Thursday, May 8, 2008

Sample baby schedules for 11- and 12-month-olds

Getting into a routine with your baby is a personal thing. You'll learn to read your baby's cues to develop a pattern of eating, sleeping, and playing that meets your little one's needs and works for your family.



That said, it can be a big help to see what other moms and dads are doing. We asked parents of 11- and 12-month-olds to share their baby's daily schedule, then picked the seven below as a helpful representation. (If you have a baby this age, share your routine in the comments section at the bottom of this page!)



As you're creating a schedule for your baby, keep in mind that at 11 and 12 months most babies need:



Solid foods three times a day. By now your baby should be eating a variety of different foodsself-feeding and drinking from a sippy cup.



• Before 12 months: 24 to 32 ounces of breast milk or formula in a 24-hour period. (Get specific tips on how to tell whether your baby is getting enough breast milk or formula.) At 12 months, your baby can transition to whole cow's milk and should drink about 16 to 24 ounces a day (more than this can reduce your child's appetite for other healthy foods and can lead to iron deficiency anemia).



• About 13.75 hours of sleep in a 24-hour period — this includes nighttime sleep and naps. Two naps during the day (morning and afternoon) is typical, though some babies will move toward just one long nap each day. Read more about sleep needs at this age.



• Time for playing, working on new skills, and interacting with you.



and taking an active role at mealtimes by

Schedule 1: A formula-feeding stay-at-home mom of an 11-month-old

Editor's note: This schedule is a combination (parent-led and baby-led) routine



7:30 to 8 a.m.: Noah wakes up, has an 8-ounce bottle.



9:30 to 10 a.m.: Breakfast — oatmeal mixed with yogurt or pureed fruit, plus finger foods like small pieces of bagel and cheese or dry cereal.



10:30 a.m.: Nap, usually for two hours.



12:30 p.m.: Lunch — things like small pieces of ravioli, mac and cheese, chicken, veggies, toasted cheese sandwich, or sunflower butter and apple spread sandwich. He also has 4 ounces of formula. Between naps and meals, we read books, Noah plays on the floor or in his jumper while Mommy cooks, we go out, or Noah plays at home with Grampa. Lately his afternoon nap is harder — it can start anywhere from 3 to 5 p.m. or he may skip it entirely. He usually sleeps between one and two hours.



3 to 4 p.m.: He has a 5-ounce bottle of formula if he's awake.



6 p.m.: He has a 5- or 6-ounce bottle (if he didn't have one earlier) and a snack of small crackers or pieces of fruit.



7 p.m.: Dinner — Noah either shares what we have or has the same things as at lunch, then a bath every other day.



8:30 p.m.: He has a 6-ounce bottle.



8 to 9 p.m.: Bedtime. I bring him upstairs and change his diaper, get his jammies on, brush his teeth, and read him Goodnight Moon. Then I put him in his crib and he falls asleep on his own. He usually sleeps through until morning.

Schedule 2: A working mom of a 12-month-old and an older child

Editor's note: This schedule is a combination (parent-led and baby-led) routine



Alivia's schedule:



7 a.m.: Up for the day.



7:15 a.m.: Breakfast. She has an 8-ounce bottle of whole milk, then cereal Os and small pieces of fruit or pancakes or...



8:30 a.m.: Alivia and her sister go to Grammy's for the day, and I work.



8:30 to 10:30 a.m.: Alivia plays with toys, plays with her sister, and has a snack of finger foods.



10:30 a.m.: She takes a short nap (45 minutes to an hour).



11:30 a.m.: She wakes up. I come over during my lunch break.



Noon: Lunch. She has 6 to 8 ounces of whole milk and regular food like yogurt, mac and cheese, or other things.



12:30 to 3 p.m.: She plays or runs errands with Grammy.



3 p.m.: She has 6 ounces of whole milk and takes a nap for one to two hours.



5 p.m.: I pick up the girls from Grammy's.



5:30 to 6 p.m.: Dinner. Lately she has whatever we have, cut into small pieces — lasagna, spaghetti, veggies, chicken, and so on.



7 to 8 p.m.: We play, read books, and have bath time.



