Old Enough for a Sleep Schedule?

My pediatrician recommended the book, Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child. It was WONDERFUL!!! It takes you from infancy through college. I followed this book, and my daughters (10.8) are still excellent sleepers. They can fall asleep on their own (at home, at parties, at sleep-away camp). It makes day to day life much easier (no over-tired children), and makes traveling a joy. Many people underestimate the importance of sleep. It is vital to a child's development.

I have seen the book at Barnes and Noble -- it might be at the library. It is truly worth the investment.

Good Luck!
S.

Yes, he is old enough for a regular sleep schedule; although it will change again around one. When my children were 7 months they each had slightly diff schedule. My youngest (who is now 15 months) took 2-3 naps a day. She usually went to bed around 7pm-8pm (gosh I am trying to remember now) and then woke up around 8am (really late sleeper compared to my first). She took a nap b/w 9-10am and after lunch then even sometimes around 3pm. She was my little sleeper. I kind of just read her signals and they usually were the same from day-to-day depending on when she got up. I don't think there are a lot of tricks b/c each kid is different. My first was a hard one to go to sleep so I had to let her cry a bit then I would go back in her room and lay her back down. I usually had to do that about 3-4 times before she would go to sleep. Hopefully, that helps.

My kids were on a sleep schedule from day one and I am so thankful - it makes life so much easier. It is never too early for a schedule - try reading "On Becoming BabyWise." It is a wonderful book that has lots of sound advice for making your life as well as baby's life easier. Good Luck!

I would say he's old enough for a sleep schedule. Our 2 year old has been on a sleep schedule since she was 3 weeks old and while she occasionally tries to skip a nap here and there, her sleep patterns, and thus moods, are very consistent.

Most daycare centers have scheduled nap times in the older infant room...not so much in the 6 wk-8 month rooms. But 7 months is old enough for a schedule. I put my daughter on one when she was just a few months old. I did her schedule around mine, and she fell into it in about a week. Good luck with it!

Yes, he is old enough for a sleep schedule and he will greatly benefit from it. I also second the book, Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child.

At that age, my two were taking 3 naps a day and were going to bed at about 7:00 and sleeping until 7-8 in the morning.

Hello,
I highly highly highly recommend the book "On Becoming Baby Wise". This will teach you when and why your son should be on a schedule (your schedule, not his) plus this book will teach you how to get him to sleep through the night (if he isn't already). I have three girls and each one was able to sleep through the night within 3 days of using his techniques. Good luck and God Bless.
K.
www.marykay.com/kwartell

Hi, he's definately old enough for a sleep schedule. I took 12 weeks for maternity leave and had my daughter on a regular schedule before going back to work. Up until she was 18 months old-she was taking two naps a day and in bed by 7pm. At 18 months old, she went to one nap a day and still in bed by 7. She is now 2.5 and still goes to bed by seven.

Yes! I also used the Babywise book when I had my first child 8 years ago & have continued to use those principles. You may have to wake him up to get him/keep him on a schedule, but it will be well worth it for everyone.

Since my kids were very little around 2 months. The schedule is eat-play-sleep this repeats every 3 or 4 hours. I always had my daycare follow this schedule. It helps to regulate the kids and this way there is no time that you are having to "hold" baby off from eating. I do this schedule until about 1 year old when we start to drop a nap. This also ensures that they are sleeping the hours they need. Good luck with whatever you do.

Absolutely schedule. It will create stability for him and ensure alone time for you and your husband. May be easier to do when you have more time with him in Dec.

The book BABYWISE is a great guide on sleep. You should be able to buy it at Walmart. Your son can go on a sleep schedule anytime. I suggest you set a bedtime now. Children become tired (and hungry) even before they give us signs. I would say aim for any time between 7 and 8. That usually means bathe 30 minutes before that. I think you will find improved behavior and disposition overall once you begin a sleep schedule.
As for napping, the book will give you more info. I think at that age, the nap was around 11:30 until 1:30 or 2:30. Check with the book.

He is absolutely ready for a sleep schedule. A baby his age should still have two naps and maybe a cat nap at the end of the day. He should also have a regular bed time. I highly recommend you get the book by Dr. Weisbluth - Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child. He provides information about what babies need at each age in addition to providing some ideas on how to get that. He has no cry, some cry, and cry it out methods so you can do whatever you want. It is an excellent book and will be helpful when you start staying home. Good luck!

He's old enough. I have a daughter the same age (3/13) and she has been on a sleep schedule since birth. It is not always the same and there are time when she just won't nap, but I try my best to stay consistent. It maybe easier when you become a SAHM so you can monitor the naps. I'm not overly strict, but about 2 hours after she wakes up she goes down for a nap for about 30 minutes. Then around 1 pm, she goes down for her second longer nap, and is always in bed around 7 pm (except some weekends when we go out for dinner). I tried to do this since birth to develop good sleep habits. The main thing is to be consistent and there is a good chance you may just need to let him cry it out sometimes. In the beginning she would cry for about 15-20 minutes before I would get her out or she would fall asleep. When she finally got used to it and knew I wouldn't come right away, it went down to 5 minutes and now she barely cries at all. As a SAHM, I try to run all my errands between her morning and afternoon nap so that we can try to stay as close to on schedule as possible.

I have a sleep program called Sleep Sense. I can send it to you if you would like. It helps with sleep problems & helps you get on a schedule. Send me your e-mail if you want it.

Yes! First nap should happen between 2 & 3 hours after waking. For your own benefit, you can wake him in the morning at generally the same time to maintain the schedule, but that isn't a necessity. Just don't let the morning nap go past three hours after his morning wake up, if possible. Morning naps are usually around 1-1.5 hours, up for another 3-3.5 hours of play, then second nap (usually 1.5-2hr), leaving you with final 3-4 hours of play before bedtime.

I found this method to be pretty full proof and flexible to your daily needs. Good luck!

R.,
At 2 or 3 months, my sister-in-law recommended a night time schedule of getting baby to bed. She was so right. All this time we have gotten baby to sleep between 9 and 10 pm. She wakes up between 7:30am -8:00 am. Works like a charm. We can't let her nap to close to bedtime. We have to wake her up if she falls asleep. She is now 10 1/2 months old. Hope this helps.

I definitely think he's old enough for a regular sleep schedule. I am also a first time mom so I am by no means an expert :) but this is what has worked for us: since I am lucky enough to stay home I made note of when my daughter was eating and acting tired thus napping. After a few days I noticed she was fairly regular on her own so I was able to form her routine that way. It was nice because she has stuck to the same thing few several months now. You may try to make note of her napping and eating habits because you may notice the same thing as I. Hopefully you do because it makes things pretty easy. :) (mine takes 3 naps a day and is in bed from about 7pm-7am) Good luck!

He's absolutely ready for a sleep schedule. At our two week visit, the nurse told us to start a bedtime routine. Obviously, a 2 week old is going to wake up in a couple hours again anyway, but, that helped train our daughter to fall asleep on her own. Now, at 16 months, there are times when she's awake in her crib for an hour after we put her down, but she eventually goes to sleep on her own.

We also have a nap routine...naps at about 9 and 2 and start bedtime routine at 7. It's never too late to start a good bedtime routine. For us, that's bath, nurse, brush teeth, read story and put to bed. It may be different for you. You might have to keep going in (ever 5-10 minutes) to lay your baby back down or reassure her that she's okay. But, once you're consistent, she'll be content to go to sleep on her own. (Our nap routine is similar...just no bath or brushing teeth.)