Sleep Deprived With An 8-Week-Old? Read This To Understand Your Baby’s Sleep
Sleep training is a hot topic in the parenting world, and if you’ve been up all night with your newborn, it’s no surprise that you might be wondering, Can I just sleep train this baby already?! But if your little one is only 8 weeks old, the answer is not yet—and here’s why.
Newborn Sleep Is Supposed to Be Unpredictable
At 8 weeks, your baby’s sleep is still biologically chaotic. They’re not developmentally capable of following a predictable sleep schedule, and their circadian rhythm (the internal clock that helps us differentiate night from day) is only just starting to form. This means short naps, frequent night wakings, and inconsistent patterns are completely normal.
Trying to enforce strict sleep training at this stage often leads to frustration for both you and your baby. Instead of focusing on rigid sleep strategies, now is the time to build a strong foundation for sleep—without forcing it.
Why Sleep Training Too Early Can Backfire
Babies under 4 months wake frequently at night because they need to eat! Their tiny tummies empty quickly, and night feedings are critical for growth, brain development, and milk supply (if breastfeeding).
Ignoring these needs in favor of sleep training can:
Reduce your baby’s calorie intake, affecting growth and weight gain
Lead to unnecessary stress and increased cortisol levels (which ironically makes sleep harder)
Disrupt your milk supply if you’re nursing
Impact their development down the line!
Plus, at this age, your baby still needs your touch, presence, and regulation to help settle their nervous system. They’re not developmentally ready to self-soothe… it’s like asking them to open a jar of pickles!
They can’t.
What to Do Instead of Sleep Training at 8 Weeks
Instead of rigid schedules and sleep training, focus on gentle sleep shaping—the small habits that set the stage for better sleep down the line. This includes:
✔️ Exposing baby to natural light during the day (especially first thing in the morning) and dimming lights at night to support their circadian rhythm
✔️ Using gentle white noise to create a consistent sleep environment (not too loud!)
✔️ Offering a flexible, age-appropriate wake window (about 60–90 minutes at this age)
✔️ Remember your baby needs you to be regulated too, so understand what safe co-sleeping looks like if you think that may be a thing you need in order to get enough sleep!
Most importantly, remind yourself that night waking is not a problem—it’s a biological necessity for your baby at this stage.
When Can You Start Sleep Training?
Most experts recommend waiting until at least 4–6 months, when babies’ brains are developmentally closer to being able to connect sleep cycles and go longer stretches without feeding. Even then, sleep training should be approached in a way that aligns with your baby’s temperament and your parenting philosophy.
For now, let your 8-week-old be an 8-week-old. I promise, the sleepless nights won’t last forever, and there are gentle ways to encourage good sleep without forcing it.
