The 8–12 Week Sleep Regression – What’s Happening and How to Survive It

(The “why is my perfect sleeper suddenly a disaster?” guide)

Your 6-week-old was finally sleeping 4–5 hour stretches.

Then week 8 hits and it’s 45-minute naps, screaming at 2 a.m., and you’re right back to newborn-level exhaustion.

You didn’t break anything.

This is the 8–12 week sleep regression — it’s 100 % normal and 100 % temporary.

What’s Actually Going On In Their Brain

Around 8–10 weeks, baby’s sleep cycles change forever.

They go from simple newborn sleep (50 % REM, 50 % deep) to adult-like cycles with light sleep every 45 minutes.

They now have to learn to fall back asleep on their own between cycles — a brand-new skill.

Quick science: At 8–12 weeks the circadian rhythm kicks in and melatonin regulation matures. Wake-ups spike while the brain rewires. It lasts 2–6 weeks for most babies.

(Source: Journal of Sleep Research, 2020 – Infant Sleep Maturation)

“We thought we had a bad sleeper forever. Week 13 he suddenly did 7 hours. It really does pass.”

— Mom in r/NewParents

The 6 Fixes That Actually Get You Through It

1. Tank-up feeds — add a dream feed at 10–11 p.m.
2. Earlier bedtime (6:30–7:30 p.m. — overtired makes it worse)
3. Loud white noise + total darkness (Hatch or Dohm cranked up)
4. Shorten wake windows (60–90 min max)
5. Contact naps are okay — survival mode, not spoiling
6. Start a tiny bedtime routine (bath, book, feed, bed)

Gear That Made a Difference for Parents

• Love to Dream Swaddle Up “Arms-up kept the startles down during the chaos.”
• Hatch Rest Go (portable white noise) “Saved every car nap when contact naps were the only option.”
• SlumberPod (blackout tent) “Turned daylight into midnight — naps went from 30 min to 90.”

Your 8–12 Week Survival Checklist

• Dream feed at 10–11 p.m.
• Bedtime by 7:30 p.m.
• Loud white noise 24/7
• Wake windows 60–90 min
• Contact naps = fine
• Routine every night
• This ends (usually by week 14)

You’ve got this.

It feels like forever, but it’s just a blip.

One growth spurt, one new sleep cycle, one full night coming soon. ❤️