Preemie Schedules at Home?

elisbu

LO will be two months on the 7th, but adjusted is almost 4 weeks.

I am starting to go crazy because I feel like all I do is sit around. First it was in the NICU, now at home. DD is still too unpredictable to eat/play/sleep so we are at her mercy. We do go out, but she screams if I'm not in the back seat with her, and I hate when she cries at restaurants, stores...etc.
Also she only wants to be held this week. She doesn't self soothe, which I know is okay right now since she is still so tiny. But it means I can't get anything done because even when she's sleeping she wants to be held(wakes within 20 minutes of us setting her down)

So....when did you get your LO on some sort of schedule. Say wake up- eat- play/swing/lay on play mat- eat- nap- wake up-...etc?

Right now the only thing I know is that she will want to eat every 3-4 hours. Other than that iit's her call!!

 

uggg....help!

royalcrown1

I don't remember when it happened, but I remember feeling the same way you did.  I remember saying to DH that I feel like we have ahd newborns for months.  THe would acontinue to ast like newborns, not sleep long, not smile for a very long time after they came home.  I think they probably started getting on a schedule between 3 and 4 months adjusted (but it felt like 6-8 months.)  Just hang in there!  IT is hard, but it will happen, I promise!

bhilyer

I'm going through the same thing with JS. Not that it solves the lack of routine problem, but get you a Moby. It frees up your hands during the "hold me, hold me, hold me" times. JS loves when I put him in it. Good luck!

kck329

bhilyer:

I'm going through the same thing with JS. Not that it solves the lack of routine problem, but get you a Moby. It frees up your hands during the "hold me, hold me, hold me" times. JS loves when I put him in it. Good luck!

This exactly. We have the same story and babywearing is saving my sanity. Even though it doesn't feel like it, we still have newborn babies that were supposed to come in May! We just get a very long newborn experience.

elisbu

BostonKisses2:

I have to smile, because I felt the exact same way once Judith was home!

Honestly, she's a bit young to try to work out a schedule - she's still acting like a newborn, which is what she should be doing right now.  Judith ate every 3 hours, and constantly wanted to be held too.  If you're worried about getting things done, I would strongly recommend baby wearing - your daughter can have the comfort and security of being held, and you'll have the convenience of having your hands free to do other things!  I really liked my Moby wrap in the beginning, and it worked great for Judith (she was way too small to even consider an Ergo at the time).  There are tons of other wrap styles out there if you're interested in something like that - there are a few moms on here who use wraps for baby wearing, but you could also check out the attachment parenting board and ask tons of questions about different carriers/wraps!

Anyway, to answer your schedule question: Judith was closer to 5 months actual, 2.5 months adjusted when she started to fall into more of a schedule, and it didn't really "solidify" into a pattern until she was 5.5 months actual, 3 months adjusted.  I basically follow her lead - when she's awake, I vary her activities (tummy time, bumbo, exersaucer, infant rocker with various toys, etc.), and when she looks sleepy I put her down for a nap (which is usually around the same time each day, give or take a half hour or so).  Basically, I would give it some time yet, and once your LO is a bit older you may have a little more luck working out a schedule.

Sorry for the novel - hopefully something in here will help or give you some ideas.  GL, and hang in there! 

Thanks you!!! This does give me hope.

I feel bad even complaining. I'd rather sit around here than NICU and in a year she will want to crawl around and won't let me hold her, so I should be happy I get to cuddle her that much longer....still it's so hard sometimes!!

Baby Ts Mommy

Oh we totally are going through the same thing! DS is 4 months, 2 months adjusted and he only sleeps when held! We put him in the bassinette and he'll sleep for about 20 minutes but then wakes up. He will stay in his bouncy seat or swing for a little while. DH thinks I'm spoiling him by holding him all the time, but IMO, they need that for their development and we know preemies need it more! I'm hoping around 4 months adjusted age he'll start to create his own schedule. FINGERS CROSSED!