3 Month Old Schedule?

Baby's only 3 months old? Forget schedules. Let a sleepy baby sleep. Feed a hungry baby. Change a soiled baby. Simple. I've never heard of development suffering from too much sleep. In fact, isn't it the exact opposite?

this is your second child?
hm.
4 hours at a stretch is not a long time for a tiny baby to sleep.
babies' developments don't 'suffer because of sleep.'
if i woke you up after 4 hours of sleep, might you be a little fussy?
schedules are nice for moms. they are generally difficult for babies. babies sleep when they're sleepy and want to eat when they're hungry and get changed when they're wet. they don't pay too much attention to clocks.
i suggest you tune in more to your baby and worry less about schedules, which change rapidly as tiny babies grow.
khairete
S.

My son slept when he was tired, ate when he was hungry and we changed him when he was wet. That was it. We NEVER EVER EVER considered waking him up. Certainly not because he had slept for 4 hours. The best advice we ever got was 'never wake the baby'.

He's an infant. He's going to sleep, and he's going to be fussy if his sleep cycle is interrupted. It sounds like your baby needs/wants a long morning nap. I don't understand why that's a problem for you, other than you may feel you have things to do. Can you explain why you think his development will suffer if he's sleeping? I would think it would be the opposite - he won't develop normally if he's sleep-deprived. What do you think he should be doing to "develop", such that you want to wake him up for it? Learning stuff? Give him stimulation during his best waking hours! Hang things over his stroller or car seat, take him for walks, give him toys of different colors/textures, lay him on the floor with things above him that move or swing, sing to him, even read very simple board books to him with just a few pictures. Are you worried that his development will suffer because he's not eating for 4 hours? But he's sleeping for 12 hours, and I'm guessing he eats when he wakes up in the morning, again after his long morning nap, and at least 1-2 more times before 6 PM.

If he's lethargic during his waking hours, then yes, get him checked out. Otherwise, babies need sleep! If he's content when he's awake on his natural schedule, if he's eating and peeing and pooping, if he's alert, then he's fine.

Based on this and your other question, I think you need to learn more about babies. Basically, they set their own schedule, and you adapt to it. I wouldn't try to impose a schedule on him, but rather go with his natural rhythms. Learn to observe and listen to him, to respond when he is tired and to engage him when he is not.

Please get into a parenting support group to help you through your baby's natural stages. Sometimes these are run at community centers, YMCAs, through local clubs or churches/synagogues, or through another group (ask your pediatrician for a referral).

I cannot imagine wanting to wake a baby up so you can help him develop. He's growing and doing what he's supposed to, even when he's sleeping.

I love Suz's response. I am going to have to remember that one.

When I had my first, I started out by following my baby's lead. Then some well meaning person gave me a baby book on how to help get them into a routine.

It went downhill from there.

My mom reminded me one day, when I woke my baby, that in some parts of the world, women wear their babies on their backs and work all day in the fields. They stop and tend to their babies when they wake, cry, or are wet. It works quite well and has for ever.

She encouraged me to turf the book and schedules.

I only share this because I just cared for my babies from then on, and didn't worry about what anyone else was doing or what worked for them. If I listened to my baby, he/she'd tell me what they needed. They were fine. All developed well. And I was less stressed and so were they.

Your baby sounds fine. I think some moms would be thankful to have a baby who slept so well. He may be ready for a growth spurt.

* If he's lethargic or something is wrong, then of course you'd mention it to your doctor, but if he's gaining weight and content, let him be. Usually moms are just worried about them getting enough milk in them when they sleep a lot, but if he's awake enough to feed - you should be good. He'll get more active as time goes on.

Good luck :)

Let a sleeping baby sleep!
Enjoy it while it lasts.
At that age they are growing so fast their schedule changes whether you like it or not.
Just roll with it!
Sleeping is NECESSARY for his development!
His brain is growing, his skull bones are knitting (soft spots gradually go away by about 1 yr old).
Believe me - he's developing just perfectly and sleep is needed for it to happen!

My grandson used to sleep 7:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. Then he went down for a morning nap around 9:00 and slept until about noon. Then he would take a short 45 minute or so nap around 4:00 and then in bed for the night at 7:00.

His development won't suffer because of sleep. Most infants sleep a lot. They grow when they're sleeping. He would suffer more from lack of sleep.

at 3 months i was on baby's schedule. i ate at normal times but for baby i did what they needed when they needed it.
babies develop while sleeping so don't worry about that. when they are ready for learning new things they will be awake and will learn thru play, and interactions with you.

I would go for 7p bedtime, and 3 naps a day about 9a, 1p and 4:30 ish (short one). You didn't mention how often he nurses or has a bottle. I didn't let my kids nap past 3 hours. Need a little more info about his feeds and afternoon naps?

I love these schedules - good for nursing and formula fed babies. Good luck!

http://www.babysleepsite.com/schedules/3-month-old-baby-s...

sign him up on parencenter.com and you'll get daily, weekly, and monthly emails to tell you what you can expect your little guy to do, be starting, and signs he's about to start something new.

You can do it for all your kids and each one will have their own milestone email to you.