8 Month Old Sleep Schedule: Wake Windows, Naps & Night Sleep
At 8 months, your baby’s sleep is becoming more predictable, but this age still brings big developmental changes. Many babies are dropping the third, which causes a nap transition into a stable 2-nap day. As wake windows lengthen and new milestones like crawling or pulling up emerge, your baby’s sleep rhythms may shift, which can affect both naps and nights, these developments are also called the 8 month sleep regression. Understanding age-appropriate sleep needs and patterns will help you support better rest and smoother transitions through this stage. For a full overview of sleep schedules from 1 to 12 months, read our complete Baby Sleep Schedule Guide.
8 Month Old Sleep Schedule Guidelines
By 8 months, your little one will be sleeping around 14.5 hours in a 24 hour period. This usually means around 2.5 hours of daytime sleep over 2 naps, and 12 hours overnight. At this age, many babies are capable of sleeping through the night without a feed, although some may still wake occasionally. Once your baby is well established on solid foods and taking enough milk during the day, they are generally able to manage a full night of sleep without needing to feed overnight.
In this article:
- Wake windows for an 8 month old
- How many naps should an 8 month old have?
- Sample 8 month old sleep schedule
- Night sleep for an 8 month old
- How can I improve my baby's naps and night sleep?
- When is bedtime for an 8 month old?
- Why is my 8 month old fighting sleep?
- Tips for smoother 8 month old sleep
- Key Takeaways: 8 Month Old Sleep Schedule
You’re not alone - most parents hit walls at 3-12 months.
For a step by step guide to support your baby's sleep & development in the first year, explore our Baby Sleep Program. We'll show you how to build healthy, lasting sleep habits, sail through regressions and give you the tools to work toward calm, consistent sleep.
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Wake Windows for an 8 Month Old
At 8 months, wake windows typically vary in length throughout the day, with shorter windows earlier in the day and longer windows closer to bedtime. These awake periods help build enough sleep pressure so your baby can settle more easily for naps and overnight sleep. Watching for sleep cues and adjusting awake time slightly based on your baby’s energy levels will support better sleep overall.
Generic wake windows you might find online help a bit, but miss the mark when teething, leaps, or travel hit. Inside our Baby Sleep Program, dynamic smart sleep app schedules auto-adjust daily based on feeds, temperament and sleep data for the perfect wake windows and longer stretches of sleep.
How many naps should an 8 month old have?
Most 8 month olds have transitioned to 2 naps per day, but some may still take a shorter third nap, especially earlier in the month. If your baby regularly resists the third nap or if it interferes with bedtime, these can be signs the transition toward 2 naps is underway. As always, adapt nap timing to your baby’s tired cues and daily needs.
What is a Sample 8 Month Old Sleep Schedule?
Here is a sample routine you can use as a guide, based on typical wake windows and age-appropriate sleep needs:
- 7:00 am – Wake for the day
- 9:30–10:00 am – Nap 1 (short nap)
- 12:30 pm – Nap 2 (long nap)
- 6:30 - 7:00 pm – Bedtime
If your baby still takes a third nap, keep it short and end it by late afternoon (no later than 5pm) so bedtime remains around 7:00 pm.
Night Sleep for an 8 Month Old
At 8 months old, most babies need about 12 hours of sleep overnight. Some babies will now be sleeping through the night without a feed, provided they’re receiving enough milk and solids during the day. A consistent bedtime routine and appropriate wake windows help your baby settle well and encourage longer, more restful nights
How Can I Improve My Baby's Naps and Night Sleep?
If your 8 month old is struggling with short naps or waking overnight, adjusting your routine can help. Make sure your baby’s wake windows are age-appropriate, day sleep is balanced and their bedtime routine is calm and predictable. Encouraging your baby to fall asleep independently supports them linking sleep cycles and resettling with less fuss. If naps are overlapping or bedtime is late, moving naps earlier or shortening a third nap can also support smoother nights.
Struggling with overnight wakes?
We can help you get more sleep. With the detailed sleep schedules, effective settling methods and responsive support available in our Sleep Programs, you and your little one will soon be sleeping soundly.
