Why are baby schedules useful?
A baby's needs aren't that complicated – food, sleep, play, and love pretty much sums it up. But knowing what your baby requires when, and how much of it, can be a real challenge. Not to mention balancing your baby's needs with your own and those of older children and other family members.
Many parents find that getting into a regular routine or schedule with their baby makes life much easier: It's almost like developing a personalized how-to manual for your child. As a parent, you'll have a predictable pattern for your days with your little one. And your baby will know what to expect – for example, that they get a bottle after their morning nap, then playtime or an outing.
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Babies like to know that certain things will happen at a certain time each day. An added bonus: When you're ready to try leaving your baby with a sitter, the transition will be easier. Your baby will be reassured by their usual routine, and your caregiver will be able to anticipate their hunger, sleepiness, or desire to play or go out.
When to start a routine with your baby
Experts disagree on when and how to establish a routine – and even on whether you need a set schedule for your baby. But many say that babies are ready for a general schedule between 2 and 4 months of age.
Most infants' sleeping and feeding habits become more consistent and predictable after three or four months. You may want to take this opportunity to encourage your baby to follow a more defined schedule.
Your baby may fall into fairly predictable patterns long before this, however. If that's the case, you can gently encourage your baby's emerging routine.
Tracking your baby's eating, sleeping, and alert times can give you an understanding of their natural rhythms and enable you to pinpoint developing patterns. In the days following delivery, many parents begin to write down or log when their newborn eats, when they poop and pee, when they sleep and for how long, and so on.
When figuring out your baby's schedule, it's essential that their well-being comes first. That means following the advice of your baby's doctor, plus your gut feeling and common sense, to determine what your baby needs when – no matter what a particular expert, book, or method says.
During the newborn period, it's especially important that your baby get enough breast milk or formula to avoid problems like poor weight gain and dehydration. Babies should be fed when they're hungry – that is, fed on demand – according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). This means looking for your baby's hunger cues. Never withhold food or sleep when your baby seems to need it because it's not the "right" time.
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How to establish a baby schedule
Getting into a regular schedule for sleep, feeding, and activities can make life easier for you and your baby. But how to start? Below, find some helpful guidelines for establishing a routine that works.
Get your baby used to a bedtime routine early on
Babies don't have regular sleep cycles until around 6 months old, according to the AAP. While you can't force babies to be predictable in the first few months, you can develop a consistent routine that's in sync with your baby's natural rhythms. The easiest way to develop a regular bedtime is to create a bedtime routine that you and your baby can depend on night after night.
Keep the routine simple – for example, a warm bath, jammies, a feeding, then lights-out. It's fine if feeding lulls your baby to sleep in the early months, but by 3 or 4 months you may want to try putting them down awake so they'll learn to fall asleep on their own. For more helpful information on establishing a bedtime routine, as well as other sleep tips, check out Baby Sleep 101Opens a new window, our premium class led by a pediatric sleep doctor from BabyCenter Courses.
Teach your baby the difference between night and day
Many babies mix up their days and nights until about 3 to 4 months, sleeping long stretches during the day only to perk up once the sun goes down. Helping your baby learn to tell day from night is a key first step to getting into a workable routine.
Learn to read your baby's cues
Websites, books, your baby's doctor, and other parents can all help as you figure out an appropriate schedule for your baby. But your child is the most important guide and will tell you what they need – if you learn to read their cues.
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Learning what your baby needs when takes time and patience. But you'll see patterns emerge over time. And if you log your baby's naps, feedings, and active times, you can use this record to come up with a timetable for doing things.
When starting out, put your baby's schedule first
If you're encouraging your baby to follow a schedule or observing their patterns to figure out a routine that works, make this process a top priority for at least the first couple of weeks. Avoid deviating from the routine with vacations, meals on the go, or outings that push naptime back.
Once you establish a pattern for your baby's sleeping, awake, and feeding times, changing things for an afternoon isn't likely to undo their habits. But it's best to keep your baby's schedule as consistent as possible while they're getting used to it.
Expect changes during growth spurts and milestones
Your child accomplishes so much in the first year. They'll nearly triple their weight and achieve some major feats like sitting up, crawling, and perhaps even walking.
During periods of growth or when they're working to achieve a new milestone, don't be surprised if your baby diverges from their usual routine. They may be hungrier than usual, need more sleep, or return to waking up several times a night. Babies and toddlers regularly have sleep regressions as they approach big developmental leaps. Hang in there – your baby may be back on schedule shortly, or this may be a sign that you need to adjust your routine.
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Adjust your baby's schedule to suit their age
It may feel like just when you've gotten into a predictable groove with your little one, it's time to change it again. As your baby gets older, they'll need fewer daytime naps and more playtime and stimulation. They'll also need to eat solid foods – first just once a day, but eventually several times a day. As these developmental shifts happen, your child's schedule will shift as well.
Don't expect perfection
Some parenting experts set the expectation that your baby's routine will always run like clockwork. And though babies do like consistency, you can expect changes from day to day and as your baby grows.
Sometimes, for whatever reason, your baby will want to skip a nap, have an extra snack, wake up before dawn, and so on. And life happens as well – vacations, older siblings, plans with friends and family, errands you need to take care of, and other factors will all come into play in your daily life with your baby. Variation is okay, as long as your baby is getting the sleep, play, food, care, and love they need to thrive.
Sample baby schedules
Wondering how other parents set up their baby's schedule, and what pediatricians recommend? See sample schedules and expert advice for babies of all ages:
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And for everything you need to know about baby sleep, check out our monthly sleep schedules:
