New motor skills
Crawling, sitting up and pulling to stand are huge developments, and babies practise them everywhere — including the crib at 2 a.m. Many can pull up before they know how to get back down, so they stand and call for help.
Sleep problem guide
The 8 month sleep regression
Your baby was finally sleeping. Then, somewhere around eight months, nights start breaking again: standing in the crib, crying when you leave, fighting naps. It feels like going backwards — but it's actually a sign of a lot moving forward at once.
The short answer
Around 8 to 10 months, many babies who were sleeping well start waking at night, fighting naps or standing up in the crib. It's usually driven by three things at once: new motor skills like crawling and pulling to stand, separation anxiety, and the transition from three naps to two. It typically eases within a few weeks as the new skills settle and the schedule catches up.
Get a free plan for your babyWhy it happens
The usual causes
Separation anxiety
Around this age babies understand that you still exist when you leave the room — and they want you back. Crying at bedtime or when you walk away is a normal developmental stage, not a step backwards.
The move from three naps to two
Between about seven and nine months most babies are ready to drop the third nap. Until the schedule changes to match, they're under-tired at nap time and overtired by bedtime, and both naps and nights suffer.
What to try
Start here
Practise new skills during the day
Give lots of floor time, and practise getting from standing back down to sitting by guiding their hands down the furniture. The more they practise by day, the less they need to practise at night.
If they stand in the crib, help once
Lay them down once, calmly, then give them the chance to work it out. Laying them down again and again can turn into a game.
Play separation games
Peekaboo, hiding behind a door and coming back, and saying a cheerful goodbye when you leave the room all teach that you always come back. Keep the bedtime routine predictable for the same reason.
Move to two naps if they're ready
Signs: refusing the third nap, a third nap that pushes bedtime late, or short naps all day. Most babies do well on two naps with wake windows of about 2.5 to 3.5 hours — see the sample day below.
Use an earlier bedtime during the transition
While naps are settling, a bedtime 15–30 minutes earlier helps make up for a short day and protects against an overtired night.
Stay consistent at night
Comfort your baby — they need it — but try to respond in the same way each time. New habits that start during a regression, like rocking at every waking, often outlast the regression itself.
Sample day
A two-nap schedule at 8 months
Generated by the same scheduling engine Dormeli uses for real plans. Treat it as a shape to adapt — your baby's wake time moves everything else.
| Time | What happens | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| 6:30 AM | Wake for the day | Start the clock here — the rest of the day is timed from this point. |
| 9:15 AM | Nap 1 | 1 hr 15 min · 2 hr 45 min awake beforehand |
| 1:45 PM | Nap 2 | 1 hr 30 min · 3 hr 15 min awake beforehand |
| 7:00 PM | Bedtime | 3 hr 45 min awake after the last nap |
Your baby, not the average
Find out which cause is behind your nights
Answer a few questions about your baby's age, naps, bedtime and nights, and Dormeli builds a personalized sleep plan — what's most likely going on, and the step to start with tonight. Gentle or structured, your choice. Your first plan is free.
When to call your pediatrician
Sleep changes are usually developmental, but check with your pediatrician if you notice:
- A fever, or your baby seems unwell, floppy or unusually hard to wake
- Breathing pauses, gasping, or loud snoring most nights
- Feeding much less than usual, fewer wet diapers, or concerns about weight gain
- You are so exhausted that you feel unsafe, or low, anxious or hopeless — tell your own doctor too. You deserve support as much as your baby does
Common questions
Questions parents ask
How long does the 8 month sleep regression last?
Usually a few weeks — often quoted as two to six. It tends to ease as new motor skills become routine and the nap schedule adjusts to two naps.
Is the 8 month sleep regression real?
'Regression' is a label rather than a medical term. What's real is that several big developmental changes tend to land together around eight to ten months, and each of them can disrupt sleep.
When should my baby drop to 2 naps?
Most babies drop the third nap between about seven and nine months. Signs include fighting the third nap, a third nap that pushes bedtime late, and short naps across the day.
Should I sleep train during the 8 month regression?
You can — consistency is what matters most. Some parents prefer to wait until a new skill like standing has settled. Whatever you choose, avoid starting a new habit at every waking that you'll need to undo later.
Keep reading
More sleep guides
- Baby waking every 2 hours at night
- Baby waking up at 5am
- Baby only naps 30 minutes
- Baby won't sleep unless held
- 4 month old sleep schedule
- 6 month old sleep schedule
- 12 month old sleep schedule
Dormeli is an AI sleep coach, not a medical provider. This guide is general information, not medical advice; every baby is different.