https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 12 May 2026 00:55:41 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/yet-another-schedulingbed-time-question#post-196707 Wed, 20 Jun 2012 19:22:47 +0000 mrs. wagon 196707@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We always had a scheduled bedtime from day one, even if he would be up again in 2 hours for another feeding. I needed the schedule for my sanity. We've very very rarely strayed from the 6:30 bedtime. I can count the number of times probably on one hand in his entire 2.5 year life. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/yet-another-schedulingbed-time-question#post-196662 Wed, 20 Jun 2012 18:19:58 +0000 skibobrown 196662@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I also think that bedtime routines are more for the parents during the early weeks. Early on we just put DD to bed whenever we went to bed. Sometime around 6 or 7 weeks we started trying to put her to bed earlier -- like between 7 and 8. She didn't really catch on for a few days, but by the end of the first week she was going down pretty reliably before 8 PM and staying asleep. That was very good for my own sanity b/c it meant that DH and I could have a late dinner and some alone time each night after DD went to sleep... but like I said, it's more for us than for her right now. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/yet-another-schedulingbed-time-question#post-196652 Wed, 20 Jun 2012 17:58:44 +0000 littleveesmommy 196652@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>LO didn't have a set routine before two months - we just followed her cues and she naturally decided on a bedtime by getting drowsy at around the same time everyday. The baby will slowly let you know what schedule he/she is on so don't worry too much. With our current 730 bedtime schedule there are still nights (once or twice every other week) where we have date night or go out and LO wakes up around 930 from the sitters to come home for a late bath/bedtime by 1030. I don't think a time matters more than just having a routine for bedtime - bath lotion pjs or some variation. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/yet-another-schedulingbed-time-question#post-196620 Wed, 20 Jun 2012 17:22:42 +0000 Honeybee 196620@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think bedtimes and bedtime routines are really more for parents than for babies, in those first few weeks. Babies aren't capable of understanding/responding to routines until 4-6 months (if I remember right), so up until then it's really more for the benefit of the parents, than for the baby. </p> <p>At this point, DS only has a bedtime and bedtime routine because DD has one. I think we started DD's bedtime routine when she was like 8 weeks old, and that was really more for my benefit, since I had to go back to work and I needed her on more of a set schedule. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/yet-another-schedulingbed-time-question#post-196596 Wed, 20 Jun 2012 17:04:17 +0000 banana 196596@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't think my son had any sort of "schedule" until closer to 2 or even 3 months of age. Before that, we just went with whatever schedule he dictated on his own. Once I started seeing a small pattern (like if he had one longer sleep period at night than his regular naps), I tried to keep reinforcing that schedule and elongate his night sleep. The first 2 months was just about survival for us! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/yet-another-schedulingbed-time-question#post-196564 Wed, 20 Jun 2012 16:23:19 +0000 Rainbow Sprinkles 196564@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My LO is 5.5 weeks and she is a great sleeper during the day. She takes 4 naps or so, and they all vary in length. She definitely sleeps the majority of the day. However, bed time is a different story. She hasn't had much of a schedule lately because she sleeps so well anywhere. If we stay at our in-laws until 9 at night, she just sleeps in her car seat or in someone's arms. If we go out to dinner, or even for a walk, she will sleep for the whole time. So we haven't really been good about starting a routine at a specific time and trying to put her down at that specific time. Sometimes when we are out late, I kind of start to bug my DH about getting home and putting DD to bed. But in his mind, it's like "Why go home and put her to bed if she is already sleeping?" Does this make sense?</p> <p>Anyway, I guess my question is whether or not this is a bad practice to get into. Should I start to have a specific routine and bedtime for LO even though she is so young and sleeps anywhere? Or should I wait until she starts to be awake more during the day?</p> <p>If I were to give her say, a 7:30 "bedtime," there would be some nights when I would have to wake her up, get her ready for bed (PJs, bath), and then try and put her back down.</p> <p>I read so much about people having a set bedtime and I wonder if I am doing my LO a disservice. </p>