Did you put your baby on a schedule?

Smile58 · June 2011

Question for ya: Did you put you LO on a "schedule" as a newborn, or did you follow their schedule? ie- Feed on demand, etc?

Apparently I am not parenting properly because I haven't strictly started to schedule LO. He is going to be 7 weeks old on Saturday and I was not aware I should be trying to put him on my schedule!

He is bottle fed (expressed breast milk and supplemental formula) and pretty much follows an eat, play, nap schedule going down for the night between 730 and 830 and waking for the day between 730 and 830 am. Should I be trying to regulate more specifically the times he eats, sleeps, plays etc? It doesn't feel right to me, but a "friend" made a snide comment about it and now I am curious what other moms do.

Thanks! Smile

Irisheyes1247 · June 2011

When C was very little, it seemed like so many moms on the national boards had their kids down to a science with times and amounts and things and I asked the same thing here. When he is ready to be on a regular schedule, he will be. When they are so little, I can't see waiting to feed him because it isn't 4 pm yet or it hasn't been 3 hours since his last feeding. As he gets a little older, it will be more important that you have a routine. To me, I like to try and wake her up around the same time every morning, because then we start the day at the same time and can start to set some sort of pace. But, I also am back to work, so I need to wake her in order to get her to DC in time. Do what feels right to you.

abba916 · June 2011

I didnt really schedule L until he was more like 4-5 months...i knew he was generally hungry 2-3 hours after last eating- he'd be up a little bit then he would sleep...I would keep that "routine" in my mind and carry on with my day...

I cant see an itty bitty baby on a schedule at this point...

I would tell your friend to keep her comments to herself or tell her, "I knew I would screw up my kid somehow but figured if I stated at birth he'd have more to tell the therapist..."

MrsRichardson915 · June 2011

For me, it worked best to follow the girls' leads. I would have a general idea in mind of when I 'thought' they would be hungry, but if they wanted to eat earlier or later than that time, I went with it. For the most part, they ate every 2-3 hours but I never felt like I had to feed them every 3 no matter what.

That said, some people are more comfortable following a schedule. I really think that there isn't a "best" way to do it. Just do what works for you and if someone else has a problem with it...oh well it isn't their baby!

NikCole · June 2011

yes and no. He kinda made his own schedule, and I went with it. I also followed the EASY method, and it helped form a schedule for him. I would say he was on a pretty regular schedule by about 3 months... but even then it wasn't always exact. No matter what, when they get on a "schedule" for a few weeks they will change it up at some point! (growth spurt, getting sick, teething, dropping a feeding, starting solids etc, etc, etc!)

Smile58 · June 2011

I think that's a perfect way to put it. We are developing our "routine" but I've yet to specifically schedule feedings, naps etc at exact times!

I do think that by the time he heads to daycare at the beginning of the school year we will have more of a schedule down because he'll be four months by then. Totally different story than really trying to schedule a newborn I think!

olivia_eve · June 2011

I think there's a difference between a schedule and a routine. I think you can work out a basic routine of feeding, playing, and sleeping. But IMO a schedule where you hold off on feeding them because it's not the right time is difficult at that age, and I'm not a big fan of it. I don't think we had much of a schedule until 4-5 months.

Telyco · June 2011

If he is going to daycare - then I actually would talk to them soon about what sort of schedule he'll be following there...and then start to implement it over the summer. it'll be a much easier transition for him (and you!)

We did EASY for the most part - and since I SAH ...we never did anything by the clock.

Smile58 · June 2011

Thanks Ladies! Appreciate the feedback!

wendyj · June 2011

If he's sleeping pretty well at night, I wouldn't worry about it just yet. Ian was pretty consistent with wanting to eat every 3 hours or so. The main thing we did was try to have a consistent nighttime routine so that he knew it was bedtime.

jnk062602 · June 2011

We kind of did - I went back to work at 8 weeks and I needed to know that I was pumping at roughly the time she was eating. Otherwise, at the end of a 10 hour work day, we could be several hours un-synched which would either leave her hungry, me uncomfortable, and would have eventually effected my supply. So, if I worked 8-6, I knew I needed to pump at 10am, 1pm, and 4pm. Sometimes the times would be a bit off, but in the beginning, DH would let her sleep way too long which would end up me getting home at 6:30 all set to get her nursing, and he would be like "Ohh, she just ate at 6"....and then I would have to pump and feel kinda empty for the next feeding or wait it out and feel full and like my supply would drop.

On my days and when I was home I would more follow her cues and encourage cluster feedings since I felt it helped with supply and could catch us both up. And then of course night time was just a free for all until about 6 months.

jewelsonu · June 2011

i followed both of my kids schedules. Ethan's wasn't as good as sophia's. If you have a good thing going why ruin it?

kac0807 · June 2011

NikCole:
yes and no. He kinda made his own schedule, and I went with it. I also followed the EASY method, and it helped form a schedule for him. I would say he was on a pretty regular schedule by about 3 months... but even then it wasn't always exact. No matter what, when they get on a "schedule" for a few weeks they will change it up at some point! (growth spurt, getting sick, teething, dropping a feeding, starting solids etc, etc, etc!)

This is what we did too and it worked out best for us. I am a firm believer now after going through everything with T that they will let you know what they need and when.

BelhurstBride · June 2011

I don't follow an exact schedule every day based on what the clock says I should be doing so I never expected my baby to. We had our routines and eventually she fell into a rough schedule of her own. (Where I can ball park waking, eating and nap times.)

You're doing a great job, ignore that unsolicited "advice!"

MelissaSue81 · June 2011

I could have written this post when Eve was a baby.. except we had NO schedule at all..She woke when she woke and slept when she slept and ate whenever she wanted.. And her "bedtime" for the night was somewhere around 12-1am when she was that small..

She has more of a routine now that she's older and has one nap a day.. but we're still really flexible. Its important to me.. i don't work traditional hours and DH doesn't really either.. so we just play a lot of days by ear..

People have told me that now with 2 I really have to get them on the same schedule.. I'm not sure what I want to do.. I would love for them to both nap at the same time each day (they are right now!) but I also want Natalie to be flexible like Eve is.

faith194 · June 2011

I follow DS' lead. He does seem to need a nap every two hours, but sometimes he only gets one nap. Now that he is older, he does have more of a feeding schedule, but that just started happening recently. We just started a night time routine a few weeks ago, but it does not guarantee a smooth night(last night was very rough--the only one who got any sleep was Polar Bear. Other nights, he STTN).

Keep doing what you are doing:)

Smile58 · June 2011

Thanks Ladies, I really appreciate the feedback! I like his routine and am confident we will figure out more of a "schedule" when the time is right. I guess I'm just sensitive to criticism-new mom anxiety and all!

I swear I am going to get a t-shirt made saying "Who asked you??!!" Big Smile

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