8 Month Sleep Regression: Signs, Causes, and Tips
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Suddenly, your sleepy baby, who used to take naps and sleep through the night, is resisting your efforts waking up more frequently and hating being put to bed. Is everything happening after eight to ten months? Don’t worry; this is just a sign that your child is growing physically and mentally. They are becoming more active and enjoying the new cognitive and physical changes they discovered in themselves. This snag in their sleep is known as 8 month sleep regression (or 9 months sleep regression).
Do you want to know: What are the causes of 8 month sleep regression? And how will you cope with these sleep problems? Of course, knowledge makes it easier to deal with situations. Read the article to learn the exact causes and solutions for the 8-month sleep regression.
What Is the 8 Month Sleep Regression?
After a few months of blissful sleep, a baby wakes up twice or more at night. They start to show fussiness in sleeping, need your attention, and want to play with you even at two in the morning. This is known as “8 month sleep regression.” You will notice several developmental milestones in your infant during this period, typically between 7 and 10 months. Your baby won’t sleep easily and begins to skip their third nap.
How Long Does the 8-Month Sleep Regression Last?
8 month sleep regression is a temporary occurrence that affects infants for two to four weeks. However, if the problem continues for months, you should see a paediatrician to determine what went wrong. Is there an 8 month sleep regression in every child? No, the 8 month old sleep regression doesn’t happen to all babies. Some babies simply miss a few sleep patterns or even begin to sleep more peacefully.
How Much Sleep Do Babies Need at 8 Months?
A study found that eight-month-olds need 12 to 15 hours of sleep daily for a healthy body and active mind. It sometimes involves naps throughout the day, but around six months, many infants begin to sleep at night.
Signs of 8 Month Sleep Regression
As parents, we quickly notice when our baby’s behaviour changes. Here are a few signs of 8 month sleep regression:
1. Growing Out of the 3-Nap Wake Windows
Once your baby reaches the age of eight months, they become more active and learn new things, including crawling, walking, playing, and putting everything they see in their mouths. Despite your best efforts, babies will skip their third nap because they need more awake time to feel tired enough to fall asleep.
2. Separation Anxiety
When you leave your baby alone for a short period, separation anxiety sets in, causing them to cry or become clingy. Separation anxiety is a crucial stage in a baby’s development. It also contributes to disrupting a child’s good night’s sleep.
3. Greater Mobility
After eight months, a baby learns to sit, walk, and crawl independently. These little achievements pacify the infant and inspire it to do more. Their brain tells them to crawl, play and exert every effort. They feel it is exciting to perform new things than sleep, even at bedtime!
4. Teething
Another important contributor to 8 month old sleep regression is teething, which causes significant discomfort and pain. The baby’s emerging tooth is the cause of their fussiness and crying at night.
5. Hunger
They begin to chow down on various foods to satisfy their tastes and try new things. They might think they have eaten enough and don’t need anything. But breast milk is essential and ideal for every baby’s development and provides enough calories to restore. Up to 67% of your baby’s calories come from baby formula. Make sure kids receive daily breastfeeding that is appropriate. This is because they begin having nighttime awakenings because of hunger.
What Are Symptoms of an 8 Month Sleep Regression
An 8 month sleep regression presents with symptoms that are easy to recognise, such as:
- Night-time awakening increases
- It’s hard to make them sleep initially
- Increased clinginess, crying, and occasional overexcitement to play before bedtime or during nighttime awakenings
- Daytime naps extend, and nighttime sleep decreases.
Every baby is different, and how long does 8 month sleep regression last depends upon them and their parents. Therefore, handle these transitory stages calmly and don’t worry too much about them.
How to Cope with Sleep Problems in Eight-Month-Olds
There are different ways to cope with 8 month old sleep regression. Some of the potential ones are as follows:
1. Use White Noise for All Nights and Naps
Use white noise to help your infant relax and fall asleep. When a baby is experiencing pain from something internal (such as sore gums from teething) or external (such as a passing truck or barking dogs), a high-quality, buzzy white noise can help.
