As a FTM I really want to make sure I get my kids on a set schedule early for behavioral reasons (generally better behavior, bed time issues, etc).
So here begs the question, how do y'all do it?
What age do you start enforcing bed time and nap time?
General consensus on when to ditch nap time?
How'd you do it?
How long does it generally take?
Commentary (besides every child is different)?
Re: Scheduling???
Ditching naps is very dependent on your child. DD gave up naps around 3. She probably would have gone longer than that if her half-day preschool program hadn't have interfered with it.
I think by 3 months he was on a good schedule of 3 naps a day, which lasted until maybe 6 months when he dropped to 2 consistent ones. When he dropped to 2 I tried to follow the 2-3-4 rule; first nap 2 hours after waking, second nap was 3 hours after waking from the first, and bedtime was 4 hours after waking from that. He went down to one nap around 11 months, and has just adjusted the time he goes down as he got older. They will tell you when they are ready to consolidate naps by fighting sleeping on some or barely sleeping, and doing it consistently.
We started a bedtime routine almost immediately though, with bath every other night then every night, lotion and dim lights before bed, etc. His bedtime has always been consistently between 8:00-8:30, but it has ranged from 7:30-9 depending on how tired he is or if we were out.
DS is going on 20m and still napping so no tips on when to stop. But I plan on doing it as long as he will sleep or at least rest up there. When that time comes I want it to turn into rest time on the couch or my bed watching tv for an hour or so a day to have some time to unwind.
I'm not a huge advocate of strict schedules.
DS born Oct. '11
TTC #2 with PCOS since Nov. '13
Dx: Low Progesterone (3.3) on 8/12/14
Waiting for RE appointment on 10/28/14
Surprise BFP on cycle 12 -- 10/19/14!
EDD July 1, 2015
I am not worried about a schedule, I am just hoping my kid sleeps through the night early on, even though I know that may be wishful thinking
DS was just trying to figure out days from nights for the first 6-7 weeks. Once we went by his cues we were able to establish a routine of getting him ready for his naps before he got overtired, when the best times to put him down for the night were, and all of that. But trying to make a baby work into what you think they should do....well I want to hear how that goes.
As he's gotten older and his two naps were short, we were able to consolidate them into one nap. He still takes one nap a day most days. Don't rush dropping naps. Or even thinking about it at 3-4 months pregnant.
On the plus side, he takes a solid 2-3 hour nap starting at 11 am every day. I am fan of keeping to a schedule and I did some sleep training at about 8 months. He's been sttn since then. I'm sure all babies are different. For him, if I switch up his schedule it all falls apart, so we stick to nap times and he goes to bed 6:30-7pm every night. He's an early riser though, 6am every morning. I've tried making his bedtime later but he still gets up at 6am regardless
For sleep training, I read several books and just did what I was comfortable with. (Defininely wouldn't do any sleep trainig until at least 6 months if you even do) He's 15 months now and a great sleeper as long as I stay on his schedule. I'm sure when this new baby comes everything will change!
I definitely believe in a schedule, mostly because my son is not an easy sleeper and needs to be put in his crib to fall asleep. So he is most rested when following a schedule. He is very active so I don't plan on stopping naps until he refuses take them. Even then he will need quiet time in his room in the afternoon (and so will I!!).
I know some parents keep to a strict schedule, but it wouldnt work for us, and I think its a bit overbearing, with the energy and amount of activity they need as they get older. Our routine works, and we have a happy 14mo.
MMC 01/26/12
MC 12/25/12, D&C 01/05/13
BFP 03/05/13, EDD 11/12/13. HB 175 @ 9w2d. Its a Girl!
DX with EA/TEF Type C & Tracheomalaysia
MC @ 13wks 01/15/15
BFP 1/11/18, EDD 9/21/18
https://www.thealphaparent.com/2013/01/timeline-of-baby-and-toddler-sleep.html
And of course, every baby is different and there will be unexpected events that disturb sleep, especially in the first year, such as baby getting teeth, baby getting sick, baby learning how to stand in their crib but not knowing how to lay back down, baby going through separation anxiety, the list goes on. Plus the occasional planned sleep disruption like travel or holidays and special events that you and baby stay up late for.
