does any i else belive in routine ?

Kasia - posted on 06/24/2009

Quoting Gemma:

does any i else belive in routine ?

hi i was just woundering if any 1 else belived in a routine my little girl is 19months and goed to bed at half 6 and sleeps till about 8 ish and then has a bottle of milk then we both have breakfast then do whatever we doing that day then lunch at about 12ish then dinner at about half4 then bath if its bath night and would like to no if any1 else has 1 coz even tho im a young mum i still think its good to have a routine ??

Julie - posted on 06/24/2009

Yes I started my boys on a routine when they were first born. Now they are 5 and 2 and they tell me when it is time to go to bed. I never had any fussing or complaining about bed time because they new what to expect

Kathryn - posted on 06/23/2009

Routine is especially important for the very young. Very! However, as they age, they also need to learn flexibility so that they can adapt when things change and not be totally distressed/thrown off kilter if things are not exact. I still keep routine to a point as far as what we do, but it doesn't have to be exact times, and we can adjust easily. But there are some things that I just think are important and help give a sense of stability, i.e., reading before bed. I have seen some ADULTS so stuck on routine that they become distraught if things aren't exact, so it has made me even more aware to give stability but also teach flexibility.

Rebecca - posted on 06/23/2009

Oh my gosh yes, this is my 21.5month old son Jakes routine.

6.30-7.30am: wake up and have breakfast

9am: morning tea of fruit and a drink of water

9.15-noon: play

12pm: lunch consisting a sandwhich, yoghurt, fruit and drink of water

12.30-1.30pm: play

1.30-3.30pm: nap, with a 150mls bottle of cows milk

3.30-5pm play

5-530pm dinner time eating what ever i cook for tea that night

5.30-6pm quiet time with daddy reading a book/s

6-6.30pm bath

6.30-7pm more quiet time with daddy

7pm bed with a 200mls bottle of cows milk and then hes alseep for the whole night



my son put himself into a routine when he was about 4months old and it hasnt changed since then.

i would deffinatly say try and get into a routine as the like to know what coming up next for the day



If we go out its fine and he doesnt have a problem falling asleep somewhere new, we do work arround the routine for the most part but some things just cant be helped

Simone - posted on 06/23/2009

the only routine we have is my son goes to bed the same time and we have dinner bout the same time every night hes now 7 i have a 11 week old and again only at night same time she sleeps through the night. i dont believe in anymore of a routine i like to get out during the day with out worrying oh no i dont want to screw up her routine she sleep when were out anyway, but if a routine is for you thats great each to there own i think, if we wer all the same it would be boring.

Amy - posted on 06/23/2009

Yes Yes Yes.... I am a mother of one little girl Caroline she is 10 months old!!! I have always and still have her on a routine... She starts her day off in the morning about 7am with a 6 oz bottle of Formula and takes a morning nao for about a hour and then 4 hours later for lunch @ 11am she gets a 4 oz jar of baby food Fruit and a 4oz bottle of baby juice.... Takes a little nap for about a hour just depends on how hard she plays and then 4 hours later @ 3pm she gets another bottle and a little snack... and then 4 hours later @ 7pm she gets a 4 oz jar of baby food a veggie @ dinner time and 4 oz of formula then is bath time and I read her a book and play for a while then she gets in her swing and watches Dora she fells alseep we wake her up @ 11pm she gets a 6oz bottle of baby cereal and then its bed time and she will sleep a good 8 to 9 hours a nite.... Your doing a wonderful job people try and tell me all the time that you cant put baby or kids on Routines but I dont care what they say this is my daughter and it works and we love it.... Keep up the good work!!!

Heather - posted on 06/23/2009

ABSOLUTELY!

Christa - posted on 06/23/2009

Hi Gemma,
I'm a social worker, keep up the good work. Routine is not something I would encourage for newborns and young infants, because they very much have their own eating and sleeping schedule, they let us know what they need and when. 19 months is a great age to benefit from some routine. Flexible routine of course. I like how the previous poster put it "set around my daughter's rhythms." Sounds like she's getting enough sleep at night, however does she have the opportunity for a nap or 2 during the day? Best, Christa

Tamara - posted on 06/23/2009

We have a loose routine that's set around my daughter's rhythms.

Mona - posted on 06/23/2009

I have my 2 grandsons living with me, 1 has ADHD and the other may be autistic, if it weren't for routine it would be chaos. Kids need and want routine to feel secure. You are right on with having routine, it will save you a lot of aggrevation for sure.

Amy - posted on 06/23/2009

I personally think a routine is really good for you and for your baby. It is a very good thing for both of you.

