I’ve worked with some families who have been hesitant to sleep train because they equate it with “cry it out” and feel like it’s harsh or traumatizing. If you haven’t done it yet, I want to assure you that it’s never too late. Some families choose to begin sleep training as early as 4 months old. If you haven’t already introduced a sleep training method, frequent night wakings could be your sign that it’s time to sleep train your 8-month-old. This adjustment period is just your baby getting used to their new nap routine. Once you start to make the 3 to 2 nap transition, there may be a week or two where your baby goes back and forth between a 3-nap and 2-nap sleep schedule. Suddenly short naps can be a sign that your baby doesn’t have enough awake time built in to their schedule. If your baby has a sufficient wake window, they won’t be awake in their crib for longer than 15 minutes before falling asleep. Taking longer than 15 minutes to fall asleep.Babies who start frequently waking up more than an hour earlier than usual in the morning might be showing you they need a longer wake window at the end of their day. When a baby who has been consistently falling asleep easily at bedtime starts fighting sleep at the end of the day, it can be a sign that they are ready to kick the catnap at the end of the day. Signs that your baby is ready to transition to a 2-nap schedule include: If your 8-month-old is still in a 3-nap routine, you may start to notice some signs that they are ready to make the 3 to 2 nap transition. How Many Naps Should an 8-Month-Old Take?Īround the 7 or 8 month mark, many babies are ready to drop their third nap and transition to a 2-nap schedule. Your baby’s wake windows might go through another slight adjustment around 9 months old, but once you’ve locked in 9 month old wake windows, things will remain fairly consistent through baby’s first birthday! Their daily schedule won’t stabilize until that nap transition is done. Keep in mind that if your baby hasn’t yet made the transition from 3 to 2 naps, it is coming soon. That includes 2 to 3 hours per day napping, spread between 2 to 3 naps. Your 8 month old should get between 13 to 14 hours of sleep each day. Many babies need their shortest wake window at the beginning of the day, so it’s okay if they start to act tired after being awake less than three hours. You can start with a 2.5 to 3 hour wake window and then make slight, 15-minute adjustments based on the cues your baby gives you. Many 8 month olds will do well with the following wake windows, going from the first of the day to the last: 2.5-3 / 3 / 3-3.5. That means it’ll be anywhere from 2.5 to 3.5 hours between when you take your baby out of their crib until they fall asleep again. I recommend you keep your 8 month old wake windows between 2.5 to 3.5 hours.
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