How important is it?

Question

How important is it to have babies on schedules...as far as eating and napping? If they are not on schedules can it effect them...like them not eating and sleeping right?

Answer 1

If you are nursing it will make things a lot easier. Plus your milk will not be everywhere (leaking every time it's time to feed). Plus the baby will get used to the feeding easier if they are scheduled. And that way you are not over feeding or under feeding.

Good luck!

Answer 2

All babies and children need to be on a schedule. It is very important that they maintain a schedule to be and stay healthy.

Eating and sleeping is the most important in the scheduling.

Newborns sleep around 16 hours per day. Most babies will not sleep through the night until they are 12-18 months old.

You should feed your child the same time every day, including snack times. This goes for going to bed and naps, also.

Below is an example of a schedule. Yours may vary slightly, according to you day. But it must be consistant. If you tend to stay out late (and you take your child with you), then you need to change your schedule to accommodate your child's.

Your child should get up every morning at the same time,
7:00 AM, have breakfast
7:30 am, after getting dressed. Then you should play with him/her for an hour or so, and he/she should have some time to play by him/herself.
11:30 AM-12:00 PM you should give him/her Lunch.
1:00-2:00 PM Nap Time
2:00-2:30 PM Snack
2:30-5:00 PM Some activities
5:00-6:00 PM Supper
6:00-6:45 PM Bath
6:45-7:30 PM Quiet Time or watch a video, read a story book.
7:30-8:00 PM Bedtime. Be sure the have a dry diaper, gone potty, and have had a small drink. Tuck them in and sit for a few minutes with them. Then leave the room and let them fall asleep. Children cannot be forced to go to sleep, only to lay still.

Hope this helps!

Answer 3

It depends on the baby. Some babies do really well with a schedule and some don't. Some babies need the stability of a routine and some can handle not having one. If you do implement a schedule, I would still be flexible in listening to your babies cues (ex: it's not a good idea to force feed a baby who isnt hungry in order to stick to a made up schedule)...don't substitute a schedule for reading your baby's cues. How would you like it if you were expected to wake up at the same time every day on the dot? Eat the same meal at the same exact time every morning afternoon and night? It would be irritating...sometimes you may want to sleep a little longer, sometimes you may not need as much sleep. and I am sure you don't always eat every meal at the EXACT same time every day? Trying to force a rigid schedule is not a good idea in my opinion. However, having a flexible loose schedule is probably a good thing - helps life to be predictable for everyone. Most babies like routines, so having a typical routine is probably a good idea, but you have to be flexible - not force your child into something artificial.

Answer 4

A schedule provides a sense of security. It also allows for more peace and tranquility in the home. Setting a schedule and sticking to it is very important for the ease of transitioning to new things in the future for the baby. If you stick to the schedule most of the time, but allow for some flexibility, your baby is more likely to adapt to different atmospheres. At least that is how it was with my daughter. Getting into a bed time routine is also important. Start that at around 5 months or so. Give your baby her/his last bottle after a nice bath. Then, read to your baby, if only for a few minutes. It will set a standard that will last for a long time. My daughter is 4.5 years old now, and she's almost always cooperative going to bed b/c we've had a routine since day one.

CONGRATULATIONS on your baby!

Answer 5

A schedule is not as important as a routine - and it all depends on how old your baby is. For a newborn, they will let you know when they want to eat and sleep. From around 3 months, you want to work on a routine, especially for bedtime (singing a song, reading a book, etc.). However, you want to be careful not to adhere so strictly to a schedule or a routine that it disrupts your life when life happens. A girlfriend of mine had her daughter on such a strict routine that she wouldn't go to family gatherings or picnic in fear that her daughter wouldn't get to bed on time. I have found that occasional diversion from the routine does not do more than just throw the child off for a day or so (and is probably better in the long run, so they learn adaptability). If your child is not on a schedule, I don't think it will effect them in the way you describe, but it will certainly drive you bonkers. Being able to predict what is going to happen is not only soothing for your baby, but also for you!

Answer 6

Listen to your baby. The only schedule I had my kids on when they were infants, was an eating schedule because they both had colic....baby had it worse than his big brother. They will let you know when they are sleepy. But it can be hard to tell those cries from hunger so make sure you watch the clock when the baby eats and try to space it out accordingly. If you want your baby to be on a schedule you can start getting him on one. The earlier the better, but they don't have to be on one. It does help though. Adds structure to their lives. My kids are on a schedule now that they are toddlers and they really didn't have much of a schedule as infants and they are healthy well rounded boys!

Answer 7

It is very important for them in so many ways. It helps with their self confidence and yes, it will help them sleep better, etc. It will also help you and your sanity too, you'll be able to find some time to yourself.

You used the word schedule but in fact what is even better is a structured routine. Read the book "The Baby Whisperer". She explains a structured routine like this
E-Eat
A-Activity, play time
S-Sleep
Y-You time

Around 6 weeks of age you will notice a pattern developing in your baby. Follow that pattern (don't look at the clock), this is how the author describes a structured routine vs a schedule.

Hope that helps! And congrats on the baby.

Answer 8

I think a schedule can be important, but it should be the babies schedule. When he is hungry or tired or whatever. I don't think it's a good idea to force a baby into an artificial schedule, especially if it's too different from what he/she needs.

Answer 9

I think that the most important part of a schedule is at night. I think that because the baby should get used to going to bed at a certain time because when they get older they arent going to want to go to bed and its important that little kids get enough sleep. So if you get the baby used to it then it probably wont fight you about it later. Other than that, I think you have to be flexible with the baby. Thats just my personal opinion though. Im no expert.

Answer 10

I would have them on a sleeping schedule but not as much on the eating. If you do not have them on one then they not sleep at night like they need to. I have two and they are on a sleep schedules but i do not make them eat they eat when they are ready.

Answer 11

schedules are most important for you being able to get something done during the day. it also helps a child have a sense of routine that is comforting and gives them security. one has to be careful though, very young babies have their own intuitive schedule about how much sleep they need and when they are hungry and for how much. important to take cues from their internal schedule when creating a routine.