https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 10 May 2026 19:51:04 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/am-i-the-only-one-not-putting-babies-on-a-schedule#post-2532923 Sat, 23 Apr 2016 20:42:37 +0000 Crisark 2532923@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I never had a schedule for any of my three girls. And it worked for us. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/am-i-the-only-one-not-putting-babies-on-a-schedule#post-2532714 Sat, 23 Apr 2016 08:47:43 +0000 MoonMoon 2532714@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We didn't have our baby on any kind of schedule, and it worked perfectly for us. We followed his cues, he could eat or sleep whenever he wanted, for as long as he wanted, and he was pretty chill. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/am-i-the-only-one-not-putting-babies-on-a-schedule#post-2532704 Sat, 23 Apr 2016 08:15:27 +0000 PinkElephant 2532704@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I never really put my babies on a schedule, primarily because I didn't want to be bound tightly to that schedule. It seems to me that having a strict schedule makes it SOOO hard to deviate in any way - birthday parties that fall during naptime, lunches or dinners that run a little late....I didn't want to have to build our social lives at 2-3 years around a schedule we'd set arbitrarily when baby was very young. All we did was try to keep naps/meals in the same window (or at least the same time "apart" - so if lunch was late, afternoon nap would be, too).</p> <p>This worked for us, and our kids are still pretty flexible. I totally understand why some families like/need a tighter schedule, though! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/am-i-the-only-one-not-putting-babies-on-a-schedule#post-2532665 Sat, 23 Apr 2016 06:13:04 +0000 BrandNewMom 2532665@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No schedule until she was a little over 2 here! And that's because she's a wreck if she's not in bed by 12:15 for nap and 8:15 for bed </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/am-i-the-only-one-not-putting-babies-on-a-schedule#post-2532616 Fri, 22 Apr 2016 22:06:53 +0000 gingerbebe 2532616@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Well we weren't intending on being schedule people and I had a long leave but DS just required one. Part of it was acid reflux and needing to schedule feedings and measuring ounces because of weight issues but he was overall SO much happier on a schedule. Like night and day. And now at 19 months he still just thrives on a strict routine and schedule and moves on his own through his daily routine. If we have a few off days he's really cranky and discombobulated. I'm due with my second soon and we shall see what kind of person DS2 is. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/am-i-the-only-one-not-putting-babies-on-a-schedule#post-2532609 Fri, 22 Apr 2016 21:48:41 +0000 travellingbee 2532609@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our first we didn't have a schedule at all really until daycare dictated one at 5 months and I was adamant that we just follow his cues. I was very go with the flow and he napped where ever. He was and is a terrible napper and sleeper. I have no idea if it was related to not having him on a schedule or just his personality. This time, my little guy fell into a more predictable routine pretty naturally. And I had to go back to work at 3 months so bedtime was established earlier. He is already a much better sleeper but again, I don't know if it is because his routine is more scheduled or because of his personality. I will say though, that as a teacher I know that kids thrive on routine and knowing what to expect, when. That doesn't mean a rigid schedule (which just isn't in my nature) but some clear flow to the day, which it sounds like you have. By the way, your babies can go 6 hours between feedings?!?! My kids must be gluttons! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/am-i-the-only-one-not-putting-babies-on-a-schedule#post-2532593 Fri, 22 Apr 2016 20:51:57 +0000 wrkbrk 2532593@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@bluestriped bee: Yup. Sounds close to what we do. I say go for it until it becomes a problem, then change it only if you have to! DS is 5 months. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/am-i-the-only-one-not-putting-babies-on-a-schedule#post-2532580 Fri, 22 Apr 2016 20:20:49 +0000 Ms. RV 2532580@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DD (8 months) is on a loose feeding schedule, but not a sleep schedule at all. The feeding schedule is only there because it seems to help her to STTN. She will go on a pretty regimented schedule when she moves to the toddler room at daycare, but that is going to be on them to make that transition. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/am-i-the-only-one-not-putting-babies-on-a-schedule#post-2532571 Fri, 22 Apr 2016 19:53:20 +0000 JerricaBenton 2532571@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I SAH so I never put lo on a schedule. It was much easier to go with the flow and let lo decide her own schedule. A schedule is pretty much a necessity if your baby goes to daycare though, and you'd have to start pretty early to make sure it's going smoothly before maternity leave ends. But I sure wouldn't worry about setting yourself up for disaster. I *think* it probably is easiest to let baby set their own schedule. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/am-i-the-only-one-not-putting-babies-on-a-schedule#post-2532559 Fri, 22 Apr 2016 19:39:35 +0000 Foodnerd81 2532559@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm going to agree (somewhat) that schedules are more helpful for the adults than the babies. I SAH and we rarely had things we needed to get to early in the morning, but it was, and is, still helpful for me to know when to expect naps anyway. We very rarely wake either LO up (our toddler is our alarm clock, she comes out of her room when her clock lights up at 7:15 every day). And for me, I like to have the time at night when both LOs are in bed. </p> <p>And when you have a bad sleeper, you will follow any and all advice you can get from a sleep consultant! If your LO is more go with the flow and sleeping OK it's easy to just ignore it. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/am-i-the-only-one-not-putting-babies-on-a-schedule#post-2532554 Fri, 22 Apr 2016 19:29:42 +0000 Mae 2532554@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We had a set bedtime from about 3 months on, mostly for my sanity because I am a person who desperately needs "me time" to feel sane and especially being a SAHM, I needed to know that I had that 1-1.5 hours after LO was in bed before I went to bed that was mine. But other than that we had a routine like yours (rather than a timed schedule) until my LO was down to 2 naps which didn't happen until 9 months. Going to bed at the same time every night though, she did tend to wake up within the same hour almost every day. The x factor was usually how long her naps would be, that would sort of push things one way or the other. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/am-i-the-only-one-not-putting-babies-on-a-schedule#post-2532547 Fri, 22 Apr 2016 19:24:27 +0000 kitty 2532547@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I initially tried to get our LO on a schedule and really stressed about it. It didn't work because he never took the length of nap that the various schedule types dictated. It was much better when I just relaxed about it and now we have a general bedtime (somewhere between 6 and 8) but other than that just rough awake times and follow his cues. I feel like the whole scheduling thing is really a phenomenon of contemporary society, because we have such busy lives now. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/am-i-the-only-one-not-putting-babies-on-a-schedule#post-2532538 Fri, 22 Apr 2016 19:05:11 +0000 lawbee11 2532538@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@QBbride: I think the shorter maternity leaves are definitely related when both parents work. Like we can't just let LO wake up whenever she wants because we have to get her to daycare. And because she has to wake up by 7 we don't keep her up until 9. And the kids all nap at the same time at daycare so she naps at that time on the weekend as well. Logistically it's just easier to have her on a schedule (and I actually love the predictability of it). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/am-i-the-only-one-not-putting-babies-on-a-schedule#post-2532529 Fri, 22 Apr 2016 18:47:36 +0000 maddyz 2532529@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would say we more found a rhythm, not a schedule. My days needed to be flexible, and lucky I have a pretty flexible lo. Bedtime has a pretty tight window of about an hour, but that's only because he's pretty well done at the end of the day and ready for it. I found sleep came much easier if it was early and about the same. Naps have always been all over the place and something we listen to cues for more then look at the clock. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/am-i-the-only-one-not-putting-babies-on-a-schedule#post-2532522 Fri, 22 Apr 2016 18:36:17 +0000 GreenThumb 2532522@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We never had a strict schedule either because I SAH. I could read her cues in terms of the need to eat or sleep when she was little and I followed those. Now, those needs often did happen at the same time of day each day, so she sort of created a schedule for herself. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/am-i-the-only-one-not-putting-babies-on-a-schedule#post-2532512 Fri, 22 Apr 2016 18:27:12 +0000 sarac 2532512@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Nope, and I fully don't believe in it. With exceptions for people who have an external schedule (work, daycare, etc), I think that schedules are largely for the convenience of adults, not children. I decline to stress out about it, and we're all happy. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/am-i-the-only-one-not-putting-babies-on-a-schedule#post-2532505 Fri, 22 Apr 2016 18:20:48 +0000 BSB 2532505@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@JoyfulKiwi: @QBbride: Oh, I get it, now! Thanks for explaining. The twins stay home with DH so they don't have to get out of the house before 8am, but I can totally see putting them on a schedule if I had to get them to daycare at 8am. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/am-i-the-only-one-not-putting-babies-on-a-schedule#post-2532503 Fri, 22 Apr 2016 18:08:26 +0000 JoyfulKiwi 2532503@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We had to do schedules for exactly the reason @QBbride: mentioned. I went back to work at 12ish weeks for each kid, so I needed them to be ready to wake up by a specific time each morning. We reverse-engineered from there! We're really flexible on weekends and aren't strict about times beyond bedtime/morning wake-up. For LO2, I've been a little firmer about her first nap because I get to nurse her during the day (she's in the same building where I work) and it's less stressful to me if her feeding times aren't wildly different from day to day. I wish I didn't have to impose a schedule, but I do try to follow her cues and let it "flow" whenever I can. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/am-i-the-only-one-not-putting-babies-on-a-schedule#post-2532481 Fri, 22 Apr 2016 17:33:13 +0000 BSB 2532481@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@QBbride: Haha. Good point. That is her job! </p> <p>Yeah, I haven't really thought about the idea of schedules being related to our short maternity leave. Having a schedule is nice when you go back to work. I might be the odd one out, but I still get sleep from 12am to 6am when I have to get ready for work. Although, there has been times one of the babies (not both, yet) woke up and would not go to bed. I ended up bringing them into my room and they slept soundly. Luckily, it hasn't happened again. I think they were teething. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/am-i-the-only-one-not-putting-babies-on-a-schedule#post-2532472 Fri, 22 Apr 2016 17:04:30 +0000 QBbride 2532472@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@bluestriped bee: I don't mean to offend anyone, but I feel like some mums with shorter maternity leaves (like in the States) are obsessed with schedules. And I totally don't blame them, it's so hard to be at work when you're so tired and sleep deprived and when other people are caring for your children during the day. </p> <p>I live in Canada and maybe it's just the sort of people I'm usually around, but schedules and sleep training etc. and much less common! But we also have a lot longer of a maternity leave.</p> <p>And of course a sleep consultant is going to tell you to get them on a schedule, that's her job :silly: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/am-i-the-only-one-not-putting-babies-on-a-schedule#post-2532469 Fri, 22 Apr 2016 16:56:09 +0000 BSB 2532469@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@QBbride: Oh, I don't know. I guess there was so much talk on here about schedules, I was thinking I was doing something wrong by not having a schedule. </p> <p>I did go to a sleep consultation at Mommycon and they told me I should put the babies on a schedule. Not sure if I was completely convinced. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/am-i-the-only-one-not-putting-babies-on-a-schedule#post-2532461 Fri, 22 Apr 2016 16:39:36 +0000 QBbride 2532461@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Why would you be setting yourself up for disaster? If it works well for you and they're sleeping well, then it sounds good to me! Neither of my kids have ever been on a schedule. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/am-i-the-only-one-not-putting-babies-on-a-schedule#post-2532455 Fri, 22 Apr 2016 16:37:46 +0000 Mrs. Pickle 2532455@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DD isn't on a strict schedule. We start her bed and bath routine around the same time every night because she lets us know she's ready for bed! During the day I go with the flow. She can nap almost anywhere and is a very happy baby. It works for us. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/am-i-the-only-one-not-putting-babies-on-a-schedule#post-2532450 Fri, 22 Apr 2016 16:25:13 +0000 daniellemybelle 2532450@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I put LO on a schedule but I followed her lead. More than anything we were just very structured about naps and feedings.</p> <p>Next time, my goal is to be intentionally unstructured! Seeing my friends with two kids, the ones that have it easiest are the ones that go with the flow with the second baby, babywearing for naps and nursing when the baby wants to nurse. I was mostly glued to the house for like 6 months and I couldn't do that with a 3 or 4 year old! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/am-i-the-only-one-not-putting-babies-on-a-schedule#post-2532422 Fri, 22 Apr 2016 15:46:29 +0000 Eko 2532422@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm glad to see this thread! DS has always created his own schedule and was just consistent with it. Lately he's been all over the place and we tried to keep him on a set nighttime schedule which didn't work out. Since being more flexible and going with his cues it's been a lot better. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/am-i-the-only-one-not-putting-babies-on-a-schedule#post-2532342 Fri, 22 Apr 2016 14:19:44 +0000 Dahlia 2532342@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>At 9 months, LO consistently goes to bed around 7 and she usually wakes up around 6. But during the day we have no set schedule because her naps are still all over the place in terms of length. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/am-i-the-only-one-not-putting-babies-on-a-schedule#post-2532299 Fri, 22 Apr 2016 13:37:00 +0000 runnerd 2532299@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We didn't put our LO on a schedule, but he did set a schedule for himself! 7:30-8pm each night he used to get cranky so it became bedtime. As he had gotten older, he could stay up until 10pm if we let him, but we put him to bed between 8pm-8:30pm - it's more for us than him, need a break! :) nap starts sometime between 12pm-2pm depending on what we are doing on the weekends. but he is very flexible about bedtime if we are traveling or on the go. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/am-i-the-only-one-not-putting-babies-on-a-schedule#post-2532294 Fri, 22 Apr 2016 13:29:47 +0000 BSB 2532294@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Great. Glad I'm not the only one. I was worried that I was setting myself up for a disaster. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/am-i-the-only-one-not-putting-babies-on-a-schedule#post-2532243 Fri, 22 Apr 2016 12:49:35 +0000 GoGoSnoGirl 2532243@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We aren't on a schedule, just follow LO's cues unless we need to be somewhere. She wakes for the day between 6:20 &amp; 7:30am, seemingly regardless of her bedtime, so I'd really like to get her to bed earlier, but also want her to spend time with DH, who doesn't get home until 7-8pm most days. She naps 2-3 times/day. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/am-i-the-only-one-not-putting-babies-on-a-schedule#post-2532238 Fri, 22 Apr 2016 12:43:47 +0000 Ajsmommy 2532238@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I feel like for the first 8-10 months there was no schedule. I remember worrying about it when I sent DD to daycare.. she didn't have a schedule. We just went with her cues for sleep, play and eat. We also did bedtime around the same time every night but it was bc she was ready. </p> <p>I will say now that she is a toddler we do try to stick to a regular schedule. I honestly think it helps to avoid too many tantrums/breakdowns </p>