When do you start putting you infant (3 month old) on a napping schedule?

Krista - posted on 01/17/2009

The sooner the better. Children need structure so they know what comes next. It will be much easier in the long run. Figure out what works in your household and stick too it.

Marcia - posted on 01/17/2009

Now would be the perfect time. Try and make it for the same time every day. Your little one should be getting in two naps a day, later they will be down for one nap. They seem to do that on their own. When our kids were at that age we put our kids down at 10am then about 1pm. It did change as they got older. You will have your own schedule of course. Hope you will have success.

Cleopatra - posted on 01/17/2009

Hi Megan,

I have a 7 yr old son and a 3 month old daughter. Both my kids were sleeping thru the night (8-11 hours) at 3 months. My daughter has reflux and the method still works on her.

We use the "Babywise" books. The main concept behind the book is the schedule, based on eating, waketime and naptime. 

Let's say he wakes up at 6am. 

6:00am:  Feed him. (Feedtime)

6:30am - 7:30am: Keep him awake (Waketime)

7:30am - rock him to sleep. (Naptime)

10:30 pm- wake him and feed him. (Feedtime)

11:00am - 12:00noon: Keep him awake (Waketime)

12:00noon - rock him to sleep. (Naptime)

3:00 pm- wake him and feed him. (Feedtime)

3:30am - 4:30: Keep him awake (Waketime)

4:30:  Rock him to sleep. (Naptime)

7:30 pm- wake him and feed him. (Feedtime)

7:30am - 8:30: Keep him awake (Waketime)

8:30:  Rock him to sleep. (Bedtime)

It will probably take at least 1 week before your son learns the schedule....but whatever you do, try to stick to the Eat-Waketime-Naptime structure.  Even if time is off and you find yourself having to feed him an hour early or later than thought....don't not let him nap directly after eating.

Good Luck,

Cleopatra Burke

Sarah - posted on 01/16/2009

Hi with my two little girls I found they just fell into there own routine. I fed on demand and gradually they had larger feeds and slept longer in between feeds. My two year old sleeps from 8.30pm until 8am and my 1year old sleeps from 7.30pm until 8am (generally waking for a bottle about 5am). Good luck :)

User - posted on 01/16/2009

Oh yeah, Babywise is definitely the go!  I followed this book and my 8-week old slept 8 hours, then at 3 months he was sleeping 11 hours!  Now he is 9 months old and he sleeps 12 hours through the night plus 2 one-and-a-half hour naps during the day.  Everyone says how happy he is all the time.  He goes to sleep without a single cry, every time.  I'd also recommend "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child".  These 2 books were my bibles in the first 3 months.

Pamela - posted on 01/16/2009

I have to also recommend the book Becoming Baby Wise. My almost 7 week old is on a schedule. He eats every 3 hours, has some wake/play time and then goes down for a nap. Lather, rinse, repeat. Sometimes he wakes up early but that is usually when he's having a growth spurt and he needs an extra bottle. Sometimes he wakes from gas pains and if I wait it out 5 min or so he's back to sleep on his own. That's during the day and at night I let him sleep until he wakes up. He sleeps around 4 hours the first stretch and 3-3.5 hours the second stretch. One night he slept 6 hours, I felt like a NEW WOMAN....LOL

Sandee - posted on 01/16/2009

Start whenever you feel it is necessary. I recommend sooner the better myself, so that it can give you time to rest and do whatever you want. Also I would recommend the book Baby wise, helped me out alot even though I did not follow it to the "T", it helped me alot.
Hope this helps.

Leslie - posted on 01/16/2009

My son is 12 weeks right now, and is on a schedule. My older daughter 20 months did the same, of course it molds and adjusts as they grow, but a schedule in my opininion is a great thing.

My 12 week olds is not normal though I now, but its kind of what he has fallen into and it works for us.

He wakes about 8-naps from 9-10 then again from 1:00-5:00 and catnaps again from 6-7 and then sleeps for the night from 9-3 eats and then 3-8. But yeah start trying to setup a sort of routine! Its hard but worth it.

Kandice - posted on 01/16/2009

right now , the baby is old enough i started my kids at about 2 months its best to have a time around breastfeeding ..thats if you are..if bottle  feed then you can set up times whenver you want usally during the day they would wake up around 7 or so and about 2 hrs later nap even if it is for an hour which as they get older sleep times get shorter. but id say alternate every 2-3 hours and let them stay up a little later at nite always have a set bedtime it will help you as they get older..trust me .. i wish i did with my older ones..lol

Gail - posted on 01/16/2009

I would do it as soon as you can and stick to it. It give you a break as well. Wether you nap or do whatever work you need to. When you and baby are tired then the whole world suffers.

Clare - posted on 01/16/2009

i started with the routine really early. Maddison is 2 and a half now so doesnt sleep during the day anymore but started getting her to take a nap after dinner by sitting with her on couch while she laid down with her blanket and she just got used to it

LaMerle - posted on 01/16/2009

I believe that it is never too early to start a schedule with naps, feedings, play and being with family. Otherwise it can and will be a real challenge later on too get a schedule into place.

Amy - posted on 01/16/2009

Hi Megan, i would recomend you the book name on becomen a baby wise, this book save my life, even thou i didn't follow it to the "T" I took the essense of it, schedule etc, and help me so much! Now my baby is 10 months old sleeps all night (10-12hrs) and takes 2 naps during the day 2hrs each! Hope this helps!!

Tamara - posted on 01/16/2009

i would do it as early as possible, get in in place for when they realise what you are doing