Is your baby on a schedule? - Infant Care (up to 18 months old) Message Board

Paye · 07-20-2006, 10:48 AM

I was wondering how many people have their babies on a schedule that they stick to every day and how old was your baby when you put him/her on the schedule? Ds is 11 weeks and is not on a rigid schedule at all. We pretty much feed him when he is hungry and put him down when he is tired (within reason). I am getting ready to head back to work soon and am thinking that I may need to get him more into a routine for the family that will be watching him. Is there anyone who did not put their baby on a schedule at all? Does anyone have trouble sticking to the schedule once you put them on it? I just want to make sure my baby gets fed and sleeps at the times he needs it and not because that's what the schedule says he is supposed to do at that time. I am thinking that once he gets a little older it will be a little easier...maybe? Any words of wisdom? How did everyone else do it?

sweetea13 · 07-20-2006, 11:17 AM

With my ds I let him set his schedule. I feed him on demand and let him decide when to take a nap. Eventually he set his own schedule, I can't really remember but it was about 3-4 months old. He set a great schedule and slept every 2 hours during the day and ate every 4-5 hours. He always went to bed kind of late like around 10. But it worked for us. I think the key is to do what works for you and your baby, that is what really matters. Now that my ds is teething the schedule went OUT the window. He now wants to nurse much more often for comfort, and somedays he sleeps Long and the next he'll hardly sleep! Good luck with it and do what works for you two.

Paye · 07-20-2006, 12:47 PM

Thanks Sweetea! I was hoping ds would set his own schedule, but maybe he's a little young yet. Leave it to teething to throw everything off!

debating · 07-20-2006, 07:58 PM

I think scheduling a baby is totally unrealistic, but that's just me. I much prefer to follow my instincts and read my baby's cues then to push a schedule, especially where feeding is concerned. The AAP has actually issued media alerts in response to scheduling their feedings, pointing out the risks associated with spacing them to accompany a schedule.

I have found, however, that as she gets older she seems to put herself on a schedule. I have to be careful not to get too comfortable though, because they change so much as they development. I also don't see the point in spending 2 hours trying to get her to sleep for an hour, just for the sake of her taking a nap. Some days I leave her in our bed where she fell asleep, other days she naps in her swing, and occasionally she sleep in the wrap. I just roll with the punches. It is WAY too stressful to orientate a schedule when they change on a daily basis.

baby#2 · 07-20-2006, 09:37 PM

My ds is 12 weeks old today and has been on a schedule since he was about 9 weeks. He did it all himself!
9:00am - get up
10 - 11 am - nap
11:30am - feed
12 - 2:30 pm - nap
2:30pm - feed
5:30pm - feed
8:00pm - feed
8 - 8:30 pm - nap
10pm - bath and feed
10:30pm - 5:30am - sleep
5:30am - feed
5:45am - 7am - sleep
7am - feed
7:15 - 8:30 - nap
8:30 - 9am - feed

This is of course give or take a few minutes on either side but I can almost set my clock to it!
I know it will change as he gets older and needs less sleep in the day and feeds less often but I will, as North says, roll with the punches. I am enjoying him sleeping for 7 hours straight at night. We have the feeds before 9am in my bed. We co-sleep from 5:30 until 9 so he can nurse while I sleep!
My first ds set his own schedule too and that was even more impressive. We just got lucky I guess.