Becky - posted on 06/23/2009

My son is in college, but we had him on a routine when he was young and you will have much happier bedtimes, and children, if you have them on a good routine. When kids are over tired because of irregular bedtimes, you end up with very stressed parents and kids. It sounds like you are doing great. Don't forget to read to them too, even at that young age. A great bedtime habit.

Paige - posted on 06/23/2009

Routine is the way to go for you and your kids! A life without routine can be havoc on everyone and leave you children feeling insecure or rambunctious. Once in a while, like in the summer, a day trip might throw routine off but that's perfectly healthy! I'm raising my husband's son because his mother is unreliable and was more interested in her friends, drugs and men to be concerned with her little boy. He lacks general social skills that a parent (a good parent) generally instills in their kids early on. When he was 4 when I first met him, he communicated by hitting and screaming and acted out because his mother often responded solely to the negative attention. Now after having him living with us and giving him routine, he is thriving. Still has trouble listening and following rules outside of the home but we are doing everything possible to make sure he learns the basic skills he first missed out on. Without routine, children won't thrive. They won't stand a chance fitting into society and the general routine of the workplace. My step son needs to keep a schedule of day to day activities, chores, even class schedule just so he can be prepared. When he lived with his mom, he was left in front of the TV while she was in the other room (openly attached) smoking, drinking and getting high with her friends. She never corrected his "bad" behavior and when he hit or hurt someone, he showed no remorse. He was even killing animals for attention. She would even sleep in until noon while he was up at 7 or 8 am all by himself. His dad (my husband) came to pick him up one day and found him playing outside in the snow in his thing pajamas. When he asked where "mommy" was, he replied "sleeping". Her excuse was she was tired from the night before, not to mention had a guy in the house around her child who she didn't know and was high as a kite. Sorry for ranting on, but my point is, without routines and schedules and general structure, children don't stand a proper chance to succeed in life. Likeliness is they will become addicted to drugs, not work, be involved in law breaking activities and God forbid, have children and continue the horrible cycle. Being a parent is NOT an easy job! Matter of fact, it is the most crucial, stressful and rewarding job on the planet. Some people assume that being a parent means having a child...WRONG! Being a parent means having rules and structure and boundaries and rewards, lots and lots of missed sleep, making sure your child will be successful when you aren't around and let them off into the world alone! I am pregnant with my first child. I am 22 and can't wait to give my baby the best fresh start to life. Even though my step son was not as lucky to have such a great start, we are giving him the best of everything (counseling, good school, structure, balance) so he will succeed and be an amazing big brother.

Elisabeth - posted on 06/23/2009

from my experience as a mom with an ADHD child, its extremely important to have a routine. it gives them boundries and sets limits that help them feel secure. then they know what is expected of them for that time of the day. or so her psychologist says. it works for me! :)

Karen - posted on 06/23/2009

Routine works!!! I would not have survived with out it. Once we started our night routine he started sleeping through the night and we haven't looked back since

User - posted on 06/23/2009

Routine in my opinon is essential

Margaret - posted on 06/23/2009

lol nice routine......it gets more fun when you also have to fit in preschool and school drop offs and pick up paed appointments speech therapy etc etc etc into a regularly weekly/monthly routine but yes it all helps.

kids up at 6 hot brekky

everyone gets dressed hair done bags packed lunches made and ready to go by 9

monday tuesday morning 9:00am preschool and school drop off one to preschool 2 to school, pick up preschool by 1pm, school at 3pm

wednesday preschool drop off 8:30 school drop off 9 am pick up preschool 11 am pick up school 3 pm thursday friday school drop off only

thursday this week school 7 am start due to excursion (day trip) to the local capital city)

Jeannette - posted on 06/23/2009

It sounds like a good routine. If your girl is happy, then keep on with it.

Jeanne - posted on 06/23/2009

Absolutely I have a routine. With two kids it is crucial. My youngest gets up between six and six thirty and by the time he is done with his morning cereal his sister is getting up. Daddy leaves the house by 7:15am to go to work and that is when I hit the showers. After I am done I get the kids dressed and then we play until it's time for me to prepare lunch. My son goes for a nap at about noon and wakes at about two or quarter after. Both of my kids then get a snack and then it's more playtime whether it be outside or at the playground. We eat supper every night at 6:00pm and then it's bath time for my boy and then it's time to settle him down for the night. Once my son is settled my daughter gets her bath, snack, we brush her teeth and then she gets a half hour of Treehouse before bed. When I deviate from the kids routine let me tell you all hell breaks loose. My son is so used to his routine that pushing his lunch time back by 15 minutes causes total meltdown. And if he isn't in bed by 7:30pm I can count on him being really cranky the next day. I've also noticed that if we deviate to much on my daughter's routine (she is 4 going on 40) she gets a little bit unruly and that is because her balance has been upset. I have always kept a routine ever since I had my daughter and it was a lot more crucial back then since I was a single working mom and couldn't deviate or I would miss the bus and be late for work. My kids don't know anything but a routine and I firmly believe they would be lost without one.

