My FLEXIBLE Baby Schedule I used for both my daughter and son, at 11 months old. Including feeding times, wake times, and nap/sleep times.
Set yourself and your baby up for SUCCESS!
I am a firm believer in a "flexible daily schedule/routine". Children thrive on consistency. Providing a predictable daily pattern they can come to expect, helps them to feel safe, reduces anxieties of unexpected changes and unfamiliar expectations and helps them feel happy and secure. A baby and mama that are well rested and well fed, is the goal and what helped me raise happy babies. A daily routine also helps cultivate a calm household where everyone can help pitch in, knowing the expectations for the day at particular times. It can provide structure and give your family more freedom, as you know when you can schedule different things throughout the day, which I found particularly helpful when I had my second baby, with a toddler eager to get to the park and be on the go.
I have achieved success with these schedules, with both of my children. Both, very different children, were notable happier babies once we got on a good schedule/routine around 2 months.
They were fed, put in a sleep sack, given a paci (my daughter used a paci from 2-4 months old before she found her fingers to suck on instead. We introduced the paci to my son at around 6 weeks old as he was much fussier due to reflux when he was young) and put into the crib to fall asleep on their own once they were just about ready to doze off, but not completely put to sleep by being rocked or nursed to sleep.
I felt strongly about this as sleep is THE most important key to success in my opinion. Well rested babies are able to feed better and "play" better, making them happier, in turn, making your life easier! Both my kids were great sleepers once we got a routine going. It was hard at first, but I resisted the urge to let them nap on me for every nap, rock them to sleep in my arms every time or use a motorized baby swing or something that rocked them to sleep (all, with the occasional exception), so they would not have to rely on these methods and be able to create positive sleeping habits from an early age... I also do not believe in letting them cry it out. If your baby is upset and crying, I urge you to follow your instincts and be there to help them, at this early age. I followed this mindset with both of my children, who have extremely different temperaments, and was successful in getting both to eat, play and sleep happily and easily.
I try and follow a “feed-wake-sleep” routine pattern!
A baby that isn't well fed, won't be able to have a quality wake time, because they will be hungry and cranky. If the baby doesn't get efficient wake times, they won't be able to have long quality sleep time, resulting in a not fully rested baby. If they aren't rested, they are not able to get quality feeding times, because they will be falling asleep at the breast/bottle and not sucking efficiently... so then they are not well fed, and the cycle then continues.
Remember, always follow your baby's cues and feed/let them sleep as needed, even if off schedule if that's what baby needs (if they are going through a growth spurt, sick, etc). Never deny them sleep or food, if that is what they need! This is just a flexible routine. I also don't recommend waking a sleeping baby, just to stay on schedule. This will mean they are not fully rested and not be able to feed efficiently, resulting in not a quality wake time, meaning they will not have a quality sleep time, and the cycle continues... defeating the entire purpose of the schedule.
Be forgiving to yourself and your baby as you both navigate this new journey of parenthood together. And don't forget LOTS of talking, singing, kissing and cuddling your baby :) They need you. Ultimately, do what feels right for you and your baby. The below is just what worked for me and my family, so I hope by sharing what we do, it can help you and your family too!
Ultimately, do what feels right for you and your baby. The below is just what worked for me and my family, so I hope by sharing what we do, it can help you and your family too! You can adjust the times accordingly if you like to wake up earlier or later, just move the whole schedule up or down as needed.
*FEEDINGS
This was when I nursed or pumped and bottle fed my son or gave my daughter milk in a straw or sippy cup. We followed a 3 or 4x/day milk feeding schedule as they started taking less milk at this age. I started introducing cow's milk during the day at this age and swapped the afternoon bottle for a straw cup of breastmilk or cow's milk.
*SOLIDS
At this age they were both eating table foods. Breakfast, Lunch, Snack, and Dinner, with milk or water in a straw/sippy cup.
*NAPS/SLEEP
I aim for around ~1-2h naps, 2x a day, that total around 2.5-3 hours. They wore sleep sacks, and were free to roll back and forth. Both would roll to their side or stomach to sleep a lot of the time by this age. I had plenty of paci's in the crib for my son to be able to roll into and put in his mouth himself to sooth if he needed, while my daughter sucked her fingers to self soothe. Black out shades drawn and a sound machine with nightlight on. I transitioned to 1 nap a day around 15-18 months old.
*WAKE TIMES
I aim for around minimum of ~2.5-3 hours (including feeding time), and around 4 hours before bed, but always follow baby's cues!
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