8:30 p.m.: She has 6 to 8 ounces of whole milk. I still rock her and sing "You Are My Sunshine" over and over till she falls asleep. I know some people think this is a bad habit, but I'm a working mom and want to be with her as much as possible!

Schedule 3: A formula-feeding stay-at-home mom of an 11-month-old

Editor's note: This schedule is a combination (parent-led and baby-led) routine



8:15 to 8:30 a.m.: Jackson wakes up.



9 a.m.: Breakfast — he has an 8-ounce sippy cup of formula along with oatmeal, yogurt, and small pieces of fruit and waffles or toast.



9:20 to 11 a.m.: Playtime! I read to him, we watch a kids' program on TV, sing songs, and play with his keyboard, balls, train set, and other toys.



Noon: Lunch. Small pieces of grilled cheese sandwich, fruit, veggies, grilled chicken, homemade pizza, ham, soup, or any leftovers from dinner. He also drinks another 8-ounce sippy cup of formula.



12:30 to 1:30 p.m.: More playtime.



1:30 to 3:30 p.m.: Nap time.



4 p.m.: Playtime!



5:30 p.m.: Dinner. Anything from lunch or small pieces of fish, chicken, steak, shepherd's pie, mushrooms, potatoes, various fruits and veggies, or pasta. He has water with dinner.



6 p.m.: Bath time.



6:30 p.m.: Naked baby time!



7 p.m.: Get pj's on and have another 8-ounce sippy cup. After this, we brush his teeth.



7:15 p.m.: We continue to play until he shows signs that he's sleepy or it gets to be 9 p.m. (I put him in his crib by 9 p.m. no matter what.)



At night we don't play with noisy toys. We mostly read and wind down from the day. He falls asleep about five minutes after being put in the crib and sleeps all night.

Schedule 4: A breastfeeding stay-at-home mom of a 12-month-old

Editor's note: This schedule is a combination (parent-led and baby-led) routine



Between 7 and 8 a.m.: Reid wakes up and I nurse him, then he plays while I eat breakfast.



Around 8:30 to 9 a.m.: He eats breakfast — usually half a waffle cut into small pieces, yogurt, a little baby food or baby cereal and some bits of fruit. He drinks from a sippy cup of whole milk or water, but only a couple of ounces. If the weather is nice, we go for a walk after he eats.



10:30 a.m.: He naps for one hour and 10 minutes (longer if I'm lucky, but sometimes it's shorter).



Noon: Lunch — usually a jar of baby food chicken or turkey with a veggie (sometimes I smash extra peas or bits of broccoli into it), plus some dry cereal and bits of cheese, fruit, or corn. He won't eat any veggies with his hands, but he eats them mixed in baby food. He drinks milk and water throughout the day but probably only 8 ounces total. We're working on that. I'm hoping that once he's fully weaned he'll drink more.



1 to 2:30 p.m.: We play, which usually means he's cruising around the coffee table and couch and banging his toys together. His favorite toys aren't actually toys — they're magazines, newspaper circulars, the empty wrapping paper tube, and plastic water bottles. Sometimes we run errands instead.



2:30 to 3 p.m.: Snack (finger foods and milk in a sippy cup) then nap time (again for an hour and 10 minutes).



4 p.m.: More playtime or errand running. Around 5 p.m., my husband takes over and I get a little break.



5:30 p.m.: Dinnertime — basically the same as lunch.



7:30 p.m.: Bath, book, nursing, brush teeth, and he's usually asleep by 8 p.m.

Schedule 5: A formula-feeding and breastfeeding working mom of an 11-month-old

Editor's note: This schedule is a combination (parent-led and baby-led) routine



Here Maya's usual day. I work out of the home full-time.



Between 5:30 and 7 a.m.: Wake up, nurse, and cuddle in bed.



7:30 to 8:15 a.m.: Maya and I drive to the babysitter. I drop her off and go to work.



8:30 a.m.: Maya has breakfast — finger foods and some pureed baby food.



9:30 a.m.: 5-ounce bottle of formula.



10:30 to 11 a.m.: Short nap.



11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.: Playtime.



12:30 to 1 p.m.: Lunch — finger foods and some baby food, plus a 5-ounce bottle of formula.



