The idea of babies and schedules is actually pretty funny: They haven?t read the books, articles or blogs, they have no idea what time it is, and the only sure thing about parenting is that, as soon as you get used to something, it?s going to change. Though it?s true that a specific timetable is not going to work at all, it can help many parents, especially in those blurry, exhausted days, to have some idea of when their babies need sleep and food. After all, a baby who is too tired or too hungry to settle is not a happy kiddo. We talked to some experts to find out the most typical windows for waking, sleeping and feeding.
Sleep and feeding schedules for your newborn
During the first month, your newborn sleeps a lot and is usually only awake for about 45 minutes at a stretch. They often confuse day and night and take plenty of catnaps. And, of course, they eat frequently, with all the wet and dirty diapers to prove it (yes, you?ll be counting those diapers in the first little while to help make sure that they?re getting enough milk). See the newborn sleep and feeding schedule.
Sleep and feeding schedules for your 1- to 3-month-old
By the second month, your baby is more alert but still needs lots of time to sleep and eat. As you enter the third month, you may feel like things are a little more predictable because you and your baby have had lots of time to get used to each other. Still, they are bound to change things up. ?Newborns are kind of wonky,? says Alexis Dubief, a...