No scheduled

[charliesdragon]

My son, Roan, his nearly 7 months old and I have no plans of putting him on a schedule. Anybody else choosing to be schedule-free?

[philomom]

Hm, no routines at all? That must be very confusing for him. Early development of the brain involves knowing that you are safe and being able to anticipate what's next.

[rightkindofme]

I have never been on a "schedule" but things do tend to have a consistent order. Children build their sense of security on understanding what happens next.

[charliesdragon]

I said no schedule not no routine. Schedule implies using the clock whereas we prefer rythmn and routine.

[element2012]

Originally Posted by rightkindofme 

I have never been on a "schedule" but things do tend to have a consistent order.

This is me too.  I've never set a schedule, but DD does tend to get sleepy/hungry at the same times every day.  I just follow her cues and try to get her to sleep at about the same time otherwise she sleeps terribly that night.

[erinmattsmom88]

I've got a 2.5 and 5 year-old. I never use the clock. We go with the flow. We eat when hungry, which is around the usual times of breakfast, lunch, and dinner anyway, we got to sleep when we're tired, and I let my kids sleep until they wake up (which is usually around the same time everyday).  We do things when we want to do them, and it works for us. Of course, if we have appointments to keep, then I have to keep to that schedule, otherwise, nope.

[charliesdragon]

@ Erimattsmom Awesome! This is exactly what I meant. I'm so happy to know it works for children as well as babies. I've found it difficult to find other parents that do this.

[erinmattsmom88]

Yeah, it definitely works for my kids for sure.   

I've found it difficult to find parents that do as we do as well.

[brittneyvand]

We are also go with the flow. My 3 yr old has a few extra curricular activities and my 6 month old does fine working around them. As others have said he typically does things close to the same time each day, waking, napping and eating. When my daughter was younger we did eventually get her on a schedule for her meals and naps but I felt she was ready and we went with what she had naturally been doing for a while, ate when she woke up, lunch at 11:30 nap at 1 dinner at dinner time, bath/bed routine start at 7 and this is what worked for her so we went with it.

[brittneyvand]

We are also go with the flow. My 3 yr old has a few extra curricular activities and my 6 month old does fine working around them. As others have said he typically does things close to the same time each day, waking, napping and eating. When my daughter was younger we did eventually get her on a schedule for her meals and naps but I felt she was ready and we went with what she had naturally been doing for a while, ate when she woke up, lunch at 11:30 nap at 1 dinner at dinner time, bath/bed routine start at 7 and this is what worked for her so we went with it.

[brittneyvand]

We are also go with the flow. My 3 yr old has a few extra curricular activities and my 6 month old does fine working around them. As others have said he typically does things close to the same time each day, waking, napping and eating. When my daughter was younger we did eventually get her on a schedule for her meals and naps but I felt she was ready and we went with what she had naturally been doing for a while, ate when she woke up, lunch at 11:30 nap at 1 dinner at dinner time, bath/bed routine start at 7 and this is what worked for her so we went with it.

[brittneyvand]

We are also go with the flow. My 3 yr old has a few extra curricular activities and my 6 month old does fine working around them. As others have said he typically does things close to the same time each day, waking, napping and eating. When my daughter was younger we did eventually get her on a schedule for her meals and naps but I felt she was ready and we went with what she had naturally been doing for a while, ate when she woke up, lunch at 11:30 nap at 1 dinner at dinner time, bath/bed routine start at 7 and this is what worked for her so we went with it.

[Vermillion]

Originally Posted by charliesdragon 

I said no schedule not no routine. Schedule implies using the clock whereas we prefer rythmn and routine.

Same here. We have no set schedule, but my 1 year old has fallen into his own routine. It's pretty flexible as far as timing goes, but he has his own order that he likes. I go with his flow.

I tend to think of a schedule as a more parent centered thing, and a routine as more of a "let the baby decide and follow along" kind of thing... So that's us.

[charliesdragon]

Originally Posted by Vermillion 

I tend to think of a schedule as a more parent centered thing, and a routine as more of a "let the baby decide and follow along" kind of thing... So that's us.

Agreed! I also feel like our bodies aren't static machines. Some days he needs more sleep and so he takes more or longer naps. I want him to be in tune with his biological Rythmn rather than an artificial clock.

[phathui5]

I think a lot of people here on MDC probably have their babies in more of a routine than a schedule. At our house, we do have bedtimes for our older kids, but the baby tends to nurse to sleep at his convenience.

[charliesdragon]

Originally Posted by phathui5 

I think a lot of people here on MDC probably have their babies in more of a routine than a schedule. At our house, we do have bedtimes for our older kids, but the baby tends to nurse to sleep at his convenience.

Good to know. I asked because at play groups all of the mothers talk about is their struggle to put their baby on a schedule. I was beginning to feel like a weirdo!

[Sol_y_Paz]

Originally Posted by erinmattsmom88 
I never use the clock. We go with the flow. We eat when hungry, which is around the usual times of breakfast, lunch, and dinner anyway, we got to sleep when we're tired, and I let my kids sleep until they wake up (which is usually around the same time everyday).  We do things when we want to do them, and it works for us. Of course, if we have appointments to keep, then I have to keep to that schedule, otherwise, nope.

Same here.

[Destiny33]

My daughter is 6 months old. She isn't on a schedule either, but she tends to do things around the same time everyday, and thats fine by me. Im not a big fan of scheduling for babies. We adults dont get hungry at 12:00pm sharp everyday or fall asleep at 8:00 on the dot either. Yes we may do simalar things everyday, but it varries depending on how we feel.

[mommyammons]

I remember driving myself crazy with my first trying to get get on a schedule. Fast forward 8 years and 5 kids and now we are totally go with the flow kind of people. We have a very loose routine of the basics (sleep, eat, bath, school) we homeschool so that does allow for more freedom. I've even noticed lately (I'm guessing because of the gloomy weather) that my kids have been sleeping in pretty late which results in a late breakfast, late lunch, late nap for 2 yr old, but by the time super rolls around we all seem back on track and everybody hours to bed at a decent hour (usually between 7: 30 and 9 depending on moms patience level and kids behavior

[charliesdragon]

Originally Posted by mommyammons 

I remember driving myself crazy with my first trying to get get on a schedule. Fast forward 8 years and 5 kids and now we are totally go with the flow kind of people. We have a very loose routine of the basics (sleep, eat, bath, school) we homeschool so that does allow for more freedom. I've even noticed lately (I'm guessing because of the gloomy weather) that my kids have been sleeping in pretty late which results in a late breakfast, late lunch, late nap for 2 yr old, but by the time super rolls around we all seem back on track and everybody hours to bed at a decent hour (usually between 7: 30 and 9 depending on moms patience level and kids behavior

Thank you!! It's so wonderful to hear this from a mom with so much experience!