1 to 1:30 p.m.: Playtime.



1:30 p.m.: Snack — cereal Os or other finger foods.



1:45 to 2:30 p.m.: Playtime.



2:30 p.m.: Maya has a 5-ounce bottle of formula.



2:45 to 4 p.m.: Nap.



4 to 4:30 p.m.: Playtime.



4:30 p.m.: 5-ounce bottle of formula.



5:30 to 6:15 p.m.: Drive home with Mom.



6:15 to 7:15 p.m.: Playtime at home.



7:15 p.m: Dinner — usually small pieces of whatever we're eating.



Around 8 to 8:30 p.m.: Bath time and jammies.



8:30 to 8:45 p.m.: Nurse and cuddle.



8:45 to 9 p.m.: Bedtime.

Schedule 6: A breastfeeding stay-at-home mom of an 11-month-old

Editor's note: This schedule is a combination (parent-led and baby-led) routine



Ella's daily schedule:



7 to 7:30 a.m.: Wake up and nurse for 10 to 15 minutes.



7:30 to 8 a.m.: We play in bed with her stuffed animals and read books.



8 a.m.: She hangs out in the highchair while Mom makes breakfast.



8:15 a.m.: Breakfast for Ella — small pieces of homemade pancakes, French toast, fruit, eggs, cheesy bread, or homemade five-grain cereal. She has a sippy cup of water.



8:45 to 9:30 a.m.: Playtime — we read books or play with blocks, pop-up toys, or music toys.



9:30 to 11 a.m.: Morning nap (give or take 30 minutes).



11 a.m.: I change her diaper, get her dressed, and sit her in her highchair while I make lunch.



Between 11:15 and 11:30 a.m.: Lunch — small pieces of fruit or veggies, whole wheat bread, avocado, beans, chicken, or mac and cheese. She has a sippy cup of water.



Noon to 1:30 p.m.: We usually go out for a walk or to the pool, a mommy-and-baby class, a stroller exercise class, or to do errands.



1:30 p.m.: Nurse and nap.



2:30 to 3 p.m.: Ella wakes up.



3 to 4:30 p.m.: We go out (errands, walk, pool, meet friends, do bubbles) or have playtime inside with books and songs.



4:30 p.m.: Dinner — similar to lunch. She's starting to eat the same things we do. She has a sippy cup of water. After her dinner, I usually give her a bath.



5:30 p.m.: She sits in her highchair and plays while Mom and Dad eat.



6 to 6:30 p.m.: Playtime with Dad — mostly walking around with Dad's help!



6:30 p.m.: Dad and Ella walk around and say good night to her toys and the birds outside. Then he brings her upstairs and they say good night to her stuffed animals. He hands her to me for a diaper change and (hopefully) her last nursing.



7 p.m.: Bedtime. She usually sleeps through the night, but a few times a week she wakes up once. When this happens my husband tries to soothe her back to sleep, but usually I have to nurse her.

Schedule 7: A working mom of a 12-month-old

Editor's note: This schedule is a combination (parent-led and baby-led) routine



Three days a week, we have to be on the road by 4:55 a.m. I work a 12-hour shift — from 5:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. — so those days he spends with my cousin who babysits. The other four days, we have a pretty good routine down.



6 a.m.: Up for the day, has 8 to 10 ounces of whole milk.



6 to 7:30 a.m.: Playtime.



7:30 to 8 a.m.: Breakfast — small pieces of waffle, pancakes, dry cereal, fruit, yogurt.



8 to 9 a.m.: Playtime, singing, reading, exploring.



9 to 9:30 a.m.: Falls asleep and naps for an hour to an hour and a half.



10:30 a.m.: He has an 8-ounce bottle of milk.



11 a.m.: Playtime, swimming, or we go for a walk.



Noon: Lunch time — small pieces of a grilled cheese sandwich, pasta, soup, veggies. Milk in a sippy cup.



12:30 to 3 p.m.: More playtime. Sometimes he plays solo in his play yard while I clean or take a shower nearby. He loves going outside, so we go out a lot.



3 to 5 p.m.: Nap time.



5 to 6 p.m.: Playtime.



