Why should I have a schedule for my baby?
A baby's needs aren't that complicated – food, sleep, play, and love pretty much sums it up. But knowing what your baby requires when, and how much of it, can be a real challenge. Not to mention balancing your baby's needs with your own and those of older children and other family members.
Many parents find that getting into a regular routine or schedule with their baby makes life much easier: It's almost like developing a personalized how-to manual for your child. As a parent, you'll have a predictable pattern for your days with your little one. And your baby will know what to expect – for example, that she gets a bottle after her morning nap, then playtime or an outing.
"Babies like to know that [certain things will happen] at a certain time each day," says pediatrician Tanya Remer Altmann, editor-in-chief of The Wonder Years: Helping Your Baby and Young Child Successfully Negotiate the Major Developmental Milestones.
"When they're not sleep-deprived or hungry, it makes for a much happier baby. By meeting your baby's basic needs, you put her in the best frame of mind – and body – to learn about and explore her new world."
When can I start?
Experts disagree on when and how to establish a routine – and even on whether you need a set schedule for your baby. (See "What are my options?" below.) But many experts, including Altmann, say that babies are ready for a general schedule between 2 and 4 months of age.
Most infants' sleeping and feeding habits become more consistent and predictable after three or four months, says pediatrician Marc Weissbluth, author of Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child. You may want to take this opportunity to encourage your baby to follow a more defined schedule.
Your baby may fall into fairly predictable patterns long before this, however. If that's the case, you can gently encourage your baby's routine. Knowing your child's eating, sleeping, and alert times can give you an understanding of his natural rhythms and enable you to pinpoint developing patterns. In the days following delivery, many parents begin to note when their baby feeds, when he poops and pees, when he sleeps and for how long, and so on.
To log your baby's daily routine, you can use a infant log tracker.
Some experts advocate starting a schedule much sooner.
No matter which approach you take, it's essential that your baby's well-being come first. That means following the advice of your baby's doctor, plus your gut feeling and common sense, to determine what your baby needs when – no matter what the schedule says.
8 signs your baby is hungry
During the newborn period, it's especially important that your baby get enough breast milk or formula to avoid problems like poor weight gain and dehydration. You should never withhold food or sleep when your baby seems to need it because it's "not the right time yet."
"Parents should follow their instincts about what their baby is trying to communicate. "Even though your baby may have eaten one or two hours ago, if she's crying as though she's hungry, you should follow that direction. If your schedule indicates that it's time for your baby to sleep, but she's fussier than normal and needs comforting before going down, then she should be comforted. No schedule should supersede the needs of your baby."
What are my options?
To make things easier, we've grouped baby scheduling methods into three main styles: parent-led, baby-led, and combination.
Parent-led schedules are the most strict. They may specify exactly when (and sometimes how much) your baby will eat, when he'll sleep and for how long, when he'll play or go out, and so on. The schedule may be one you create based on your baby's natural patterns or a suggested routine from an expert, but once it's set, it's very consistent – even down to the minute – from day to day.
Baby-led schedules are the least defined kind of routine. You follow your baby's lead, meaning you'll look for his cues to decide what he needs next rather than imposing a timetable for feedings, rest, or play.
This doesn't mean your days will be totally unpredictable: After the first few weeks, most babies form their own fairly regular patterns of sleeping, playing, and eating. But your baby's schedule may vary from day to day depending on the signals he's giving you.
Combination schedules bring together elements of both baby- and parent-led methods. With this approach, you'll have a timetable for when your baby will eat, sleep, play, and so on, and you'll generally stick to a similar pattern every day.
But you'll have more flexibility than with a strictly parent-led routine. A nap can be pushed back if your baby doesn't seem tired yet, and lunch can be postponed if a trip to the store takes longer than expected.
In the majority of American families, both parents are employed, necessitating the need for infant daycare. Particularly when trusting your infant to a daycare, quality childcare is at the top of the list for any working parent. It can be difficult to trust your infant with someone new but having the right questions at your disposal can make all the difference.
Most Important Questions To Ask Daycare Providers
One of the most important questions sets to cover is regarding the proprietor’s training and education: are they trained in CPR and First Aid? Have all staff members taken child care classes? Aside from references and previous positions, some questions can help you to shine a light on how they might deal with difficult situations that arise with your infant.
Asking how they have handled a difficult situation such as a baby crying uncontrollably, or a childcare emergency can give you an insight into their character and patience level. Getting an idea of their flexibility and daily routines will also help you to make sure they are the right fit for your family.
Information on their license and accreditation and exactly who will be allowed to be around your child are important points to cover. Emergency procedures and plans and how they would plan to notify you in case of an emergency are good topics to cover as well. Asking about their closings and policies for late pickups will also help you to plan accordingly if anything comes up on your end unexpectedly.
The child to caregiver ratio is one of the most important to ask, as it tells you how much attention your infant will receive. Ask how they handle breast milk or formula bottle preparation and what the schedule of a typical day for the center looks like.
Infants reach many milestones in the first year of their lives. How will the center track any milestones reached while they are spending time with your child? You can ask what programs are in place at the center to track and support infants reaching milestones such as transitioning from a bottle or crawling for the first time.
If allergies are common in your family, you’ll want to check in with the center about how they watch out for signs of an allergy. How do they handle allergies of other children at the center?
Finally, it’s a good idea to get a sense of their policies. What are their policies regarding illnesses and immunizations? How often do they sanitize the materials used by the center? Do they take the children out of the center and how would they transport your child?
Looking for essential daycare items like forms, curriculum , and other tools to help you in your daycare business and/or teaching career!
Comments