Sorry.. another newborn question...

Sadie is 6 weeks and, really, every day is still so different. I can't really say she has ANY kind of schedule. Sometimes she eats every 3 or 4 hours, sometimes she wants more after 2. The nights are VERY inconsistent as well. She is up all night one night, and will sleep 5-6 hrs straight the next.

I assumed this was pretty typical, but I have been seeing lots of posts about feeding and sleeping schedules saying, "DC will wake up at 12, 3, 6", or "...at his 5am feeding" so I am wondering if she should be more structured by now?

Re: Sorry.. another newborn question...

With newborns, the range of *normal* is VERY broad. My DDs did exactly what yours is doing. Over time, a schedule will develop.

BTW- I highly recommend the book, "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child."

Message edited 3/7/2009 9:12:41 AM.

Re: Sorry.. another newborn question...

I didnt start getting a set schedule until about 3 months - when she became more consistent.

Every baby is different but I would say at 6 weeks she is def still too unpredictable.

I also would HIGHLY recommend Healthy Sleeping Habits, Happy Baby.

Message edited 3/7/2009 9:14:25 AM.

Re: Sorry.. another newborn question...

DD was structured by like 6 weeks, when DS was not structured even at like 12 weeks. One day she will just snap into it.
See if you can hold her off on a feeding and get her used to waiting a bit so you are in control, not her as much.

Re: Sorry.. another newborn question...

Don't apologize Jen!!! I think I had the exact same question!!!! I'm going to say from my experience that 6 weeks is just a little too early for a "schedule" of any type. Right now it's just feed/sleep on demand, so it's a little rough I know. At this point you might want to keep a log of baby's feeding/napping/sleeping schedule (with # of oz at each feeding) and see if any pattern emerges over the next 3 weeks. I did this and brought it to my ped at his 8 week visit and it turns out I was feeding him 36 oz a day but the ped recommended no more than 32oz
Just hang in there and don't try to force it just yet, Sadie will surprise you over the next few weeks as she gets more "regular"!!

Re: Sorry.. another newborn question...

We have no schedule here either. Our days are very similar to what you posted. I let them dictate the day. If they are hungry, they eat. If they are tired they sleep. They tend to do things at similar times each day, so they have themselves on a sort of routine, but nothing is set in stone.

Re: Sorry.. another newborn question...

I wasn't able to get into a schedule with DS until 3 months. Before that there was no way, every day was so different. At 4 months I'm still working on his sleeping schedule, it gets so much better though from 6 weeks to now. It's completely normal what you are going through.

Re: Sorry.. another newborn question...

I pretty much let my kids determine the schedule-it just happens to be every 3 hrs to eat or so.

Re: Sorry.. another newborn question...

I think every child is different Jen.
I don't really have a set schedule either. Some nights he happens to wake up around the same time and others not. I feed on demand and he sleeps when he's tired. I think once they get a few months old you might be able to start having a schedule.

Re: Sorry.. another newborn question...

Well, Im in the same boat. We were maybe on some kind of schedule and the last 2 days that is shot to hell.

Yesterday he ate about every hour about an once and a half. Opposed to his normal every 3-4 hours 4ozs. He was up last night every 2 1/2- 3 hours, where I was getting almost 4-5 straight hours.

Today, he ate 4 1/2 oz and has been sleeping for almost 1 1/2 hours.

You are not alone, Im just as lost. I figure as long as he is somewhat content, Rock on.

Re: Sorry.. another newborn question...

My DS is 10.5 weeks and has no schedule during the day, his night time routine is set now - but days vary greatly!

Two weeks ago I tried to get him on a daytime routine and ended up with a cranky baby, so I figure he just isn't ready for it yet. Yesterday he took a 3 hour nap in the morning, today he took an hour nap, was up for 2.5 hours and then went down again ....we'll see what happens tomorrow

Re: Sorry.. another newborn question...

Sydnie's 6 months and still not on a schedule. I let her dictate, I know it's not for everyone but it works for us.

Re: Sorry.. another newborn question...

She will snap into it on her own, I would just suggest developing a schedule for yourself. Try to feed her every certain set amount of hours. In the evening, start bathtime at a regular time. In the morning, get her ready at a certain time, go out and do things. She will soon fall into it and wil be able to predict what comes next. This will help you and her tremendously in becoming easy going.

Re: Sorry.. another newborn question...

ehhhhh, DS is almost 6 months old and he does not have a solid schedule except his bed time. everything else, he does what he wants when he wants

for example he is supposed to be napping now, but he is beating up all the toys on his exersaucer. If I dare take him out he will have a FIT!

Re: Sorry.. another newborn question...

We have the same thing...he's almost 3 weeks and sometimes hes ravenous and will eat 5 ounces and other times I feel like I'm forcing an ounce and a half.
We tried a schedule but he wasn't having that so now we are on a feed/sleep on demand schedule.

So far today, he's been sleeping for 4 hours where as yesterday he got an hour or two at a time.

I'm glad I'm not alone!!

Re: Sorry.. another newborn question...

My son is 3&1/2 months old and he is only now starting to become a little bit predictable. I think a lot depends on the baby and then how rigid a parent you are. I am one that believes you can't schedule a newborn so we just go with the flow until he finds his own rhythm while other people work to get their young babies on a schedule. I don't think there is a right or wrong really.

Re: Sorry.. another newborn question...

We never had a very exact schedule. If we did seem to start to maintain a routine, it would change rather quickly as he grew and his needs changed. We would write down his times and try to look for patterns but I tried not to worry too much about it because he seemed happy otherwise.

Re: Sorry.. another newborn question...

I never put the boys on a schedule, they kinda put themselves on one after a while of just doing everything on demand. The only thing that was done the same was our night bed routine.

Re: Sorry.. another newborn question...

We didn't try to put her on a schedule. It just happened and coincidentally, we usually feed her 12, 3 and 6 ish. But, Last night she slept from 11-7!!!

Most recently I started reading "The Baby Whisperer" By Tracy Hogg and she talks about the E.A.S.Y plan, which stands for EAting, Activity, Sleeping and YOU time. It's about getting your baby on structured routine. It makes sense.