6 p.m.: Dinner — small pieces of whatever we have and milk in a sippy cup.



7 p.m.: Bath time. Afterward I give him a massage and brush his teeth.



7:30 p.m.: 8 ounces of milk.



8 p.m.: Bedtime. I rock him and sing to him and he falls asleep in about three minutes. He usually sleeps through the night but sometimes wakes up and cries for a few minutes before falling back to sleep.

source: babycenter



Tuesday, May 6, 2008

Sample baby schedules for 9- and 10-month-olds

Getting into a routine with your baby is a personal thing. You'll learn to read your baby's cues to develop a pattern of eating, sleeping, and playing that meets your little one's needs and works for your family.



That said, it can be a big help to see what other moms and dads are doing. We asked parents of 9- and 10-month-olds to share their baby's daily schedule, then picked the seven below as a helpful representation. (If you have a baby this age, share your routine in the comments section at the bottom of this page!)



As you're creating a schedule for your baby, keep in mind that at 9 and 10 months most babies need:



Solid foods three times a day, plus about 24 to 32 ounces of breast milk or formula in a 24-hour period. (Get specific tips on how to tell whether your baby is getting enough breast milk or formula.) By now, your baby will likely be eating a variety of different foods and taking an active role at mealtimes by self-feeding and drinking from a sippy cup.



• About 14 hours of sleep in a 24-hour period — this includes nighttime sleep and naps. Two naps during the day (morning and afternoon) is typical. Read more about sleep needs at this age.



• Time for playing, working on new skills, and interacting with you.



Schedule 1: A formula-feeding work-at-home mom of a 9-month-old

Editor's note: This schedule is a combination (parent-led and baby-led) routine



I work at home, so we don't get out and about in the morning very often (except to the library at 10 a.m. on Friday for the infant playgroup).



6:30 to 7:30 a.m.: Sera wakes and cuddles with Mom and Dad (we co-sleep right now), then she has a 7- to 8-ounce bottle of formula.



8 a.m.: Mom starts working on her laptop. We spend most of the day in the living room/playroom. Sera is a walking pro, so baby gates are my friend!



8:30 to 9 a.m.: Breakfast. I give her small pieces of cheese, ham, fresh fruit, veggies, and cereal Os.



9 to 10 a.m.: Sera plays, watches some cartoons, and "reads" books mostly independently. I join in when I can.



10 a.m.: She has a 7- to 8-ounce bottle, and then naps for an hour and a half to two hours.



Noon: Lunch. She only eats finger foods, so I give her whatever I have in the house: Small pieces of cheese, meat, fresh veggies, fruit, noodles, and so on, followed by a 6- to 7-ounce bottle.



12:45 to 3 p.m.: Play while Mommy works (same as above).



3 p.m.: Mommy done working. We play together, run errands, clean house (rarely!), go shopping — whatever. She either naps in the car if we go out, or we sneak a nap in around 3:30 or 4 p.m. for an hour and a half to two hours — yes, I said "we"! She has another 7- to 8-ounce bottle in there somewhere.



5:30 to 6 p.m.: Dinner for Sera, same as lunch.



6:30 p.m.: My husband comes home, and we eat dinner. He plays with Sera until around 7:30.



7:30 p.m.: She gets a bath and another bottle and we put her down for the night.

Schedule 2: A formula-feeding working mom of a 10-month-old

Editor's note: This schedule is a combination (parent-led and baby-led) routine



Our schedule is different than most — we start and end late. Daddy works a 12-hour night shift every other night, and Mommy works a standard 9-to-5 shift.



11:30 a.m.: Wake up and eat breakfast — a 9-ounce bottle of soy formula, oatmeal mixed with soy milk, small pieces of fruit, and some fruit puffs.



Noon: Play with Daddy, usually inside the house. She likes her flash cards, toy guitar and piano, books, balls, blocks, big plastic snap beads, and lots of noisy toys.



Between 1 and 2 p.m.: She goes down for her nap, which lasts about two hours.



Between 3 and 4 p.m.: She wakes up and has lunch — a bottle, one jar of stage 3 fruit or veggies, and veggie or fruit puffs.