Margaret - posted on 06/23/2009

routines are a must have for any sort of parent survival ...... and the kids respond well to it too

Alison - posted on 06/23/2009

Routine is good. Especially at bedtime.

Wanda - posted on 06/23/2009

I didn't want a routine but it wasn't long before my son established one for himself. It's changed several times as he's gotten older but he always settles into a routine again. I'm surprised that I actaully like the routine.

Jackie - posted on 06/22/2009

we don't have a routine in our house, but that's only because my kids stay home with their dad and i work full time. but when i only had my 1st, he was in daycare, then we did have a routine and if my husband ever goes back to work and we put our kids in daycare they'll be back on a schedule. but I don't see that happening since putting 3 kids in daycare is ridiculously expensive.

Shelley - posted on 06/22/2009

Routines are great especially if you start when the are young. Children learn from good habits and mine are now 15 and 16 and have the best study habits, dinner habits and sleep habits. We made all these things part of their routines growing up and it just is natural for them to do these now with no fighting or fussing. Continue the good job!

Desiree - posted on 06/22/2009

Routines are a great thing....I just wish we could follow ours a little better. We are still adjusting to school being out and moving and just general chaos. The quicker we get back to normal the better for all of us tho!

Mel - posted on 06/22/2009

absolutely! i had a routine from when she was about 2 weeks old. it works so much better. i want to ask you a question though Gemma tilly is 19 months now does she still cry when she wakes up?

Michelle - posted on 06/22/2009

I love our routine! It allows me to have some Mommy time and get things done and I know what to expect from my daughter!! She does have her days where she wants nothing to do with it, but that's okay too! I work in a daycare centre so I got use to having a set routine everyday. I think it helps your child in the long run!

Jessica - posted on 06/22/2009

Yes I believe routine is the best things for little ones. WE try to stick as close to routine as possible. IF we get really of track my son goes bonkers.

Jenni - posted on 06/22/2009

i think it all depends on ur child... some children do very well w/o a routine and others need one! my son has been on a routine since he was 3 months (now 11 months) it i dont know how i could live w/o it... it took the guess work out of whether or not he was tired/hungry (he was a difficult sleeper and would stay awake all day if i let him) now that he's on a routine he's like clockwork and it takes a lot of stress off me... and i can make sure he's getting the correct amount of sleep/food/milk

also, routines are beneficial for children b/c most of the rest of their life will be routine... school and then work... but don't worry about being anal about it like some moms... sounds like ur doing fine... if ur daughters doing well with what ur doing that's all that matters... :)

Sara - posted on 06/22/2009

I am a big routine person. I think it gives children comfort and a feeling of security to have a schedule. Plus, it makes them easier to handle for us as parents. They know when it's bedtime, it's bedtime and it's not a fight. I've noticed that people who don't have a bedtime routine often run into problems when it's time for bed.

HEATHER - posted on 06/22/2009

I think routines are great. I find that my son knows what to expect and follows his rountine without any problems. There will be days when something may cause you to get out of your routines a little but for the most part I find that it keeps your child happy and keeps chaos in the household down to a minimum. Plus, routines make life easier for you, also. Mommies need time too!!

Kim - posted on 06/22/2009

As the other moms have said, getting a routine in place for our son was the best thing ever. The best advise I got when I was pregnant was to make sure to get the baby on a schedule and stick to it. He naps the same time every day, he eats the same time every day and he goes to bed at the same time every night. We've had him on a routine since he was born. At night it's bath, pj's, bottle then bed. He knows what to expect and so do we. It has made raising him (so far) so easy. He's a great kid and I think alot of it has to do with him being on a routine. Sounds like you are doing an awesome job.

Melissa - posted on 06/22/2009

The best thing we ever did was put our daughter on a flexible routine. We started at 3 months and she is 7 months now. We find that since she has been on a routine she is just so happy. We have had a few hiccups along the way, but that is to be expected. I would recommend to anyone to have a routine.

Simone - posted on 06/22/2009

The best thing we ever did was set up a routine for my son!!! It's worked wonders for us and my son even started sleeping a lot better too. I'd recommend it to anyone.

JoAnne - posted on 06/22/2009

YES, GEMMA AND SO MANY OTHERS: HAVING A ROUTINE FOR U'R CHILDREN IS TOTALLY THAT...A MUST!! IT REALLY DOES HELP THEM IN SOOO MANY WAYS. PLUS, MAKIN IT SOO MUCH EASIER FOR U!!!! I COULD NOT HAVE MADE IT W/O HAVING ONE FOR MY KIDS, HUBBY, AND ME...NO WAY!! LADIES...YOUNG AND (LIKE ME)...OLD~~HAVE A GREAT ROUTINE---DAY!!~~

Cathralynn - posted on 06/22/2009

Quoting Cristina:

Yes, I believe it is the best thing to do for your child. It prepares them for life! I follow almost the same routine as you... My only fear is that she will be starting daycare soon because I decided to go back to work, that she may fall out of routine!

