How did you get LO on a sleep schedule?

MauiBride2008 · April 2011

I know this may be too soon to establish, but LO has his days and nights switched and I think I have been up for 3 days straight! When did your LO start to sleep on a schedule and how did you get the schedule established? What methods worked best for you?

Married2MrWright · April 2011

Aw, hang in there! He's still too new to know day from night and besides at this age they're pretty much up every 2-3 hours to eat or potty (or both)!

We didn't really get into a routine until Libby was around 8 weeks old and even then it was just a routine, not really a bonafide schedule. We started having more of a schedule around 6 months or so. And again, it's been adjusted every three months or so as she's aged.

For now, if LO is eating-sleeping-pottying around every 3 hours, he's on target. The three week growth spurt is just around the corner (Libby hit hers at 2.5 weeks) and then he'll be cluster feeding (i.e. eating every hour, on the hour for 5-6 hours at a stretch). Once he hits 6-8 weeks things should seem more predictable...

Hang in there and try to enjoy this time, it doesn't last forever! And if you can, sleep when he sleeps and try nursing (if you're BFing) side lying so you can doze while he feeds.

myday1708 · April 2011

E.A.S.Y. routine from "The Baby Whisperer" -- I swore by that routine!!!!

Eat. (nurse, bottle)

Activity. (then play, change diaper, spend some awake time)

Sleep. (after about 2 hours, then 3 hours, it's naptime. Just watch the clock)

You Time. (when they sleep, you sleep too! or surf Fbook)

HTH!

redshoegirl · April 2011

Lori had really good advice, so I don't have much to add.

We started out with a fairly steady routine out of necessary (if one boy woke up and was hungry, then we woke the other one up and he got fed too because we had to keep them on the same schedule), but we didn't really force the issue of a schedule. They dropped one night waking at about 8 weeks and then dropped a second one at about 12 weeks, both of which helped. Unfortunately it really is just one of those things that will happen when it happens!

My only real tip is to make nighttime = sleep time. By this, I mean make it BORING. Don't turn on lights (other than the minimum needed to see what you're doing, and I'd recommend just getting a bright nightlight so you don't even have to turn a light on), and don't play or laugh or giggle with your LO. Hell, we didn't even TALK - which I know sounds mean, but we wanted to keep interaction to the bare minimum and show Will and Dash that grownups are really boring at night so there's no point in wanting to party then. Smile This isn't to say that you can't soothe, cuddle, hum, sing, etc - of course you can and should do those things if they're needed. Just no chit-chatting for the sake of it, KWIM?

We also tried to help them set their internal clocks by closing the blinds in their room at night and opening them wide at when morning "officially" began at 7am - it's one of those hardwired biological things, as getting bright sunlight helps your body know that it's time to be awake and active.

redshoegirl · April 2011

Oh also - at this age, it's really more about routine (like what Malia posted) than schedule. The actual time of day isn't so important as establishing a good repetitive routine is, and once you have that down, the schedule tends to click into place eventually - not that it will always be easy, but I'd get the routine down now and worry about the time on the clock later (easier said than done when you haven't slept in days, I know!).

MauiBride2008 · April 2011

Awww, thanks ladies! I know he is still so brand new but I would like to try some sort of routine now so it gets him ready for nighttime sooner. Your tips have helped me and I'm going to try them out and see what works best. Thank you again!

MrsIH · April 2011

Hey girl! We've all been there and can totally relate. I agree with PP as well and Lori worded everything perfectly. That first month is probably the most difficult and the most amazing and mind blowing as well. I hardly ever slept when he slept so it's hard when so many people say to do so but if you can... you should. Like Lisa said, when he naps during the day do what you would normally do... cook, have the TV on, blinds open, etc. The first few days we'd tip toe around and then thought, what the heck, it's day time, he needs to know that!

And same thing at night, super quiet, no talking, dark room, white noise, swaddle. I think that first month is survival mode and getting to know your baby. I followed his signals and his lead and I helped guide him as well. For example, hands to his mouth = hunger, etc. I don't think we fully established a routine until around 2'ish months? It's hard to think back and remember but we didn't do the bath, book, feed thing until around then, maybe even later? Slowly but surely his bed time started earlier and earlier (say 7pm instead of 11pm). I also remember telling myself constantly that he doesn't know what time it is

He used to sleep really well from 8am - 11am and we just went with it in the beginning... like I say, survival mode.

If you need anything I'm here for you! *hugs*

mrspresley · April 2011

Married2MrWright:
at this age they're pretty much up every 2-3 hours to eat or potty (or both)!

this!!! in the very beginning i felt like she was never even awake....just up to eat and went right back to sleep. if she was up it was only for a few min and then she'd doze again. and she was up like clockwork in the middle of the night to nurse! it's tough but it does get better so hang in there once they start sleeping for 4 hour stretches it feels like 8!

i do agree it's good to start a routine though and we did follow E.A.S.Y. when she was older in the beginning (around 6 wks) it was 2 hrs between waking and next nap and as she got older it became 3 hrs.

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