Sleep schedules for babies: what to know.
For those of us that love schedules and routines, one of our first questions after having a baby is, “When can I get them on a schedule?”
There is some information out there that will tell you it is important to put your baby on a schedule right from the start, and while we encourage you to start a routine from day one, a schedule comes much later.
Realistic Expectations
In the newborn stage, babies are still adjusting to life outside the womb, their sleep isn’t driven by circadian rhythm, melatonin hasn’t yet kicked in, and they are still trying to figure out their days and nights–so trying to implement a schedule with your newborn isn’t realistic.
Sleep actually doesn’t follow a consistent pattern on its own until 4-6 months of age, and things like your baby’s wake-up time and nap lengths can vary a lot throughout the first year of life. You can, of course, work towards a schedule, but you shouldn’t set up expectations that your young infant is going to have the same nap times every day.
Try Awake Windows
We recommend following awake windows rather than a schedule for the first year. With nap lengths varying so much day by day, it can be unrealistic to designate certain times of day as “nap times,” as your baby may end up overtired or under tired depending on when they last woke up.
Instead, following awake windows ensures that your baby is just the “right amount” of tired from one nap to the next. You also want to follow sleepy cues, such as eye-rubbing and yawning, to see if awake windows need to be shortened slightly.
When a Schedule Makes Sense
Once your baby is solidly on two naps (around 8-10 months), a schedule starts to become more realistic and you may find that your baby seems to be taking naps at the same time each day.
However, awake windows should still take precedence until at least age 1, so don’t worry if your schedule still doesn’t look the same from day to day.
Now, this doesn’t mean you can’t loosely follow a schedule or have one that you are working towards before age one, but just keep in mind that things may not go according to your plan– and that is completely normal!
Sample
For those of you who do love schedules, here are some sample schedules for each age group. However, keep in mind that they are just that: SAMPLES. Your own baby’s schedule may look quite different, especially because their daily awake time and nap lengths will vary.
If you are dying to see a sample schedule for a newborn, here is one you can use as a guide. However, remember every day is going to change and that is ok!
So what CAN you do to help your little one get on a better schedule?? Here are some resources to help you and your baby get into a regular rhythm and routine based on their developmental stage
If your baby is waking up a lot at night…. https://www.mysweetsleeper.com/blog/fivereasonsyourbabyiswakingatnight
If your baby is taking short naps… https://www.mysweetsleeper.com/blog/how-to-manage-short-naps
If you’re not sure when a good bedtime is… https://www.mysweetsleeper.com/blog/this-is-how-early-your-child-should-be-going-to-bed
Related:
The most common nap transitions your child will experience
