I have a 7 week old, and I am wondering when is a good time to start getting her on a schedule? And also wondering what a typical schedule is like? ANY suggestions/comments would be helpful for this first time mom:) Thanks

Welcome MGengler!

I have a 13 week old and we really didn't get him on a schedule until he was about 10 weeks old. A typical day for us is, sometime between 6:30-7:30am he get up and I BF him. Then he will usually play for about an hour and then goes down for a short nap, usually only 45 minutes. Then he is up again about 9:30am. I feed him and we play until about 11:45am or so. Then I give him a bottle of formula and put him down for his long nap, about 2 hours. Then he gets up about 2:00pm, I feed him again and then we play. He eats again about 4pm. Then he may or may not take a nap. If he does it's usually only about 20 minutes or so. I'll feed him again between 5:30-6:00pm. Then we'll play or walk with him (I've done a million laps around my kitchen, dining room, living room :lol: ). Then he will get his bedtime bottle of formula around 7:00pm. When he is done with that we put him to bed. He'll usually sleep until sometime between 12-1am, then my husband gets up to feed him. then he'll get up between 3:30-4:30am and I'll get up to feed him. Then he gets up for the day between 6:30-7:30am and we start all over.

I genreally follow his lead as to when he's tired or hungry, but he's finally gotten pretty predicatable to the routine above. Of course there are times when I have to feed him at a certain time because we are going out or I need to be somewhere. Also, I've learned that if I need to run errands to go right after he's been fed, then I usually have a good 1.5-2 hour window before he needs to be fed again.

For awhile he was only taking little catnaps, 45 minutes tops and it was drving me crazy. But as he got older and started eating more he started napping better. I did figure out for his long nap to put him to bed right after I feed him, I think it helps him sleep longer. :lol:

I'm a first time mom also so I know you are constantly second guessing yourself if you're doing everything right. I'm sure your are and your if your little one seems happy and is growing, I'm sure you are.

I promise it will get easier. I was ready to go insane at 7 weeks and then around 10 weeks it got much better.

In my experience she will put you on a schedule. :) Congratulations!

Thank you so much for the advice!
What about bathtimes? Do you think morning or night is better?

I tend to do bath times at night, before so she's clean before going into jammies. But whatever works for your schedule (and baby's temperment) is good.

Congratulations!!!

The one thing I learned after having my first daughter is....that I didn't need to worry so much about schedules. She pretty much set them all herself. So, this time around I am just kinda following her lead. She pretty much rules the roost right now, and I figure we will settle into a routine as she gets older. I am nursing, so she eats pretty much every time she squawks. I try and let her sleep whenever she wants, as sleep begets sleep. Bathtime? I try and make sure she doesn't get too stinky. I shoot for every other day. FYI, my 2nd DD is 3.5 months.

Thank you all for the advice, I am always open to learning as much as I can!

I'm not a believer in strict schedules. I follow the baby's lead. Feed when she's hungry, sleep when she's tired etc.

As for the bath, I always give one at the end of the day. It's a nice wind down before bed :)

I agree with the others. :)

Congratulations! :congrats:

I wanted to add, what I posted above is an ideal day for us. There are somedays that he doesn't want to nap and may ony nap for an hour total during the day. Or there are nights where he gets up 4-5 times.

We usually only give our little guy a bath every 2-3 days, usally right before his last feeding. Although, if he's had a particularly messy diaper we'll give him one sooner. Also, I usaully give him a quick sponge bath og his face, neck and hands everyday in the morning.

You guys are great! Anything else I need to know?

HI MELISSA! I didn't know you visited. You should subscribe you know. Then you can write a journal about everything Emmy does and how she is growing up. It will be great to show her someday.

Hi Melissa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :wavey: Welcome to OUAL!!!!!!!!! Subscribe like Heather said then we can follow sweet little Emmy's progress!!! :)

Thank you everybody for such a warm welcome! I already love it here:) I think I should subscribe.....I will check it out. Talk to you all soon.