Feeling Incompetent

Don't beat yourself up over this. If you are doing well, and it works then no need to change. I like a schedule myself, so that I know what we are doing when, and that nap time is this time, and we do it no matter where we are. I just follow her lead. We have a pretty good one, but she wakes up differently sometimes and the same with bed time. YOu can try a schedule all you want, but doesn't mean they will follow. I try, but we go with the flow. Do the same. The only thing is when she starts school, maybe start to introduce something. B/c she may end up late for school or something like that. Take care

It sounds to me like you're doing great! Not only is your baby on a "schedule" (as you said, there is a definite pattern-- that's a schedule!), but you've tuned into it and are working with that schedule. Good for you!!

Sleeping through the night is a misnomer. Through the night for a baby is only 5-6 hours. Your baby is doing great if she sleeps for 8-9 hours at night without being starving in the morning. I used to wake my boys up at night (10pm, 3am, 6-7am) to nurse them until they were eating enough solid foods to "sleep through the night" with respect to my husband's work schedule (that way we all got a good night's sleep).

Keep in mind that this schedule will change as your baby gets older. My boys have gone through three different schedules so far (again, as we added more solid foods and they began sleeping more at night). Keep doing what you're doing and tuning in to what your daughter needs and you'll continue to do what's best for her.

And don't let anyone make you feel bad about the choices you make for your baby. A lot of the time they're only putting you down in order to feel better about their own choices and that is nonsense. If your baby is happy and healthy, you are a GREAT MOM.

Each child is unique. If you are a bad parent you couldn't describe your child sleep pattern. You are aware of what is going on. Enjoy to be a mother. Love your child. To increase your "instincts" use prayer and exercise your trust in God.
He will give you wisdom to raise well the child He gave you.
Be in peace. M.

Sounds like a schedule to me...if you yourself want her to sleep through the night though and not wake up a few times, then you need to monitor how much she is sleeping during the day. For my 5 1/2 month old, it's turning out to be that less (without getting her overtired) is better. If she sleeps under 3 hours between 9am and 5pm with 2-3 naps total, then she is more likely to go down at 7pm for the night, or only wake up once and then be up again at 6:30-7am. But I have the same schedule - 3 hours awake, 1 hour asleep. Good Luck!!

There are enough real worries in being a parent so there is no reason to add worrying what other parents think. You have enough of a schedule that it works for your family. If you are all rested and happy then it is working for you.

A stretch through the night longer then 6 hours is considered sleeping through the night. Neither of my kids slept through the night till 7 mos (my son) and 9 mos (my daughter). And even then I had to push them to do it. And both my kids were on schedules. Not totally rigid but, schedules none the less. They go to be between 7 and 8 (my daugher 7, my son 7:30). Then they are up early because I work. They have breakfast about 7:30 then my daughter naps from about 8:30 till 10:30ish. Lunch at noon. Another nap about 1 and then dinner at 6. Bed at 7 again. She will sleep through when she does. She should be able to do it by now, but sometimes they just need a push.

If your doing something that works for you don't ever let anyone make you feel like a bad parent. My son rarely ever slept thru the night and now he does. You know what he sleeps with me every night and he's almost 4, but he "sleeps thru the night". I need that because I work full time and am on call 24/7. It works for me and eventually he won't want to sleep with me or be so lovey so I'm enjoying every minute.

Sounds to me like she has an excellent schedule for what works in your lives. If you're traveling a lot then a rigid schedule doesn't make sense for you and your family. I would stick to routines that you can follow anywhere if you're worried about it, but sounds like she's doing great to me for 7 months. Here are some things that my doctor has always said to me: is she happy? Not cranky or fussy? meeting milestones? gaining well? eating/ drinking well? If those things are yeses then I wouldn't worry. Just because your friends and neighbors wake up at 7 am and nap at 10 and 2 and go to bed at 7:30 or whatever, doesn't mean that's the best way or what will work for you. I say, follow her cues and do what works for you. Every kid starts to sleep through the night when he/she is ready. There isn't much you can do about that, no matter how much you want her to or think she should be. That's just my take but it sounds like you're doing fine to me!