2. Top off Feedings with Extra Fats
If you suspect that hunger is the cause of your baby’s sleep regression, add extra fat to their meals. To keep them healthy and fulfil their hunger, add extra fat to the meals, such as avocado and a spoonful of extra virgin olive oil. In addition to all these factors, breast milk is the main contributor to a baby’s growth.
3. Tackle Teething Pain
The worst thing ever to witness is your infant crying out in pain. Babies cry a lot during teething because of the pain. To help them cope, dip a corner of a handkerchief in apple juice and put it in the freezer. Bring it back after a few hours and give it to your child. The sweetened frozen washcloth will ease their discomfort from teething and maintain their composure.
4. Stash Extra Pacifiers in Baby’s Crib
The greatest thing to do for babies who use pacifiers is to keep more pacifiers in the crib. It is impossible to define the level of calmness that a baby experiences while sucking or eating anything. Additionally, they raise blood pressure, lower the heart rate, and promote peaceful sleep.
5. Darken Baby’s Room
If your baby wakes up with light, ensure the room is dark. No light, either from outside or from underneath the door, should enter to disturb their sleep.
6. Change Up Your Baby’s Bedtime
Change your baby’s bedtime if they are having 30- to 60-minute problems falling asleep so they can get the rest they need. Change their current bedtime to an earlier one and ensure that they get enough sleep so you can notice the changes.
7. Consider Sleep Training
Teach your baby to fall asleep on its own. Instead of letting the baby cry it out or be carried to sleep, use healthy sleeping techniques. The number of nighttime awakenings and lack of sleep will only rise if you consistently put your infant to sleep. The easiest method to deal with an 8 month sleep regression is to consider sleep training.
Tips for Managing the 8- To 10-Month Sleep Regression in Your Baby
Here are some other tips for managing the 8- to 10-month sleep regression in your baby:
Practice Separation
Practice separation gradually and give them time to adjust. Getting them involved in something they enjoy or providing short timeouts can help them gain independence and cope with separation anxiety.
Keep up the Routine
Ensure your baby has a good nighttime routine, and then stick to it.
Consider Trying Sleep Training Again
If anyhow you fail in your sleep training, consider trying it again. Follow different sleep techniques which suit you and your baby.
Let Your Baby See You at Night, but Don’t Linger
Of course, your baby will crave your presence at night while sleeping. During sleep training, let them briefly see you at night, but don’t linger. They can fall asleep independently if you train them using various sleep practices.
Give it some time
Don’t panic if your baby still wants to play with you at 2 in the morning. Instead, give them some time because they feel energised and have just learned something new. This temporary phase will end after a few weeks, and your baby will start sleeping peacefully.
When to See a Doctor
Mostly, the 8 month old sleep regression is mostly temporary and natural, but if it continues or worsens, you must consult a paediatrician. If other factors like teething and separation anxiety are causing much pain and fussiness in the baby, then visit a doctor as soon as possible.
Conclusion
8 month sleep regression makes it difficult for parents to manage their sleep schedule and raises concerns for the baby’s well-being. At two in the morning, they begin looking up “how to cope with sleep problems in eight-month-olds?” on Google. Don’t worry; this sleep regression will soon cease; pay attention to your baby’s eating patterns and other aspects. If it persists for months, speak with a paediatrician.
FAQs
What does 8 month sleep regression look like?
The 8 month regression, often referred to as the 9 month sleep regression, normally takes place between 7 and 10 months. It’s a passing phase that is frequently marked by trouble falling asleep and more frequent nighttime awakenings (with time spent awake at night often lasting for long periods).
How do I fix my 8 month sleep regression?
Use white noise for all nights, top off feedings with extra fats, tackle teething pain, darken Baby’s room, change up your baby’s bedtime, try a night light, and consider sleep training. All of these tips may help fix your 8 month sleep regression.
Why is my 8 month old suddenly not sleeping?
Babies who are eight months old begin to spend more time awake during the day. It may disrupt their nighttime sleep as they cut out their third nap and settle into a two-nap regimen.
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