Don't worry so much about it!  Daycares follow pretty strict routines and you can just adjust your home routine for eating and napping based on that.  But bedtimes don't really need to be adjusted.  If you have private care make them follow the routine you've already established.  But if all fails its really no biggie.  My MIL is my daycare and she wouldn't folloy my routines for anything!  I stressed on it.  But I still did my thing at my house and my daughter would take her evening nap at my house still regularly.  And weekends went like clockwork.  I think kids learn how to behave in each environment.  It only gets weird when I try to do my routine at gmas house.  It hurts gma!

Melissa - posted on 06/22/2009

YES.. I think routine is veryyyy veryyy important!! Mommy needs time too!

User - posted on 06/22/2009

we have a routine - but not a rigid, by the clock schedule - So, for example, any time between 7 and 8:15 that my daughter starts rubbing her eyes, pulling on her ears, and getting cranky, we start bedtime routine - apple sauce snack, bath, story & prayer, bottle, bed - but I don't wait until 7:15 on the dot to start it.

When she wakes up, we have breakfast, then usually she gets tired about 2 hours later (around 9:00) - so we have a 4 ounce bottle and go to bed - but not necessarily at 9 on the button.

This works for me a lot better than "watching the clock" to see if it's time for x, y, or z.

Cristina - posted on 06/22/2009

Yes, I believe it is the best thing to do for your child. It prepares them for life! I follow almost the same routine as you... My only fear is that she will be starting daycare soon because I decided to go back to work, that she may fall out of routine!

Shannon - posted on 06/22/2009

Yes! My kids have done so much better when we follow a standard routine. They go to bed better, they eat better, and they behave better. I can also get a feel for times of the day when it is best NOT to take them out anywhere. Mine get really wild around 3 o'clock. . . ;)

Marlene - posted on 06/22/2009

I have older kids and we have a routine that we try to follow every morning and every night ... it's good for them and it ensures things get done. I think starting out as you are is a great idea.

Kelly - posted on 06/22/2009

I just turned 22 a few months ago....

Cathralynn - posted on 06/22/2009

No I agree! Routines are a must! I think it doesn't have to be strict or YOUR routine but your BABY's routine. For the first two months I was on demand everything. But then my daughter was soo regular bout stuff it was easy to stick to her routine. She would wake for a nitetime feeding at like 7ish and I would transfer her to her crib and feed from there the rest of the night til daylight. Then when she started to be awake more during the day I paid attention to when she napped and those became her nap "times". When I started solids I fed at the same times my husband and I ate so that she would know those were meal "times". And always a bedtime routine. My friends hated that my daughter had a "bedtime" and we just didn't let her fall asleep anywhere. But now my daughter falls asleep on her own and sleeps thru the night. She naps at nap times and eats at meal times. There is no constant grazing all day. She's a year old and I don't think I'll ever have the troubles of explaining that she needs to go to sleep now or that she won't get to eat until snack time. She already knows! Good job with your daughter too!

Cheri - posted on 06/22/2009

Absolutely! I think a schedule is very important for babies, it helps them to know what is going on and what to expect next. Sounds like you're doing a great job!

Alicia - posted on 06/22/2009

yes we have a routine, my 3 year old has lunch at 11.30 then leave for preschool at 12, picked up at 2.40 then home (or swimming on mondays) then he has an icecream (he loves it) then plays til 5 when he has dinner then watches simpsons at 6 then hollyoaks then start bath running at 7 and he runs round house naked then milk, brush teeth and story and in bed by 7.45. im only 21 and iv always believed in routines x

Gemma - posted on 06/22/2009

thank you both so much how old are you both im 18 ?

Liz - posted on 06/22/2009

heck yes! i would die if i didnt have routine.. now my girls are set into it yet. they are only 5 1/2 months but we're working on it.

Emma - posted on 06/22/2009

Hi im an expecting mum but i have been in childcare for years and am now a nanny, your routine sounds great, routines are really important for children of all ages to have and its good if you can stick to them but every now and then its ok to have a change!

:-)

Emma - posted on 06/22/2009

Hi im an expecting mum but i have been in childcare for years and am now a nanny, your routine sounds great, routines are really important for children of all ages to have and its good if you can stick to them but every now and then its ok to have a change!

:-)

Elaine - posted on 06/22/2009

I think what you are doing is brilliant, kids respond so much better when they have a routine, because it means you are setting bounderies. Well done