https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 28 Apr 2026 01:39:52 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/necessary-to-get-baby-on-a-schedule/page/2#post-1707202 Wed, 18 Jun 2014 11:37:13 +0000 anandam 1707202@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This discussion was so helpful! Thank you all for sharing your insights/experience - the distinction between schedule and routine is particularly smart. So many good parents! :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/necessary-to-get-baby-on-a-schedule#post-1702670 Mon, 16 Jun 2014 11:12:28 +0000 Zbug 1702670@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No schedule at all the first 5-6 months. She put herself on a loose schedule when she started consolidating naps around six months, and her bedtime is generally between 7-8, but otherwise we just follow her cues and go with the flow. The nice thing is that we aren't tied to the house during the weekend trying to stick to a strict schedule. To each her own, but this way works well for us. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/necessary-to-get-baby-on-a-schedule#post-1702379 Mon, 16 Jun 2014 09:45:34 +0000 Boheme 1702379@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have a routine, but not a schedule. Like you, we work irregular hours, days, times, etc. My son is 1, and goes to bed between 7-8 pm, wakes up around 7 a.m., and we try to do the 2-3-4 method. A nap two hours after he wakes up, another one three hours after that, and bedtime four hours after that. If the naps happen, they happen, and if they don't, they don't :) I don't feel that there's any harm in being loose if it works for your family. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/necessary-to-get-baby-on-a-schedule#post-1702376 Mon, 16 Jun 2014 09:44:38 +0000 indi 1702376@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@anandam: At 3 weeks I wouldn't worry at all - just try to make sure everyone gets food and sleep (including you! ;-) ). </p> <p>Our LO is 4 months tomorrow and we're not scheduled at all. She usually gets up around the same time each morning, and gets tired around the same time each night, but we just follow her cues otherwise for nursing and napping. Our work/day schedules sound like yours and can vary 5 different ways each week, so we just go with the flow of it because I couldn't guarantee that someone could consistently be home at X:00 on any given night for a routine to start. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/necessary-to-get-baby-on-a-schedule#post-1702372 Mon, 16 Jun 2014 09:42:03 +0000 looch 1702372@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I didn't put my son on a schedule, but we also didn't have to get out of the house or be anywhere during the day at a specific time. At the same time, my son would not nap reliably anywhere but in his crib, so we became creatures of habit, regardless.</p> <p>I don't think there is any correct way to do it, if your family is thriving without a schedule, I don't see the reason to impose one, you know? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/necessary-to-get-baby-on-a-schedule#post-1702341 Mon, 16 Jun 2014 09:32:19 +0000 ShootingStar 1702341@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Before baby I used to think I'd want to have a very set schedule. But like others have mentioned, it's actually really nice to have flexibility. But then, I have a pretty easy-going baby who will nap on and off all day while we're on the go. </p> <p>We do have somewhat of a routine around bedtime - we feed at 7, then do bath and then bed. In the morning, it's kind of dependent on when he wakes up. Weekdays he goes to daycare. On the weekends we tend to spend a lot of time running around. </p> <p>@Foodnerd81: I can usually tell what he wants by the way he cries. He has a tired cry, and an angry cry (which means hungry). I can because he generally needs a nap after 2 hours of being awake and needs to eat every 3-4 hours. So if he ate 2 hours ago when he woke from a nap, I can usually figure he's tired again, not hungry. Of course, it's not 100%, but usually we can figure it out by trying both if we're not sure :). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/necessary-to-get-baby-on-a-schedule#post-1702264 Mon, 16 Jun 2014 09:09:38 +0000 swurlygurl 1702264@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I didn't have any kind of schedule for a long time! The first thing we 'scheduled' was a bedtime, and that was around 4 or 5 months, and still pretty flexible! Then her bedtime routine didn't get established until closer to a year (milk, brush teeth, book, cuddles, bed). Baths are still rushed to fit in whenever we can, they're not part of any schedule. I would say meals have always been kind of scheduled, but just on the same schedule that DH and I have always had. We never changed any part of our own meal-time to have to accommodate a child, it just worked out for us! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/necessary-to-get-baby-on-a-schedule#post-1702226 Mon, 16 Jun 2014 08:51:16 +0000 NovBaby1112 1702226@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Kemma: totally agree!</p> <p>I think a lot depends on the temperment of your child. M thrives on a routine/schedule and has for awhile. I am not really talking about the newborn days, because those were just eat and sleep on demand, but once she hit maybe 4 months we definately developed a routine, and she was on a "schedule" as far as awake times, naps, etc, around 6 months. My LO does very poorly if we ever veer off schedule- we always make sure to put her down for her nap at a certain time, bed at a certain time, etc. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/necessary-to-get-baby-on-a-schedule#post-1702164 Mon, 16 Jun 2014 08:26:53 +0000 daniellemybelle 1702164@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>For us, it's more about routine &amp; being aware of ideal wake time at her age &amp; avoiding overtiredness. I let LO wake up when she wants &amp; we go from there. At 8 months her ideal wake time is about 2.25-2.5 hours so I will figure out when her morning nap should be from that, and then do it again for her afternoon nap based on when she wakes up. She can go longer between her last nap &amp; bedtime so we usually do bedtime 3-3.5 hours after she wakes up from her last nap. So we are not married to nap times or bedtime but our day has a routine.