https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 14 Apr 2026 15:38:48 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-you-put-a-6-week-old-on-a-schedule#post-2203081 Tue, 09 Jun 2015 13:41:45 +0000 SweetiePie 2203081@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Read through other comments and also agree with @looch about looking for patterns by using an app.<br /> And also @ShootingStar: with EASY. It may not work for you in conjunction with AP, but if you decide that some routine is more important, EASY worked well for us to set a routine.<br /> But there will still be days you can't stick to EASY perfectly.<br /> You do have to be able to roll with punches, regardless. There will be days that totally go to shit in terms of schedule or routine. But tomorrow is a new day :-) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-you-put-a-6-week-old-on-a-schedule#post-2203080 Tue, 09 Jun 2015 13:37:56 +0000 SweetiePie 2203080@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Exactly what @Kemma: said. At 6 weeks we were definitely in a routine, not a schedule, and I could sorta predict his day based on when he woke up that morning. So I knew for sure I couldn't go anywhere at a certain time because whether he was just starting a nap or smack in the middle, he'd be asleep at that time. </p> <p>In a sense, at 9 months I still don't have him on a total "schedule". I don't have set nap times, but they do average out out to the same time. I know roughly when he'll take naps but that can vary by a half hour in either direction - based on his morning wake time, etc. His bottles are totally on a schedule but even that can occasionally vary based on naps (If he has a particularly bad morning his nap may be pushed which means I have to give him a bottle 30 mins early so that he can sleep through his normal bottle time. For example!)</p> <p>I have a nanny 2 days a week and I basically did the following at that age:<br /> 1) informed her of wake time each day because that sort of sets the tone for the day<br /> 2) told her the max amount of time he should spend awake (at 6 weeks it was definitely no more than 1.5 hours, often less)<br /> 3) gave her bottle times (we were mostly feeding on demand at that age but it started to set into a pattern around then of every 3-3.5 hours.<br /> 4) most importantly, told her that despite the guidelines above I trusted her to make judgement calls. I told her I prefer she didn't go BEYOND the time limits I outlined, but earlier or later by 15 minutes was ok if she felt it was ok. </p> <p>It was extremely hard to let go of the reigns at that age and let someone else make judgement calls. But I think it helped her gain confidence and understanding in my sons needs. So today I have total trust in her. Sure, I still think I know better :-) But what mom doesn't?!? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-you-put-a-6-week-old-on-a-schedule#post-2203070 Tue, 09 Jun 2015 13:24:28 +0000 Mama Bird 2203070@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>You can try, but don't expect to succeed! Some kids fall into a schedule much easier than others, and if your son isn't one of them you'll just stress yourself out.</p> <p>Also, I can't say this enough, if you feel yourself getting overwhelmed by WAH with a fussy baby, get more help - maybe a nanny when you're home for part of a day, or something... been there, and the stress was just incredible and totally avoidable if I'd just not been so set on doing it all myself. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-you-put-a-6-week-old-on-a-schedule#post-2202971 Tue, 09 Jun 2015 11:34:01 +0000 pmrlady 2202971@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@macintosh: By attachment parenting do you mean that you want to nurse to sleep? If so then you won't be able to the EASY routine because Eat and Sleep have to be separated. This is done so that the baby doesn't rely on nursing to fall asleep. But you might be able to do Activity then Eat then Sleep. Whatever you choose, the key to having a routine is to be consistent so that baby learns to predict what's next. I think you have to decide if you will nurse to sleep or not and then based on that, decide what kind of routine you will have. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-you-put-a-6-week-old-on-a-schedule#post-2201876 Mon, 08 Jun 2015 09:40:46 +0000 ShootingStar 2201876@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>A lot of people are really successful with EASY (eat, activity, sleep, you). I thought this site was really useful for it - <a href="http://noobmommy.com/2012/02/e-a-s-y-schedules-cheat-sheet-4-sample-baby-schedules-from-4-weeks-1-yr.html" rel="nofollow">http://noobmommy.com/2012/02/e-a-s-y-schedules-cheat-sheet-4-sample-baby-schedules-from-4-weeks-1-yr.html</a>.</p> <p>Full disclosure, I was a total failure at EASY though. I could never figure out BF-ing and the routine. Every time he cried I assumed he was hungry, and I'd end up both feeding him to sleep and feeding him as soon as he woke up. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-you-put-a-6-week-old-on-a-schedule#post-2201860 Mon, 08 Jun 2015 09:31:29 +0000 2PeasinaPod 2201860@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm a big fan of schedules, but I do have to say that it doesn't go well with attachment parenting (something that didn't work for our family). At that time, DS was eating every 3-4 hours, and we did wake to feed, play, sleep, wake to feed. I didn't want him depending on feeding to go to sleep. The schedule above worked well for our family. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-you-put-a-6-week-old-on-a-schedule#post-2201786 Mon, 08 Jun 2015 08:42:16 +0000 travellingbee 2201786@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Mine was, basically. At the recommendation of my lactation consultant, I fed DS every 2-2.5 hours. However, in the evening, at that age, he cluster fed and so we didn't wait 2 hours then, just let him eat on demand. After he ate, he would "play", then sleep and repeat. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-you-put-a-6-week-old-on-a-schedule#post-2201774 Mon, 08 Jun 2015 08:32:07 +0000 looch 2201774@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Have you spent some time tracking eating and sleeping times? A pattern might emerge and could help you in planning. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-you-put-a-6-week-old-on-a-schedule#post-2201062 Sat, 06 Jun 2015 17:59:53 +0000 Miss Flamingo 2201062@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I agree with those posters who have said you can try but it's probably more stress than it's worth, If you lean toward attachment parenting. I felt so anxious and stressed that my baby wasnt falling into a schedule that I felt like a failure. As soon as I let go of that, things got so much easier. What may be helpful though is to get a nap routine in place that your nanny could also do, just to help later on when it is more feasible to get your little one on a schedule. Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-you-put-a-6-week-old-on-a-schedule#post-2200794 Sat, 06 Jun 2015 00:55:14 +0000 Zbug 2200794@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Weeks 6-8 were seriously the worst for us. There is so much going on, and so many changes taking place. I agree with trying to set some routines, but I think your inclination to follow your baby's lead at this point is best. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-you-put-a-6-week-old-on-a-schedule#post-2200765 Fri, 05 Jun 2015 23:23:26 +0000 brownie 2200765@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes, you can put a six week old on a schedule. NICU infants often come home on a feeding every x hours schedule. As you have heard, schedules change frequently. In my personal experience we made a rule of nursing every 3 hours (to reduce reflux) and I feel it really hurt my supply at that young. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-you-put-a-6-week-old-on-a-schedule#post-2200761 Fri, 05 Jun 2015 23:21:15 +0000 BabyTsMom 2200761@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <br /> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-you-put-a-6-week-old-on-a-schedule#post-2200741 Fri, 05 Jun 2015 22:33:01 +0000 macintosh 2200741@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@gingerbebe: thanks for the insight, sounds like it worked well for you. I feel like DS has way more wake time than 1 hour sometimes. He sometimes stays awake between feedings with only little cat naps. Just now I tried to get him to nap after his last feeding. He was fussy, awake, and comfort nursing for about 2 hours. I gave in and gave him his next feeding (formula supplement). Hoping he goes down for the night shortly. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-you-put-a-6-week-old-on-a-schedule#post-2200740 Fri, 05 Jun 2015 22:28:32 +0000 macintosh 2200740@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Kemma: got it, I think I'm going more for a routine. I imagine we will find one eventually, but I'm also trying to research strategies. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-you-put-a-6-week-old-on-a-schedule#post-2200737 Fri, 05 Jun 2015 22:20:30 +0000 gingerbebe 2200737@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>To answer your question, yes its possible. But my son absolutely needed one because he had weight issues, reflux, colic, and got overtired/overstimulated horribly. Putting him on medication, bottles, and a schedule helped us create some process of elimination with regards to his almost constant crying. We fed every 3 hours, watched him like a hawk after he'd been awake for 45 minutes, put him down between 45 minutes to 1 hour after he'd been up, and put him down for a nap. </p> <p>The only annoying thing about scheduling is constantly tinkering. I think my son's schedule changed just about every 2-3 weeks until he was 6 months old. Their waketimes change, the ounces of their bottles change, solids, etc. </p> <p>Obviously, babies aren't machines and if they don't want to nap, they aren't going to and you're going to have to figure out how to help them (rock, nurse, CIO, etc). But just having a predictable time table for feeding really helped to give some order (and in our case, ensure our son was gaining weight). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-you-put-a-6-week-old-on-a-schedule#post-2200729 Fri, 05 Jun 2015 22:13:02 +0000 Kemma 2200729@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@macintosh: schedules are generally time based and about watching the clock, routines are more about consistency in conjunction with following baby's cues. For example, a schedule might say put the baby to bed at 3pm (whether baby is tired or not), a routine would involve putting baby to bed in the afternoon when s/he starts to get tired. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-you-put-a-6-week-old-on-a-schedule#post-2200728 Fri, 05 Jun 2015 22:12:50 +0000 2littlepumpkins 2200728@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@macintosh: Our bedtime routine (this is at 2.5 years though!) is potty, bath, pjs (night diaper), brush teeth, story, in bed. Our schedule dictates that this ends sometime around 830-845. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-you-put-a-6-week-old-on-a-schedule#post-2200727 Fri, 05 Jun 2015 22:09:49 +0000 Kemma 2200727@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm not a great fan of schedules but I do think that even newborns can benefit from a gentle routine or rhythm in their day. Just as an example, we do most of our outings and activities in the morning and afternoons are about napping and quiet time. You could also try adding some consistency to your own day which might in turn help your LO develop her own routine (things like having a consistent wake time and meal times). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-you-put-a-6-week-old-on-a-schedule#post-2200726 Fri, 05 Jun 2015 22:09:17 +0000 macintosh 2200726@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>What do you guys mean exactly when you say routine vs. schedule? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-you-put-a-6-week-old-on-a-schedule#post-2200720 Fri, 05 Jun 2015 22:01:22 +0000 QBbride 2200720@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@macintosh: honestly, no. 6 weeks is soo young!! But like others have said, a routine is a good place to start. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-you-put-a-6-week-old-on-a-schedule#post-2200682 Fri, 05 Jun 2015 21:10:01 +0000 2littlepumpkins 2200682@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>You can try, but I think it's less stressful not to. I would however start by about 2 months with just a general routine particularly for sleep/bedtime. That's my personal preference and I think it has helped with dd but its by no means a recipe for perfect sleep. I think for now just go with the flow. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-you-put-a-6-week-old-on-a-schedule#post-2200670 Fri, 05 Jun 2015 20:53:28 +0000 sarac 2200670@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Attachment parenting is, in my opinion, not very compatible with putting your child on a schedule, since AP at that age is all about responding to the child, where a schedule is about trying to get the child to do things on your timetable. Scheduling a baby that young is also (again, in my opinion) just a recipe for stress and irritation when they inevitably don't follow your schedule. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-you-put-a-6-week-old-on-a-schedule#post-2200662 Fri, 05 Jun 2015 20:33:12 +0000 matador84 2200662@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I agree with hilsy, not a schedule more of a routine. I went back at 8 weeks with my first, but started giving bottles at 9/12/3 and nursed before work and then after work. This helped us get into a schedule, he slept and played in between feedings. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-you-put-a-6-week-old-on-a-schedule#post-2200661 Fri, 05 Jun 2015 20:32:32 +0000 mrsrugbee 2200661@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>You can try but my experience is that other than eat-play-sleep, you'll find yourself drifting very much from the AP philosophy.</p> <p> I found DD fell into her own 3 nap schedule around 5 mo. Before 3 mo trying to establish any kind of order just lead to frustration for me. Some babies are more flexible though. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-you-put-a-6-week-old-on-a-schedule#post-2200653 Fri, 05 Jun 2015 20:15:56 +0000 hilsy85 2200653@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@macintosh: yep sounds like a newborn :) I would just let each day go how it goes, with a general pattern of eat sleep play, or eat play sleep or whatever you're doing </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-you-put-a-6-week-old-on-a-schedule#post-2200652 Fri, 05 Jun 2015 20:14:49 +0000 macintosh 2200652@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@hilsy85: good point. He seems to get overstimulated or overtired easily. Normally he sleeps like a champ, but once in a while he has a period where he nurses for comfort, falls asleep, then wakes up a few minutes after I put him down. I figure that's pretty normal, though. He just wants to snuggle :silly: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-you-put-a-6-week-old-on-a-schedule#post-2200648 Fri, 05 Jun 2015 20:09:59 +0000 hilsy85 2200648@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Not a schedule, per se, but at that age they should only be up for like an hour max I think so you can just know when to put him to sleep based on when he last woke up...predictability will probably be a ways away! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-you-put-a-6-week-old-on-a-schedule#post-2200645 Fri, 05 Jun 2015 20:04:48 +0000 macintosh 2200645@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Like the title says - is it possible to get my DS on a schedule any time soon? My Mat leave will be over at the end of next week and I feel like our days are still very unpredictable. With DH, our lives are much easier when we are in a routine. I will WAH 4 days and am hiring a nanny for one day a week to WOH. It would be awesome if I could figure out when DS needs to sleep and when to expect him to be awake.</p> <p>I looked into the Baby Whisperer, but I'm not sure it really fits my parenting philosophy. I lean more towards attachment parenting, but so far I'm just doing what feels right.</p> <p>Any suggestions? </p>