Getting Baby on a Schedule

There are two schools of thought when it comes to babies and schedules. One says don’t do it – follow your child’s needs. Another says do it or you’ll never have normalcy. It’s really a personal decision with no right or wrong answer. If you are a person who thrives on a schedule and like to know what to expect, then here are some tips for you.

Putting Baby on a Schedule

If you are going to put your baby on a schedule, remember to be flexible with that schedule – especially in the first two years or so of life. Babies do a lot of growing in the first year of life and sometimes they will eat more or sleep more during a growth spurt. You never want to deprive your child of these things, especially in that first year when your baby is developing so quickly.

Most babies have their own schedule anyway. You just need to tune into it. Some are stricter than others, but for the most part by the time your baby is three months old there will be a routine you will see to his or her day. It will be a lot easier on all if you try your best to stick to your child’s natural schedule.

However, if your baby seems to have her nights and days confused, you can remedy this. Whenever your baby is awake during the day, encourage her to stay awake. Don’t feed her right away and instead play with her a little. Change her diaper. Sing some songs with her. Read a book. Make the most of the time she is awake.

Don’t let her sleep longer than three hours at a time during the day either. If it has been three hours since she last fed, wake her up to feed her. At night, don’t go running at the first sound – after around three months old, that is. Let her try to self-soothe. If you do have to go get her, make things as low key as possible. No talking, no playing, and don’t turn on lights. If a diaper change is needed do so, then feed, and back to bed. Night-time is boring. Make it that way, and baby won’t want to be up at night.

Here are the key points to putting baby on a schedule:

* Pay attention to your child’s natural sleeping and eating patterns.

* Never think of a schedule as a rigid set of rules which must be followed to the letter.

* Make a flexible timetable which your baby’s day revolves around.

* Don’t deprive your baby of food. If you believe baby is hungry, feed her, even if it’s not “time