Posts Tagged ‘getting baby on a schedule’

Many people wonder when they can put their baby on a schedule. Today’s sleep quick tip is that babies will vary, but the average age that I recommend to start trying a sleep schedule is around 6 months old. Depending on how consistent they are, how sensitive they are to becoming overtired and how over-tiredness affects their napping will drive when a schedule is comfortably achievable. Of course, many people try schedules sooner and some will succeed, but if pushing them to be awake too long makes them nap worse, you aren’t helping you or him get enough sleep. The main obstacle in short-napping in babies under 9-10 months old is over-tiredness. When they are over-tired, they have more trouble settling down to sleep. This is usually done by keeping them up too long between naps. Strange, but true!

Would you like to learn more about baby schedules?

I will be posting sample schedules for a variety of ages. So far, I have the 8 month schedule done. On Thursday, I will post the 6 month schedule. I’ll update this post as I get more up.

You can also read about napping in my free guide, 5 Ways to Help Your Baby Sleep Through the Night as napping can affect nighttime sleep. And, I also talk a lot about schedules in my e-Book, Help Your Baby Sleep, a Detailed Guide. The e-Book also covers how to shift schedules in 8+ month olds and toddlers when they are waking up too early and/or going to bed too late, complete with examples on how to shift the schedule.

When did you put your baby on a schedule?