4 p.m.: Play with Daddy



5:30 p.m.: Mommy comes home. The adults eat dinner while the baby snacks on veggie puffs or has small bites of our food. On nights when he works, Daddy leaves around 6:30 p.m.



6:45 p.m.: She naps for about 45 minutes.



7:30 p.m.: She has dinner — another bottle, one jar of stage 3 dinner, and fruit or veggie puffs.



8 p.m.: I usually give her a bath, depending on how the day goes.



9 to 11 p.m.: She plays with Mommy and Daddy (on nights when he's home) until she's tired. Then she gets another bottle, and we brush her teeth and do the bedtime routine. I rock her in my arms while I sing "You Are My Sunshine."

Schedule 3: A breastfeeding stay-at-home mom of a 10-month-old and an older child

Editor's note: This schedule is a combination (parent-led and baby-led) routine



7 to 8 a.m.: Wake up and nurse, have playtime on the floor or in the activity saucer.



Before 9 a.m.: Breakfast, usually cereal or yogurt with small pieces of fruit. Then we have playtime, go outside for an activity, go to the library, or run errands.



10 a.m.: Naptime for 30 minutes to an hour, usually in the car seat or stroller while we're out.



11 a.m.: Nurse.



Between noon and 1 p.m.: Lunch. She likes a wide variety of foods, so it varies daily. I've been giving her small pieces of turkey or chicken, fruits and veggies, and cheese and bites of yogurt.



1 to 2 p.m.: Indoor playtime — we listen to music, dance, play ball, and roll around.



2 p.m.: Naptime in her crib, usually for two or three hours.



Between 4 and 5 p.m.: Nurse. Indoor playtime — she rolls around on the floor, sits and grabs her toys, or plays with her brother.



6 p.m.: Dinner. She eats small pieces of whatever we're eating, plus her pureed veggies and fruit.



Before 7 p.m.: Bath time and playtime with Daddy.



8 p.m.: Story time, rocking, nursing, and bedtime in her crib. She sleeps all night.

Schedule 4: A formula-feeding stay-at-home mom of a 9-month-old

Editor's note: This schedule is a combination (parent-led and baby-led) routine



Here's Danika's schedule on most days:



9 a.m.: Wake up, babble in crib for about 15 minutes "talking" to her gorilla.



9:15 a.m.: Diaper change and head to the living room to play.



9:30 a.m.: Breakfast — cereal, small pieces of fruit, and about 5 ounces of formula.



11 a.m.: Down for an hour-long nap.



Noon: Up and ready to play. Depending on the weather, we go outdoors with toys or stay indoors. She likes to play with blocks and crawl through her tunnels.



1 p.m.: Lunch — two cubes of frozen veggie puree (homemade baby food), a scrambled egg, half a piece of toast, and fruit — maybe a quarter of a plum cut into small pieces



2 p.m.: 5 ounces of formula.



3 p.m.: Down for another hour- or hour-and-a-half-long nap.



5 p.m.: Dinner — small pieces of veggies and chicken, sometimes another portion of cereal, and 5 ounces of formula.



7 p.m.: Playtime to burn off any leftover energy.



8 p.m.: Bath time.



8:30 p.m.: 5 to 6 ounces of formula.



9 p.m.: If she hasn't fallen asleep after her bottle, I rock her to sleep while singing or watching DVDs with her.

Schedule 5: A breastfeeding work-at-home mom of a 10-month-old

Editor's note: This schedule is a parent-led routine



I work out of my home and rely on this schedule to get anything done.



6 a.m.: Kamryn wakes up, nurses for 15 to 20 minutes, gets a diaper change, and says good morning to Shmoopy (our kitty) and goodbye to Daddy.



6:45 a.m.: Breakfast. I give her finger foods to eat while I make coffee and clean up any leftover dishes from dinner the night before. Kamryn is usually still hungry so I'll feed her some pureed fruit and oatmeal while I eat my breakfast.



7 to 8 a.m.: Mommy takes a shower and gets dressed while Kamryn plays with toys in her play yard. I keep the bathroom door open while I shower so I can keep an eye on her. After my shower, I make the bed and pick up the clothes my dear husband has left on the floor. Then I change Kamryn out of her pj's and comb her hair.



