this is extremely hard, but try to be patient. Your baby may up crying in the night or fighting sleep big time, both of which suck…big time. But it’s happening because your baby is learning, growing, and thriving. This season of life is full of ups and downs, and at the end of this exhausting tunnel of darkness, there is light! Hang in there and know that Little Dipper Sleep is here to support you through the journey.
Feel free to schedule a FREE intro call with our founder to learn about how Little Dipper can help you through this regression and beyond.
8 Month Sleep Regression Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: My baby falls asleep on their own so doesn’t this mean they won’t be affected by sleep regressions?
A: Maybe, maybe not. If a baby falls asleep on their own and generally sleeps through the night and takes superb naps, then chances are they won’t be as negatively impacted by the regressions. But, be warned, when babies are learning new skills, going through periods of separation anxiety, or going through a Wonder Weeks Leap, they may wake up crying.
Q: How long will the sleep regression last?
A: They tend to last 4 to 6 weeks. If it’s longer than that, you’re likely looking at a semi-permanent habit that likely needs troubleshooting if you want it to resolve.
Q: My baby was born early. When will the sleep regression happen for them?
A: If your child was born early, we go by their adjusted age for sleep development. Sleep regression signs may appear later for a premature baby and this totally and completely normal.
Q: My baby just wants to practice their new tricks in the crib all night. What should I do?
A: Leave them be unless they are truly upset. You can’t force a child to sleep and the more you intervene, the more stimulated they’ll get, and the longer you’ll both be awake. If Baby wants to practice crawling in the crib while you’re sleeping, that’s their cute little prerogative to do so.
Q: Which regression is the worst?
A: None of them and all of them. This varies so much from one baby to the next. But, keep in mind that the 18 month and 2 year sleep regressions include a component of toddlerhood, so their flavor is a little different since limit setting may be involved.
Q: Can you prevent sleep regressions from happening?
A: Not entirely. But, if your child’s schedule is on point, their security bucket is full, you have a solid bedtime routine, and they know how to put themselves to sleep, the chances of massive impact are much reduced.
Q: My baby just wants to nurse all night long now. What should I do?
A: The world is so exciting these days, and your little one may be too jazzed about it to nurse well during the day — which can lead to more nursing in the night. For daytime nursing sessions, try nursing in a dark room with white noise to help keep your little one focused on the task at hand. If that’s not possible, try maintaining eye contact with them while they nurse, sing them a song, or use a nursing necklace to keep their attention.