Putting baby on schedule?

Question

when did you try putting your baby on a schedule? Our 6-week old son seems to be nowhere near having one!

Answer 1

No schedule for us, more of a routine.  Each day is similar to the last and next but not set in stone.  Certainly at 6 weeks we didn't even have that.  Around 3 months I started noticing patterns with my son and then we work around that for my chores etc. to create sort of a routine.  

Answer 2

I started at around 6 weeks, and it takes a lot of time because they grow in spurts so they will need naps when it is not naptime and food when it isn't feeding time. The things I was able to keep constant were bath time bed time and the time he woke in the morning.  During the day I didnt care as long as he didnt nap within 2 hours of bedtime.  He is now 4 mths and he responds to everything like clockwork.  Awake at 9 am eats, gets changed, plays for a few hours, nap at 12:30 until 3 pm and then bath at 7 bed at 10:30!  It's working good now but was a lot of work to establish!

Answer 3

Honestly, I think the words schedule and routine are being used interchangably here :) - they both are pretty much the same thing, if you think about it.

At two-weeks, we started feeding our daughter every 2 1/2 - 3 hours.  That way her body/metabolism got used to it.  Like clockwork, she would tell us when it was time to eat and it was right on time.  Then she would play for an hour and sleep for another hour (or two).  We've been doing that ever since (she's 7-weeks now) and she was sleeping through the night (from 10pm - 5:30am) at 5-weeks.

Without a routine (or schedule), it's always playing it by ear and you can never know what you're able to do next.  With one, she's happier and you're able to plan your days out.

Pick up a book called "Babywise" or "On Becoming Babywise" - it's what we used and talks about Parent Directed Feeding...good luck!

Answer 4

My son was on a schedule since the first week. He was sleeping through the night in his own crib at 6-1/2 weeks old.  I did it with my son and I am planning to do it with my twins on the way.

Answer 5

At 6 weeks it's too early to start a schedule.

Mine made his own. I watched him closely in the evening and made sure the whole ritual of bath, story, bottle was done by the time he was tired enough to go to bed. Mind you, most of the time he's so beat, he doesn't even want a story :)

Answer 6

My daughter is 7 weeks old and nowhere near ready either.  I would like to have her in bed by 10, but she doesnt do down till about 1 or 2am.  

All I know is it needs to happen soon!!For my sanity, lol.

Good luck if you find anything that works, let me know.  :)

Answer 7

6 weeks is really too early to expect your child to be on a schedule.

I let my son set his own schedule.  Sometime before 3 months, he started eating every four hours consistantly.  He usually takes 2-4 naps during the day, and we have a bath/bedtime routine.

Answer 8

I never used a schedule.  Schedules are not usually necessary, and if you are breastfeeding, they can play havoc with your milk supply.

If you feel you want/need a routine, try keeping track of baby's usual patterns.  You may find that he DOES have a rough routine, which you can then tweak a bit to meet YOUR needs, if you really need to.