Bedtime, routine or wing it?

Jaclyn - posted on 03/17/2010

See i work now n i think he misses me so he has been stayin up later again, he doesnt want dad to hold him it has to b me. He has been tryin to stand all by himself n falls on his but so i also wonder if him wakin more n more is due to a major milestone bout to b reached. we have been bathin n readin at night in rocker w lights low in bedroom, no change yet.

Rebekah - posted on 03/10/2010

Jaclyn,

We were winging it for the first couple of months but as I got used to his schedule I adjusted to a routine. He is sleeping through the night now and has been since 3 months old. Every once in a while he will cry for his pacifier in the middle of the night but he usually keeps his eyes shut and goes right back to sleep when I stick it in his mouth. I just recently read an article in American Baby that suggested that babies thrive on routines, and if naps are consistent each day then they are more likely to sleep through the night. I however just let Alex nap whenever he needs it. I do not follow a day time routine consistently. I try to get close to same time for eating baby food though but it is not always possible. He gets bottles whenever he wants them too. I think it is really a preference thing. I hope this helped! Good luck

Jaclyn - posted on 03/09/2010

I am some what proud to say i wing it. I work as a sub so mostly i am home. he gets up at 715 n falls back to sleep after breakfest n cartoons. naps twice for 45 mins to 1hr n half. n falls asleep from 9 to 11pm depends when his last nap was. he wakes for bottle or teeth n falls back to sleep within 20 mins. Our house wasnt that warm so i didnt want to bath him at night for fear of a cold so we took afternoon baths. I moved n now has central heat, but i am so tired by end of day i am not interested in bending over n bathin, still take afternoon baths. I wish he slept throught the whole nite cuz i hate not being able to sleep consistently for atleast 6 hrs he wakes me usually 3 hrs n 3 hrs. But now i am subbin full time for 6 wks so a routine would prolly help me out n too get some sleep. Does ur lil guys sleep through the nite thou? or just fall asleep easier w ur routines?

Karen - posted on 03/03/2010

we definately keep to a schedule....at 7pm he has his cereal, then we go for a bath, have a story/cuddles and at 8pm he has his bottle and is in bed (awake) by 8 20ish and asleep before 8 30.

Michelle - posted on 02/12/2010

I think that's a good routine although I get my monkey to bed earlier. We have to be up by 0630 every morning for work though so it makes a difference. When I was a SAHM I kind of left the sleep schedule up to him, going by when he seemed tired. Having tried both ways I honestly think a routine is better. They know what to expect, their bodies start to wind down when that internal clock hits sleepy time and it makes it a lot easier as they get older. I also found that a night-time routine translated into better napping during the day. I work until 1700ish so the schedule is dinner by six if not before, bath, books then sleep by 2030. It helps give me some time to get homework and clean up done too. In my opinion bath time is the best part aside from goodnight kisses :-)