</p> <p>At 3 weeks, hopefully you are one of the lucky ones who has a naturally sleepy newborn! I'd only worry about wake time &amp; having proper nap times if your LO is staying awake too long &amp; getting overtired. Starting a bedtime routine with bath &amp; lotion can help your LO understand the difference between daytime sleep &amp; nighttime though. We have been doing that since the beginning. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/necessary-to-get-baby-on-a-schedule#post-1702090 Mon, 16 Jun 2014 07:32:29 +0000 erwoo 1702090@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>In my experience kids do like routine and schedules. My kids (2 and 5) will get upset if I try to change things up on them. For example, there is a set order I brush their teeth before bath time. Little one first and then older one. If I even try to have my oldest go first both of them cry. It's not pretty. I will never do that again. Well, I did, and learned from it and told myself to never do it again again! Haha! And it could be b/c they have been on a set schedule for most of their lives (probably starting around 5/6 months old). I did adjust their schedule to sleep later b/c their dad used to come home late and b/c I wanted them to spend some time with him they used to sleep later. Now that he comes home early they're on an earlier (sleeping) schedule. Works for me b/c I get a few hours to myself when they are in bed. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/necessary-to-get-baby-on-a-schedule#post-1702084 Mon, 16 Jun 2014 07:29:12 +0000 nana87 1702084@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Lo is definitely not on a set schedule yet, and she's 10 weeks. We just watch her for hungry and tired signs. She sort of has a pattern but it isn't consistent yet. Makes planning anything really hard, but I'm sah right now so I just follow her cues </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/necessary-to-get-baby-on-a-schedule#post-1702077 Mon, 16 Jun 2014 07:19:33 +0000 Rockies11 1702077@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Foodnerd81: I just watch her for signs of being hungry or tired. She does sleep at roughly the same times every day, and eats at roughly the same time too, but I don't worry about making sure we are doing anything at exactly the same time every day! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/necessary-to-get-baby-on-a-schedule#post-1702072 Mon, 16 Jun 2014 07:13:15 +0000 AprilFool 1702072@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Foodnerd81: I didn't realise how much of a schedule person I was until reading this thread. All the non schedules are making me feel a little panicky :wink: </p> <p>I loved when we had a schedule!!!! I always knew what was coming, now DD is all over the place, transitioning from 2 naps to 1 and it stresses me to the max!!! I can't plan anything ahead of time anymore because I never know when she will be napping. I feel trapped in my house these days. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/necessary-to-get-baby-on-a-schedule#post-1702043 Mon, 16 Jun 2014 05:35:18 +0000 septca 1702043@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I didn't really think about schedules until I went back to work at 4 months because I wanted my days to be flexible. DD went with the flow completely - she would sleep and eat anywhere. By about 6 months, she had put herself on the 2-3-4 schedule and it worked really well. Some babies just find their own groove. I wouldn't stress about it unless you are having sleep issues in the 6-9 month range. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/necessary-to-get-baby-on-a-schedule#post-1702037 Mon, 16 Jun 2014 04:34:54 +0000 Pumuckl 1702037@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We've never had the intention on putting LO on a schedule. To this day (he is 14m) we still go with the flow a lot. He definitely has a set structure to his day and has put himself on a schedule somewhat (he is usually down for the night at 7pm) BUT he is also fine if we deviate from it. So we'll take him out later etc. and he'll just fall asleep at some point and sleep in the stroller for the first part of the night. </p> <p>I think what really helped us is that he has a strict bedtime routine (a really easy one: undress, change diaper, put swaddle/sleep sack on, (brush teeth), nurse (not anymore now)). So he knew he was now expected to sleep. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/necessary-to-get-baby-on-a-schedule#post-1702029 Mon, 16 Jun 2014 03:40:11 +0000 Dandelion 1702029@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I waa strict with D but with M I definitely am not. I need to implement something soon. Right now we just go with the flow. Only bedtime is consistent with him. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/necessary-to-get-baby-on-a-schedule#post-1702019 Mon, 16 Jun 2014 01:38:59 +0000 lamariniere 1702019@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have a very loose schedule, meaning morning wake ups and bedtime is roughly the same. The rest of the time I just follow her cues for when she's hungry or tired. I really stressed myself out trying to get my first LO on a schedule, so I've taken a more hands off approach with Lo2. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/necessary-to-get-baby-on-a-schedule#post-1702009 Mon, 16 Jun 2014 00:15:05 +0000 Mrs. M 1702009@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My LO seemed to crave routine somewhat early on, although times (besides bedtime) often varied. