Did you have a schedule at 5-6 weeks?

Re: Did you have a schedule at 5-6 weeks?

• MNheidi member

  January 2009

  First, your little ones are precious!  They grow so fast so hold on tight.

  Now, you won't see an actual schedule for months but I think it was 6 weeks that I saw an actual routine starting to form.  Waking up, feeding, awake time, etc.  IMO, in order to really start a routine/schedule, it's helpful to have them nap where they sleep at night.  I know it helped us to have them napping in the cribs vx. the swing or boppy or  grandma's arms .  I don't think I really enforced this until 2 mos or so.

  activities:  You read so much about stimulating your children but seriously, an awake baby at a month old IS stimulated.  YOU don't have to do much.  We always made sure they had toys above them in the bouncy or playmat but that's about it.  OH, I also started reading to them even though they didn't get much out of it, they got used to my reading voice and I think it's why they love books today.  And walks are great, mine usually slept but the fresh air was awesome for everyone - I miss summer.

  Naps/bedtime: napping didn't become routine until about 4 mos.  Bedtime, however, I began early and again, I think it helped them sttn and put themselves to bed earlier than many their age.  At about your babies' age, I started the routine - bath(every toher night), diaper change, bottle while listening to lullibies in the nursery where dh and I each held one in a rocker.  We started doing this at their 9ish bottle but then quickly I moved it up to 7:30 or so - they've had a 7pm bedtime since 2mos old.

  gotta run, they just woke.  GL
  

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• jd0614

  January 2009

  The only thing that was set at that point was they were eating every 3 hours around the clock.  They slept ALOT so pretty much eat, sleep, play for a few minutes, eat, sleep, play..........

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• Skatcat

  January 2009

  Thanks so much for the replies, both of you! I kind of had a feeling that was the deal, but I was starting to feel guilty about feeding them, playing for just a few minutes and then basically trying to get them to go back to sleep!  I wasn't sure if I was being neglectful.  Of course, most of the time they do NOT go right back to sleep anyway..it takes quite a bit of rocking and jiggling. I've just got to the point where I even have to let DS cry for a minute because he just doesn't want to be put down.

  I definitely like the idea of a nighttime routine of bath and/or book and evening meal. Maybe I will start making the "bedtime" meal a bottle of EBF rather than  nursing so we can read to them at the same time. 
  

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• armo member

  January 2009

  ditto jd...  we just followed their lead on when to eat, sing songs, and mostly they slept.

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