Example 8 Week Old Sleep Schedule
When you first brought your newborn home, you probably quickly realized that they mostly ate, cried, and slept. When they are first born, they are beginning to experience the world, so it’s next to impossible to put a newborn on a schedule. As they get older, though, you can finally start establishing a routine so they know what to expect and when!
By the time their baby hits eight weeks old, most parents are desperate to get their baby on a sleep routine. Before eight weeks, babies are unable to sleep through the night as they need to wake up continuously to be fed. Now that your baby has hit two months old let’s dive in on how to get your sweet baby on a reliable sleep schedule!
Is your baby a different age? Check out these sleep schedules:
Recognize Sleep Cues
Every baby is different and will need a schedule tailored to their own needs. Because of this, not every schedule will work the same for every baby! The most important thing you can do for your baby is learn to recognize when they are ready to go down for a nap.
Thankfully, there are signs you can look out for instead of relying on guesswork! Some of the most obvious signs that your baby is ready for a nap are:
Your baby rubbing their eyes
Whining and crying easily
Staring blankly
Yawning and stretching
Pulling and flicking at their ears
Turning away from you
Burying their face in your chest
If you notice your baby doing any of these things, it’s time to get them ready to get some rest!
Understand Their Developmental Stage
Knowing what your baby is capable of developmentally will save you plenty of frustration. As long as you know that your baby is physically incapable of sleeping throughout the night, you will be less frustrated knowing that it is normal!
When your baby is eight weeks old, your baby will sleep between 14 and 17 hours throughout a 24-hour period. More than likely, most of this sleep will be in short increments. At this age, their sleep cycles usually last in 50-60 minute cycles.
When they wake up, they may seem a little cranky and need assistance to transition into their next sleep cycle. As your baby gets older, you’ll notice that they drift off to sleep a little easier than they used to!
Teach Your Baby the Difference Between Day and Night
Showing your baby the difference between night and day will help them learn when it is time to sleep and when it is time to play. This means setting the mood for both environments! When it comes to having fun during the day, you can:
Open the curtains
Play games
Eat together
Play fun music
Sing
Dance
On the other hand, when it is time to take a nap or go to sleep, their environment should be calm and encourage sleep. You can set the scene by:
Keeping the lights off
Playing soft music or using a noise machine
Reading a book
Removing stimulating toys or room decorations
Remain quiet during nighttime feedings
Change them into pajamas
Offer a pacifier
Once your baby realizes that their room is no fun, they will realize that this is the time that they should be going to sleep. Keeping them on a routine will help their body recognize when it is time to sleep as well!
Encourage Your Baby to Fall Asleep on Their Own
Teaching your baby to fall asleep on their own will help get them on a sleep schedule. The way that you put your baby to sleep is completely up to you! Some parents enjoy rocking their babies until they are almost asleep so that they are awake but drowsy, while other parents prefer their babies to learn how to self-soothe themselves.
Whatever technique you choose, you must practice consistency so that your baby knows what to expect each night. If one night you decide to rock your baby until they are almost asleep, they are sure to expect this every night! However you want your baby to regularly fall asleep is how you should create their routine.
Prepare for Setbacks
Getting your baby on a sleep schedule can be a difficult task but rewarding once it happens! With this in mind, even after your baby settles into a routine, they can fall out of it, and there usually is no need for concern.
Babies can experience sleep regression, teething, illnesses, or milestones that will throw off their normal day-to-day routine. Because of this, you will need to figure out what the problem is and try to come up with a solution while sticking as close to their normal schedule as possible.
Sample Sleep Schedule - Two Months Old
This table is a great example of what your eight-week-old should be sleeping each day. Keep in mind that your little one will wake up throughout the night for a feed (or a few!).
Keep Track of Your Baby’s Sleep Schedule with Baby Connect
Trying to get your baby on a sleep schedule can be a challenge at first. Many parents find themselves completing their bedtime routine and hoping that this is the night that their baby sleeps through the night. There are tips and tricks that work wonders on some babies but then don’t work on others.
Because not every schedule or bedtime routine works for every baby, it’s important that you keep track of what methods you use and at what time. Baby Connect was designed for important milestones such as this! With Baby Connect, you can plug in the times your baby sleeps and what you did before bedtime to find patterns. This is a great way to find your baby’s perfect bedtime routine – try it out for free today!
