Scheduling. Okay, so here’s the thing. I think I would be better off if I didn’t read a single book about infants. Seriously. I am a true perfectionist when it comes to certain things so when I read in a book what a typical newborn ‘schedule’ is like, I feel badly when this doesn’t happen. Can’t help myself. For several weeks I worked to get Lilly on a predictable schedule, but every day continues to be different and I am ‘okay’ with that now. She is, after all, A BABY!!! We do have our routine down – here is what it looks like (more or less):
- wake up between 6:30 & 7:30, eat
- tummy time & play time, mommy and baby yoga
- nap time (mom showers quickly), eat
- dancing with mommy, bumbo baby sitter, reading
- nap time, eat
- run errands or long walk with mommy, sleep on and off in car, eat
- tummy time & play time
- nap or play while mom watches Oprah :), eat
- walk
- sleep in swing while mom eats dinner, eat
- 7:45 – bath time, eat
- 8:30 – sleep (eat 2x during the night)
- Nap time is different every day. Sometimes she naps for 30 minutes and sometimes 2 hours. She is definitely more predictable than she was earlier and I expect she will fall into an even more established routine over the next several weeks/months. She certainly keeps me on my toes!
4 Comments
Welcome to the world of new parents! – when you NEVER really know what the day will bring! It's good that you read the books to get an idea of what might "sort of" happen, but as you have learned, there comes a point where you realize that you and Lilly have a unique relationship and needs that are not the same as what is in a book. I think you are doing a wonderful job being Lilly's mom (you too, dad Bill). Being flexible is sooooo important.
I've picked up and read a lot of your books when I was babysitting Lilly and discovered all kinds of things I did "wrong" as a parent. I created a SNACKER! Oh well, I think that Bill turned out really great dispite my "mistakes".
Love, Judy
Yep – life long snacker. In fact, I'm snacking on some granola at the moment.
I TOTALLY hear ya on this one!! i was the same way, wanting Claire to be on this amazing, consistent schedule, but I could never get it right because she was never predictable in how long or often she'd sleep!! AND, I wouldn't let her "cry it out" until 6 months, becuase I heard that if you do it before then, trust breaks down…anyway, but everyone's different. But it's been really nice how she will just naturally fall into a schedule. I can now say that she's got a good schedule going on. It will come naturally, so don't stress!
Thanks for the boost of confidence Janessa. I can't believe how much 'easier' Lilly is now than she was even two weeks ago!
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