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/necessary-to-get-baby-on-a-schedule#post-1702007 Mon, 16 Jun 2014 00:11:06 +0000 immabeetoo 1702007@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I should have added. this was in response to a newborn. Around 6 months he (finally) fell into somewhat of a natural rhythm at least in terms of relativity, i.e. second nap roughly 3 hours from first nap, etc. We've continued with a flexible schedule since then :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/necessary-to-get-baby-on-a-schedule#post-1701957 Sun, 15 Jun 2014 22:16:17 +0000 Foodnerd81 1701957@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>People who don't have a schedule at all- do your LOs take the same number of naps each day? How do you know when they need a nap? While our schedule is flexible I personally need it because it helps me figure out what she needs- like if she is being clingy around noon I know she probably is hugely for her solids lunch, but if it's two, it's because it's afternoon nap time. How do you work without any schedule? </p> <p>Huh. Maybe I'm more of a schedule/routine person than I realized. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/necessary-to-get-baby-on-a-schedule#post-1701951 Sun, 15 Jun 2014 22:06:00 +0000 Mamasig 1701951@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We've never had a schedule and DS is 21 months old. We have a routine but times vary. DS has always been flexible and we like that. It's worked for us. But I'm sure it also depends on your child's personality. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/necessary-to-get-baby-on-a-schedule#post-1701936 Sun, 15 Jun 2014 21:45:17 +0000 Rockies11 1701936@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>we are coming up on a year with no schedule and a lot of travel and inconsistency, and it's been totally fine! the idea of a schedule makes me sweaty. so I dont think they're necessary and they seem stressful! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/necessary-to-get-baby-on-a-schedule#post-1701919 Sun, 15 Jun 2014 21:17:22 +0000 Kemma 1701919@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Lion: this sounds a bit like us!</p> <p>I think alot of babies and toddlers will naturally fall into some sort of consistent routine or pattern and will really thrive on having some sort of structure to their day. I had a sleep consult when A was 6-7 months and one of the best bits of advice that I was given was to try and stick to a consistent routine / schedule / whatever for at least four out of seven days.</p> <p>I also think that particularly high needs children or those with more "sensitive" personalities and temperaments (I wasn't sure how to word that!) benefit from a consistent structure even more. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/necessary-to-get-baby-on-a-schedule#post-1701903 Sun, 15 Jun 2014 21:09:21 +0000 Revel 1701903@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>At one year the only really ironclad schedule we have is bed time and the routine. We just never developed more than that. Naps are semi regular now but we never got on a feeding schedule. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/necessary-to-get-baby-on-a-schedule#post-1701894 Sun, 15 Jun 2014 21:02:24 +0000 ScarletBegonia 1701894@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We just passed 3 months and my son is starting to fall into his own routine. He's up between 630 and 730 most days, and down for a nap within 90 minutes of that. His longest awake time of the day is usually after that, he is up til about 11:30 or 12. He takes a short nap then (sometimes only 15-20 min, but it works for him), is awake for about an hour, then takes a long nap, and another short nap in the late afternoon, and is in bed by 715 most nights. We didn't force this on him at all but he's become remarkably consistent on his own! As long as I try to be home for his afternoon nap, the rest of the day is super flexible. We'll see how long it lasts! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/necessary-to-get-baby-on-a-schedule#post-1701879 Sun, 15 Jun 2014 20:41:04 +0000 Arden 1701879@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have no semblance of a schedule for her. She's doing great. I love our flexibility. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/necessary-to-get-baby-on-a-schedule#post-1701864 Sun, 15 Jun 2014 20:31:18 +0000 Mrs. Confetti 1701864@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>At the beginning, we never followed the clock or a strict schedule - we just aimed for the EASY method. Est activity sleep "you time". Good luck!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/necessary-to-get-baby-on-a-schedule#post-1701847 Sun, 15 Jun 2014 20:07:38 +0000 Charm54 1701847@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We had a semi schedule around 3-4 months and then a good one around 6 months. The first 8 weeks were all about survival.</p> <p>It was easy to let her come up with her own schedule on her own time since I had a year long mat leave. If I had to go back to work early I would have wanted at least a general routine early on </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/necessary-to-get-baby-on-a-schedule#post-1701836 Sun, 15 Jun 2014 19:53:37 +0000 delight 1701836@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We didn't really have any set schedule until 6 months. Up until then, her naps and awake times kept changing. I kinda learned how long she could be awake for before a nap, but nap lengths were always different and morning awake times different so I just went with the flow. By 6 months though she consistently had a 7/730 bedtime and two naps. At 10 months, her naps are roughly around the same time of day, but it all still kinda depends on what time she wakes up in the morning. Plus if we need to go somewhere she adjusts to our schedule. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/necessary-to-get-baby-on-a-schedule#post-1701830 Sun, 15 Jun 2014 19:44:47 +0000 Mrs. Lion 1701830@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would say routine yes, absolutely. Time sensitive schedule, it depends on what you want. I value having a kiddo i could tote around with me so i could be free to get out of the house, and my plans arent always the same. I like that we have some flexibility. But routine and structure are really important i think. </p>