8 a.m.: I start my workday, and Kamryn plays alongside me. She's very good at entertaining herself, but I take breaks to get down and play with her too.



9 a.m.: "Morning Milk Snack." I nurse Kamryn for 15 to 20 minutes. After that I put her back down to play, but she's getting tired so it's a bit of a struggle to keep her happy and occupied.



10 a.m.: Morning nap. We go up to Kamryn's room, change her diaper, and read Where Is Baby's Belly Button? Then I lay her down in her crib with her blanket and teddy bear, turn on her mobile, and she falls asleep. During her nap, I get as much work done as I can.



11:30 a.m.: I get Kamryn up and change her diaper, and she plays for a little while. Noon: Lunch time! I feed her veggies and some kind of meat (stage 2). If she's still hungry, she gets some small pieces of fruit and a couple of low-sugar cookies for dessert.



12:30 p.m.: We watch a kids' TV show.



1 p.m.: Kamryn plays and chases the cat around. Sometimes she'll get in her jumper for a change of pace, but she doesn't want to be in there much now that she's more mobile.



2 p.m.: "Afternoon Milk Snack" for 15 to 20 minutes. More playtime.



3 p.m.: Afternoon nap. We follow the exact same routine as with the morning nap.



4:30 p.m.: She wakes up. I'm usually done with work by this time. Kamryn and I play with her toys in the living room or go outside. I think she gets bored with being in the office all the time — even though it's more like a den and has two other rooms that she can explore.



5:15 p.m.: Kamryn nurses for 15 minutes.



5:30 p.m.: I put her in her highchair and give her some finger foods while I prep for dinner.



5:45 p.m.: Dinnertime for Kamryn. I feed her a stage 3 dinner. Daddy comes home and finishes making the meal I started for us.



6 p.m.: My husband and I eat dinner. Kamryn either plays while we eat, or she'll want to eat what we're having so I'll give her little bits of our food.



6:30 p.m.: Clean up the kitchen.



6:45 p.m.: Family playtime. It's the only time we all get to be together to play during the week. Sometimes we go on a walk.



8 p.m.: Bath time! Kamryn loves her baths. She has a lot of hair and likes to grab it while eating, so baths are a nightly necessity. She plays with her bath toys and splashes around in the tub for a good 15 to 20 minutes every night.



8:20 p.m.: Dry her, apply lotion and butt paste, and put her in a fresh diaper, pj's, and her sleeper sack. I comb her hair and then Daddy holds her while I get ready for her last milk snack. I nurse her for 10 to 15 minutes and lay her down for the night. Sometimes she's awake, but most of the time she falls asleep while nursing.



8:40 p.m.: My husband and I relax, watch TV, and talk about our day.



9:30 p.m.: We go to bed.

Schedule 6: A formula-feeding part-time working mom of a 10-month-old and an older child

Editor's note: This schedule is a combination (parent-led and baby-led) routine



Julian's schedule at daycare is very similar to the one below, except that we leave the house around 7:30 a.m. and his naps are shorter and usually start later. On daycare days, he's usually in bed earlier at night and has a mid-morning snack (typically finger foods like pieces of fruit or cereal Os).



6 to 6:30 a.m. (sometimes 5:45ish): Wakes and gets a 6-ounce bottle of formula right away. Then I change his diaper and his clothes.



7 a.m.: Breakfast — usually one jar of baby food or the homemade equivalent, some cereal Os, and small pieces of banana.



7:30 to 8:30 a.m.: Playtime on the floor with big brother Ethan and Mommy.



8:30 or 9 a.m.: Goes down for a nap in his crib, usually one and a half to two hours.



10:30 or 11 a.m.: He wakes up and has a 6-ounce bottle.



After this we have playtime at home or leave for a playdate.



Noon: Lunch — a jar of baby food or homemade puree, finger foods, and water in a sippy cup.



1 p.m.: Nap, usually for two hours.



3 p.m.: A 6-ounce bottle.



After this we have playtime at home or leave for a playdate.



5 to 6 p.m.: Dinner — finger foods, a teething biscuit, and either jarred baby food or homemade.



6 to 6:30 p.m.: He has a bath.