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When is bedtime for an 8 month old?
A consistent bedtime routine is one of your strongest supports at this age. It gives your baby predictable cues - this is the sequence, now we’re winding down, now it’s sleep time.
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Calm play or quiet interaction 20-30 minutes before sleep time.
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Dim lights / reduce stimulation.
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A bath or warm wash.
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A story, song or lullaby.
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A feed.
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Cuddles, comfort, perhaps a transition into the sleep space (crib or bassinet) while drowsy but showing signs of sleep readiness (yawning, rubbing eyes, zoning out).
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Put down in bed while sleepy but still awake, to help support self-settling later.
By repeating similar steps every evening, you build strong sleep-association cues and that helps your baby anticipate and accept the transition to sleep more easily. Most 8 month olds have a sweet spot bedtime between 6:30 and 7:00 pm, depending on nap length and wake windows earlier in the day.
Why is My 8 Month Old Fighting Sleep?
Short naps, may happen if your baby is under or overtired, or unable to link sleep cycles independently.
Frequent night waking, often linked to developmental milestones (like crawling), nap transitions, or sleep associations.
Early rising, can be caused by bedtime being too early or too late, or overtiredness.
Nap refusal, often due to wake windows being too long or too short, or the transition from 3 naps to 2 causing timing mismatches.
Tips for Smoother 8 Month Old Sleep
- Follow age-appropriate wake windows so your baby isn’t overtired.
- Keep daytime sleep balanced, with naps that support an earlier bedtime.
- Stick to a consistent nap and bedtime routine to help cue sleep.
- Encourage your baby to fall asleep independently, as this supports linking sleep cycles.
- Keep night interactions calm and quiet so your baby learns night is for sleeping.
Key Takeaways: 8 Month Old Sleep Schedule
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Total sleep needs – Around 14 to 14.5 hours in 24 hours |
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Naps – Typically 2 naps per day, though some babies still take a short 3rd |
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Wake windows – Vary in length throughout the day |
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Bedtime – Usually 6:30 to 7:00 pm |
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Night feeds – Many babies no longer need overnight feeds |
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Self settling – Encouraged to help link sleep cycles |
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Routine – Consistency supports better sleep |
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Flexibility – Adjust based on your baby’s needs and nap transitions |
Conclusion
Eight months is a beautiful and busy stage. Your baby is more mobile, more curious and more interactive, and sometimes this can make sleep feel a little unpredictable. The good news is that with gentle consistency, a reliable routine and responsive support, you can help your baby (and yourself) move through this phase with more ease.
Remember, your baby is learning, your routine is evolving and it is perfectly normal for things to feel a bit bumpy as you adjust. You are doing a remarkable job. For further support, our trusted sleep methods have helped over 800,000 parents and babies at this age to effectively build sleep foundations that achieve consistent naps, more settled days and more predictable nights. You can access these award-winning methods in our Baby Sleep Program.
If your little one is not quite 8 months yet, you may find our 7 month old sleep schedule helpful as a starting point. And if you are noticing longer wake windows, more separation anxiety, or the next stage of sleep disruption, our 9 month old sleep schedule will guide you through what to expect next.
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Bibliography
American Academy of Pediatrics. (2022). Sleep: What every parent needs to know. Itasca, IL: American Academy of Pediatrics.
Mindell, J. A., & Owens, J. A. (2022). A clinical guide to pediatric sleep: Diagnosis and management of sleep problems. Philadelphia, PA: Wolters Kluwer.
Mindell, J. A., Leichman, E. S., DuMond, C., & Sadeh, A. (2017). Sleep and social-emotional development in infants and toddlers. Pediatrics.
National Health Service (NHS). (2023). Your baby’s sleep. Retrieved August 13, 2025
Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne. (2023). Sleep – babies 6 to 12 months. Retrieved August 13, 2025
World Health Organization. (2020). Guidelines on physical activity, sedentary behaviour and sleep for children under 5 years of age.
Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne. (2023). Sleep – babies 6 to 12 months.
