At eight weeks, you may find that your baby is starting to sleep a little better. Over the past two months, he may have developed a routine to his day, and if you're lucky, that includes sleep. Even if his sleep patterns are still irregular, he's beginning to understand when he's supposed to be awake and when he should sleep.
Loose Schedule
At eight weeks, it's impossible to stick with a schedule of any kind with your baby. Your best bet is to follow her lead - when you see that she's getting tired, put her down for a nap. However, by two months, you may notice that she gets tired around the same times each day, or that she needs a certain number of naps every day. These cues can help you to implement a loose schedule for her naps. It might not be entirely reliable, but it can provide you with a basic reference for how to planning your day.
Nighttime Sleeping
Your baby may prove capable of sleeping longer at nighttime than he used to. If you want to encourage him to sleep longer, try letting him cry for a few minutes before going in to get him when he wakes up in the middle of the night. He might be able to put himself back down to sleep, which helps convince him that he doesn't need to wake up as frequently in the middle of the night anymore.
Nighttime interruptions are inevitable; however, his stomach is beginning to hold more food, so he might be able to go through the night with only one or two early morning feedings. You'll want to keep these feedings as boring as possible in order to show him that nighttime is meant for sleep, not play.
Naps
Your baby's new nap schedule might include as many as four naps of varying lengths. It's okay if your baby naps in an environment that's not entirely peaceful or dark. In fact, these surroundings might even help her understand the difference between night and day. It's important not to let her nap too long at one time - three hours is the absolute maximum - and don't put her down for a nap too close to her bedtime, as this can cause her to be unable to sleep at night.
Sleeping Through the Night
A common phrase uttered by parents is "sleeping through the night," usually in conjunction with wishing their babies would accomplish this feat. However, at two months old, "sleeping through the night" means he can go five to six hours without waking up crying. If your baby isn't hitting this mark yet, it might be because he's not physically able. Families Online Magazine states that babies gain the physical capacity to sleep through the night when they're about 12 lbs.
You can help your baby to sleep deeper into the night by sticking with the schedule you're starting to develop. Keep naptimes and bedtimes as consistent as possible, and you'll start to see him sleep less during the day and more at night. Also, try putting him to bed while he's drowsy, but not totally asleep. This will help him learn how to self-soothe, which is a critical development for babies who don't realize they can go through the night without waking you up.