As far as how I do it? When it's been a rough night, I hear myself singing "it won't be like this for long" in Darius Rucker's voice and know that I will sleep better eventually.
BFP #5 11/15/14, Team Green EDD 7/22/15
BFP #4 4/30/13, baby girl born med-free Jan. 2014
BFP #3 9/24/12, Missed m/c at 9w1d (baby measured 8w5d)
BFP #2 9/23/10, healthy baby girl born med-free June 2011
BFP #1 5/21/10, Missed m/c at 10w4d (baby measured 8wks), D&C 6/29/10
"Life is like a camera, just focus on what's important and capture the good times, develop from the negatives and if things don't work out, just take another shot."
My little goofball born 1/2012
If you have a routine your kid will likely fall into well and you don't have an issue. A good starting routine is a calming, consistent bedtime routine. Bath, books, swaddle, feed, sleep etc.
I don't think in the first 6 months of your LOs life a real schedule is necessary.
Loosely. This included laying baby down on her own to fall asleep and reading to her before bed. These are routines we still follow and she is 2. She has always been a great sleeper I think partly because we stuck to a schedule and routines and partly who she is. We used the E.A.S.Y method which is what most night nurses and nannies use. It focuses on not giving baby crutches to rely on such as rocking to sleep or feeding to sleep and help them learn sleeping skills. Obviously at first they sleep and eat much more but the book Secrets of a Baby whisperer goes through a lot of stages from what I remember. My daughter is now down to one afternoon nap but for the longest time had a morning and afternoon Nap at around the same time daily. I say look around for methods and find what your comfortable with, I highly recommend reading the secrets of baby whisperer it has helped many families!! Good luck
Eta: it's never to early to start thinking about this, the first few months you definitely can't do anything strict because they are just adjusting to life but it's good to research methods now so you have it down by the time baby is ready for some guidance and you are ready for a more consistent bed and feeding time. You can also
Google the E.A.S.Y method to see if
It's something for you, I also live by swaddling until baby can roll over that helped with sleep A TON.. So learn how to swaddle correctly, chances are baby will love it and sleep more soundly!
Then came a miscarriage March '11
Then came a baby in the baby carriage May 16, 12
Waiting on our second little peanut!
Think of the first 3-4 months as your 4th trimester. You just have to survive.
That being said, all of the advice so far is very helpful and hopefully I'll be able to apply it.
You'll start to notice their signs of being tired. Like when DS was really little he would always put his hand to his ear when he was ready to sleep. In terms of cues for consolidating naps and things, you'll notice they have a harder time falling asleep, or don't stay asleep as long. It can happen on any given day and mean nothing, but when it happens consistently they are probably ready to drop a nap.
It's definitely good to be looking into now because you can typically start "sleep training" and having something similar to a schedule around 6 months and you definitely won't have the time or energy to research during those first months. I would look into methods recommended and pick one you like, also a routine is always a good thing to start when they are a couple weeks old because it lets them Know what's coming.. Kids and babies thrive off of routine. So try a few routines till you find one that suits your family, Good luck!
I read Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child, Solve Your Child's Sleep Problems, and The No Cry Sleep Solution. I took a bit of info from each and didn't follow any specifically but they all can give you some insight into sleep patterns, etc.
When he hit 4ish months we moved his bedtime to 6:30 and he had two scheduled naps at 9am and 1pm. He dropped to one nap right at his first birthday and is still going strong. Now that he's 22m and our work schedules vary, he goes to bed between 7-8:30 and has one nap whenever he wants it/whatever works with our plans for the day. We're all about flexibility now since he can tell/show us what he needs and when. He's always been an awful sleeper and I don't think a strict routine would help (when we did a strict routine it wasn't any better so now we go with the flow).
DS born 9/3/13; DD born 7/22/15; LO due 5/28/18
FS (age 5) and FD (age 2) to become AS/AD very soon!