schedules

mrs.mastro

Do any of you ladies follow a schedule for your LO yet?  My friend swears by the Moms on Call Schedule.  I started to read it and realized that at 12 weeks, DS is still pretty much on the 4-8 week schedule.  If you're not familiar with this particular schedule, I just mean that he is still sleeping a lot more than he's awake.  I don't even refer to him as "napping" because he really seems to just always sleep except to eat!  Maybe he'll stay awake 30-45 minutes (maybe an hour) once in a while.  Some days he is awake for a longer period, but not regularly.  I don't want to force him to stay awake if he needs this sleep.  And it's not messing up his nights.  He usually sleeps 8p-2a, then a quick feed around 4:30a, then "up" around 7.  But then he may go right back sleep until 10!  I know he could be sleeping through the night at this point, but I don't want to risk messing up the rest of his day just to try it.  I am thinking I'll just wait until he seems to be more wakeful.  

Has anyone implemented the Moms on Call or another schedule on a baby that seemed to sleep all the time?  Did it provide any benefit?  Should I try just doing the feedings at the scheduled times but not forcing him to have "playtime," or just wait?

DS#1 was totally different.  He was a very wakeful baby, and I kept him on a schedule, but I kind of let him dictate it and then I kept to it until it seemed he was ready for a change in it.

mikeANDjen448

E is almost 8 weeks and she just started staying awake for just a little while after feeding.  She sleeps all the time.  But, she was a preemie so her adjusted age is closer to 4 weeks.  We use the BabyWise schedule but she doesn't always stick to it.

Ashfann93

I tried to get mine in a schedule but realized that reading about schedule guidelines was stressing my out, making me think why L wasn't closer to these other babies habits and what I'm doing wrong. For the most part, I know he will eat every three or four hours, take a long morning and a long afternoon nap with a few cat naps in between, and on a good night sleep from 12-6 ish. Some days he's sleepier, some days he has more wakeful periods that I use for playtime. But if he's not the same every day I don't worry, they're going through so many changes and little growth spurts at this time that I wouldn't expect a totally consistent schedule.

Ashfann93

Thought of something else... If you're looking for a routine to start, maybe not necessarily a timed schedule, I like the. EASY routine from the baby whisperer. Basically it's eat, activity, sleep, your time. Doesn't have to be in a set time, but it's a little guideline to start and it makes it a little easier to predict what your baby wants. Activity can be anything from a diaper change to play time to a bath at night. Hope that helps

Millar321

Yes ! We follow EASY as well and it's been great for me and DD !

opheliainwaders

Millar321 said:

Yes ! We follow EASY as well and it's been great for me and DD !

We modified EASY to be more like EAESY, which works better for us, but I agree that having some sort of structure and routine is helpful. I'd say schedule is a strong word for where we are, but DD is 8 weeks, born a month early, so we're still a bit behind re: eating and sleeping vs. a "normal" baby.