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A sample day at 6 months
Woke at 7:00 am, naps around 9:00 am, 12:10 pm and 4:00 pm, bedtime 7:00 pm.
- Wake windows: 2½–3¼ hours on 2 naps, growing to 2½–3½ hours over the month. The first window of the day is the shortest.
- Naps: 2 for most; a short third catnap is still fine on a rough day.
- Day sleep: 2½–3½ hours, drifting toward 2–3 hours by 9 months.
- Total sleep: 12–16 hours in 24 hours, naps included (AASM, endorsed by the AAP).
- Bedtime: 6:30–8 pm.
A sample day at 8 months
Here is what the planner gives an 8 month old who wakes at 7:00 am, on a day without surprises:
Wake 7:00 am · Nap 1 9:45–11:00 am · Nap 2 1:55–3:25 pm · Bedtime 6:35 pm
Two naps, the afternoon one the longer, and an early bedtime that covers the long stretch after the second nap. If a nap comes out short, the 3-nap day is still there as a backup:
Wake 7:00 am · Nap 1 9:15–10:15 am · Nap 2 12:40–2:10 pm · Nap 3 4:40–5:10 pm · Bedtime 7:50 pm
Use it only on the days that need it: a late catnap pushes bedtime toward 8 pm. Log the naps in the planner above as they happen and it re-plans the rest of the day.
What changes at 8 months
Your baby is on the move. Around 8 months many babies start crawling and pull themselves up to stand at every chance. The AAP's HealthyChildren.org notes that at first a baby may not know how to get back down, which is why so many 8 month olds stand at the crib rail at nap time and cry. They are not protesting the nap; they are stuck.
What helps is practice by day. Give your baby plenty of floor time and help them practice sitting back down from standing, bending their knees, a few times a day. Within a week or two most babies figure it out. At nap time, lay your baby down once or twice and then give them a minute; if you rush in at every stand, standing becomes a game.
Before your baby can pull up, check your crib's instructions: most cribs with an adjustable base say to move the mattress to its lowest setting by this stage. The safe-sleep basics don't change: an empty crib with a firm, tight-fitting mattress, no pillows, bumpers or soft toys.
The 8 to 10 month sleep regression. Crawling, standing and a growing sense that you can leave the room often arrive together, somewhere between 8 and 10 months. Nights that were going well get choppy again, bedtime takes longer, and naps get shorter for a few weeks. Like the 4-month regression, this is a sign of development, not a schedule that stopped working. A calm, consistent bedtime routine and plenty of active play during the day help it pass.
Waking again at night while learning to crawl and pull up? See the 8–10 month sleep regression.
The first separation anxiety. Babies learn that people and things still exist when they can't see them, and with that comes protest when you leave. HealthyChildren.org says some babies show it as early as 4 to 5 months, and most develop stronger separation anxiety around 9 months. At bedtime it shows up as clinginess and crying when you walk out. A predictable goodbye, the same short routine every night, and a quick check-in that stays calm all help more than sneaking out.
Windows keep growing. Early in the month the comfortable stretch is about 2½–3¼ hours; by the end, closer to 3½ hours for the last window. Most 8 month olds have finished the move to 2 naps, so the third catnap now belongs only to the days the morning nap comes out at 30 minutes.
Sleepy cues at 8 months, and when they disagree with the clock
- Early cues: crawling slows down, staring off, losing interest in a favorite toy, wanting to be picked up.
- Late cues: rubbing the eyes, pulling the ears, wobbly sitting or falling more often, clinging and whining.
- Overtired: hard crying, arching away, or a wild burst of energy late in a window.
At this age the wake window sets the plan and the cues fine-tune it. Busy crawlers often hide their tiredness well: if your baby seems fine but naps keep coming out short, try putting them down 15 minutes earlier for a few days.
Born early?
Plan by adjusted age: a baby born 6 weeks early who is 8 months old today sleeps more like a 6½ month old, and may still need 3 naps. The planner does the math if you tap “Born more than 3 weeks early?”; here is how adjusted age works.
Frequently asked questions
Why has my 8 month old started waking at night again?
Very often it's the 8 to 10 month regression: crawling, pulling up to stand and separation anxiety all arrive around now. It usually settles within a few weeks. Keep the bedtime routine calm and the same every night, and give your baby lots of floor practice by day. If your baby seems unwell or has a fever, call your pediatrician.
My 8 month old stands in the crib at nap time. What do I do?
Many babies can pull up before they can get back down. Practice sitting down from standing during the day, lay your baby back down once or twice at nap time, then give them a little time to settle. Most figure it out within a week or two. Check that the crib mattress is at its lowest setting.
Is 2 naps plus a catnap OK at 8 months?
Yes, on days when a nap comes out short. A 20–30 minute catnap before about 5 pm keeps your baby from being overtired at bedtime. On a normal day, 2 naps and an early bedtime are enough.
Sources
- Paruthi S. et al., Recommended Amount of Sleep for Pediatric Populations: a consensus statement of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, J Clin Sleep Med 2016 (endorsed by the AAP): 4–12 months 12–16 h in 24 h, naps included
- HealthyChildren.org (AAP): Movement Milestones in Babies 8 to 12 Months Old
- HealthyChildren.org (AAP): Soothing Your Child's Separation Anxiety
- HealthyChildren.org (AAP): A Parent's Guide to Safe Sleep
- Mindell J.A. et al., Development of infant and toddler sleep patterns: real-world data from a mobile application, J Sleep Res 2016
- Cleveland Clinic: Wake Windows by Age
Spotted a mistake or an outdated figure? Write to [email protected].
All ages: wake windows by age · the full nap schedule planner, newborn to 3 years.