It’s 8 Month Regression Time!

- Laura Thompson | 12th March 2021 -

Ahhh, you made it through the new-born phase and lasted the 4 month ‘regression’!

You’ve started weaning and your tiny baby is not so tiny anymore! Look how quickly they are learning new skills and how much their little personality is emerging!

Time for another PROgression!

Yes, that’s right – a progression! If you’ve read my previous regression blog you’ll know I’m really not keen on the term regression. Our children don’t regress, in actual fact they are making huge leaps and bounds in lots of areas of development and sometimes that can have an impact on sleep.

Don’t wait and worry!

I just want to preface this blog by asking you, please do not assume this is going to be a ‘thing’ for you and your baby. Some babies sail through this age without much change. Waiting and worrying about it will only cause anxiety and stress for everyone, which is not helpful for you or your babies sleep!

What’s happening at 8 months?

Sleep needs are changing

• Somewhere around 8-10 months your baby will probably drop from 3-2 naps and it’s important to stay on top of these changes. See my blog on the 3-2 nap transition.

• Your child’s wakeful window is also increasing slightly, although don’t over estimate how long your baby can stay awake for. Keep one eye on your baby and one eye on the clock. By the time your little one is showing tired signs it might be a little late and they could be becoming overtired.

 Habits are sticking

• At this age your baby is so much more aware and so habits are starting to stick both the helpful and the not so helpful. If there is something your little one needs from you to fall asleep which is not sustainable for you as a family consider starting to make changes now to gradually remove your input. Check out my free guide here.

• Now is a great time to start introducing sleep associations that baby can control for themselves and does not rely on an adult for.

• This is also the time to be really mindful of creating consistent and predictable routine surrounding sleep times. At a time where habits are sticking, let’s engrain the ones that are going to serve you as a family really well!

Separation Anxiety

• Over the past few months your little one has been learning the concept of object permanence. This is the idea that when they cannot see something it doesn’t mean it is not there.  At around 8 months your baby is also starting to be able to distinguish between different people and form a strong attachment to their caregivers. This means that at around this age your baby understands that they are separate to you and that when you leave you have gone somewhere but they may not have fully grasped the concept that you will come back.

  To help you can;

  Play games

  Peekaboo, hiding toys under cups and blankets and lift the flap books are all great for helping babies with this concept.

   If your baby was already self-settling;

  If tears upon leaving the room at bedtime are a new thing and your child was previously putting themselves to sleep without intervention from you then you can support them through this whilst still helping them stay an independent sleeper. Return to your child and offer as much reassurance as needed. If you can leave the room again, do so however you may find you need to stay with them. Aim to quickly reduce your involvement again over a few days.

   If your baby was not yet self-settling;

  If your baby was not yet putting themselves to sleep without adult intervention you will of course need to continue to help them sleep in the way you have been. If this is something you would like to stop doing you can do so gradually and now is a great age to do so! Don’t forget the self-settling guide runs you through the steps to do this

Are you interested in getting more support?

Book a free call, there’s no pressure or obligation - we’ll chat about if working together is the right fit for your family!