when does a schedule emerge? - Page 2

[LadyCatherine185]

Originally Posted by SeattleRain

Schedules don't emerge, they are created. If you really want to get some kind of "order" to your day you have be pretty purposeful about it.

Sorry but I have to disagree. Sometimes they emerge on their own, sometimes they don't. Sometimes you can create one, and sometimes you can't. Some babies fall into their own schedule/rhythm from early on, and others (like my DS) don't until much later, no matter how hard you try to make some sort of sense to your day.

You can definitely write down when you notice normal "tired" times, keep a log, and try to follow that "schedule" but their sleep needs change SO MUCH the first year, you will drive yourself crazy. I spent so much needless effort trying to figure out and follow some sort of "schedule" with my DS, rather than going about my day/having a routine of my own.

What I found worked best for us, is keeping a loose routine to the day. Morning we run errands/get out of the house.. we have lunch around the same time everyday, rest/nap time, then playtime in the afternoon and then dinner and quiet afterwards. DS1 now takes a nap at the same time everyday, but I am not going to stress out over DS2 napping when he is born.. I plan to go about our day and nurse him on demand and if he sleeps, great, if not, then he doesn't. He will probably live in the ergo quite a bit as I will be trying to keep up with his 2 year old brother.

[ACsMom]

Originally Posted by ErinYay

A schedule will emerge in a week. It will last for a week. Then a new schedule starts. Lather, rinse, repeat for the next 3-18 years.

That's been my experience, too.

[Tway]

Originally Posted by LadyCatherine185

I spent so much needless effort trying to figure out and follow some sort of "schedule" with my DS, rather than going about my day/having a routine of my own.

I totally agree. Actually, I'm STILL trying to stop worrying about when DD takes a nap, for how long, how it will affect her nighttime sleep, and on and on and on...

[tzs]

Originally Posted by LadyCatherine185

Sorry but I have to disagree. Sometimes they emerge on their own, sometimes they don't. Sometimes you can create one, and sometimes you can't. Some babies fall into their own schedule/rhythm from early on, and others (like my DS) don't until much later, no matter how hard you try to make some sort of sense to your day.

You can definitely write down when you notice normal "tired" times, keep a log, and try to follow that "schedule" but their sleep needs change SO MUCH the first year, you will drive yourself crazy. I spent so much needless effort trying to figure out and follow some sort of "schedule" with my DS, rather than going about my day/having a routine of my own.

What I found worked best for us, is keeping a loose routine to the day. Morning we run errands/get out of the house.. we have lunch around the same time everyday, rest/nap time, then playtime in the afternoon and then dinner and quiet afterwards. DS1 now takes a nap at the same time everyday, but I am not going to stress out over DS2 napping when he is born.. I plan to go about our day and nurse him on demand and if he sleeps, great, if not, then he doesn't. He will probably live in the ergo quite a bit as I will be trying to keep up with his 2 year old brother.

i'm also going to disagree but i'm sure it depends on the babe and your family's lifestyle. in our case dd fell into every schedule recommended by the "experts" at each given age. i specifically remember the book saying to push that late newborn bedtime way up from 10 or 11 to 8ish and i wasn;t quite sure what to do since i was so happy with the late bedtime and late rising. but sure enough, it didn't matter what i thought b/c at whatever age it was she just stopped being able to stay up later than 8:00. it seems that everything that was recommended she just did herself and i followed.
it did take alot of paying attention and vigilence though. so it's not like i didn;t have to do anything. she fell into the routine but i had to keep track of it on a daily basis and make sure we were meeting it or at least making up for days when we didn;t