A baby will teach a load of new things that you will never learn from reading baby books or watching online courses. You will never know how demanding a baby can be until you have one of your own. Every parent has a story to tell you how exhausted they have been with the newborns. Nobody will say no to a bit of rest after months of attending to the nonstop demands of a baby. Putting your baby on a schedule seems like a solution to these sleepless struggles as a parent.
For some people putting a baby on a schedule does not sound real. Is it really possible to put your baby on a schedule? To your delight, it is possible to put your baby on a simple schedule. But when is the right time to start it? What will be your options? Let us discuss the answers to all these problems in this article.
CONTENT
1.   Why should you put your baby on a schedule?
2.   When can I put my baby on a schedule?
3.   How to put my baby on a schedule?
1. Why should you put your baby on a schedule?
When you think about the life of a baby, it seems so simple. The baby eats, sleeps, and wet his diapers. It does not look busy enough to need a schedule. But I do not have to explain to a parent how much time it takes to meet the demands of a baby. During the newborn days, you will have to keep an eye on the baby for every second passed. You have to feed him, change him, keep him entertained when he is awake, and put him to sleep.
A schedule significantly benefits the parents than the baby to balance their regular routine while attending to the demands of the baby and other kids in the family. The babies also like to know what happens next in their life. In other words, your baby loves the predictability of their days. When you have a routine, the baby knows a nap comes after the bottle or a bath comes after the playtime. So there will be fewer tears and fights to deal with.
When you continue a schedule for a week or so, the baby will naturally learn this is how things happen. It is unlikely for a baby to resist bedtime or bath time when it is not a surprise to them.
A schedule will ensure that the baby is fed on time and get enough amount of rest without being overtired. When a baby is not hungry or tired, he will be a happy baby. A happy baby can reduce the fraction of time you spend soothing a baby crying in his top voice.
If you are a parent who is expected to go back to work soon and you are planning to leave your baby with a caregiver, a schedule can help you to a greater extent. The baby will not cry out for you if his needs are met on time. When the caregiver is well explained of the baby’s schedule he/she will also know what to expect and what to do at right time.
2. When can I put my baby on a schedule?
There is no universally agreed time to put your baby on a schedule and still, there are arguments about whether a baby should be put on a schedule. But generally, it is believed that babies are ready to adapt to a schedule when they are between 2 – 4 months. Some experts believe that a baby can be put on a schedule from day one or at the age of one.
You will observe an improving consistency in the eating and sleeping patterns of your baby at this age and you have to exploit it. If your baby has a noticeable pattern of feeding and sleeping before two months, you can slowly start training them to follow a schedule.
3. How to put my baby on a schedule?
Start by tracking the normal routine of your baby. Take down the times he falls asleep, wakes up, and needs to be fed. After a week or so you will start to notice a pattern in these times. If you identify the natural schedule of your baby, it will be easier for you to decide what to do next.
There are several approaches that you can follow when it comes to establishing a schedule for your baby. But you should consider the safety and comfort of your baby at first. It is better to consult your pediatrician before starting to put your baby on a definite schedule.
- Parent-led schedules
These schedules are created by the parents and imposed to rule from the first day. Some parents may find this type of schedule too strict for their babies. You may or may not consider the natural sleeping and feeding patterns of the baby or take advice from a professional in establishing a parent-led schedule. There is a risk of disregarding the baby’s needs if these parent-led schedules are very strictly imposed on a baby.
- Baby-led schedules
These schedules just flow along with the cues of your baby. It is not well-defined or strictly imposed. You feed the baby and if he is sleepy, you put him to sleep. If wants to stay up and play, you will allow him to do that. It can be a little bit tiring in the first few days but it will become predictable soon. Your baby will establish unforced bedtimes, bath times, and meal times while you let him do what he feels like doing.
- Combined schedules
These schedules are a balance of baby-led schedules and parent-led schedules. You will initially establish a schedule for your baby with defined times for meals, baths, and sleeping. You will encourage the baby to be on that schedule. But if the baby is not sleepy at bedtime or does not want to play in the playtime, you will allow it. When the baby’s schedule takes the combined approach, you do not have to force the baby to be on the schedule while you are traveling or out from home.
Whatever the method you follow, you have to ensure that your baby is eating and sleeping properly. There is no point in putting your baby on a schedule if it compromises the safety, comfort, or development of the baby. We do everything to make our babies happy and healthy. So the schedule too should agree with this main goal.