6:30 to 7:15 p.m.: Julian has another 6-ounce bottle, then I brush his teeth, read him a book or two, and get him ready for bed. He sleeps through the night nearly all the time.

Schedule 7: A breastfeeding stay-at-home mom of a 9-month-old

Editor's note: This schedule is a baby-led routine



Matthew has a little bit of a schedule, at least during the daytime. Sundays are off-schedule because we have church and then spend the day at my parents' house. But on most weekdays it goes like this:



Between 6 and 7 a.m.: He wakes up and snuggles in bed with Mommy and Daddy. I nurse him, and then we get up and get dressed. He has playtime — he usually starts off in his activity saucer and has a snack of cereal Os while he plays. Daddy plays with Matthew as much as possible before he leaves for work. Depending on what time my husband has to be to work and how much I need to get done that day (housework, etc.) I may sleep in until he leaves.



Around 8 or so: Breakfast — stage 2 fruit (although he isn't eating much baby food anymore — he would rather feed himself — so most of the time he doesn't finish a whole jar), yogurt, small chunks of fruit, and more cereal Os. More playtime. He likes to play with all sorts of toys on the floor, walk around the house holding Mommy's fingers, jump in the doorway jumper, and have me read him books.



Around 9:30 or 10 a.m.: Nurse and nap. He usually sleeps for about an hour, but it can be anywhere from 45 minutes to two hours. If we have time after he wakes up, we'll run errands or go to the library. Once a week, we have playgroup. When we're out, he has a sippy cup with water. I try to keep a sippy cup around his play area at home, too.



Around noon: Lunch — a jar of stage 2 fruit or veggies (once again, he doesn't usually eat it all) and some peas, corn, or small pieces of carrots or other veggies to feed himself. I give him pieces of whatever I'm eating — maybe some cheese cubes, part of a sandwich, or macaroni and cheese. We're getting into more finger foods, since that's all he wants!



Around 1:30 p.m.: Nurse and nap. This is usually his longer nap of the day — from one to two hours. If I'm really tired, I'll sleep with him, and if he wakes before I'm ready to get up (say, after one hour instead of two), then I'll nurse him back to sleep for a little longer.



Around 3 p.m.: More playtime inside, or we go for a walk. Later, if I'm desperate to get dinner cooked and he's clingy, I'll put one of his DVDs in. But I try to reserve those for true desperation. He used to watch them every day, but I started feeling bad about that, so now it's a few times a week.



Around 3:30 or 4 p.m.: He nurses again.



Around 6 p.m.: Dinner — he gets a stage 2 or 3 meat dinner (he's more likely to finish these, but not always), along with small pieces of veggies, rice, beans, cheese cubes, cereal Os, chicken...whatever we're having that he can have.



Three nights a week — usually Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday — he gets a bath. Depending on when my husband will be home from work, I may try to keep Matthew awake to see Daddy before bed.



I sing songs to Matthew and rub him down with eczema cream before I put his pj's on.



7 to 8 p.m.: Bedtime. His crib is set up like a sidecar — attached to our bed, with one side open — so we lie next to each other and snuggle, watch his mobile (he has one that projects stars and other stuff onto the ceiling), and nurse until he falls asleep.



Matthew still wakes up at least three times a night to nurse — sometimes more like four to six times.

Schedule 8: A breastfeeding and pumping working mom of a 9-month-old

Editor's note: This schedule is a parent-led routine



6:45 a.m.: Our baby wakes up, nurses, and plays on the floor of our room while we get ready for work.



7:30 a.m.: We all have breakfast. The baby has homemade baby food and finger foods.



7:45 a.m. Our nanny arrives and we leave for work. I only have a 15-minute drive. After we leave, our son has playtime with the nanny.



8:30 a.m.: He naps for about an hour and a half.



10 a.m.: He has a 4-ounce bottle of breast milk, then playtime. I pump at work.



12:30 p.m.: I zip home from work and nurse. If I can't make it he gets a bottle of breast milk and I pump. After nursing or a bottle, he has lunch — generally finger foods, like small pieces of veggies, cheese, meats, crackers, and so on. Then he has playtime.



1:30 p.m.: He naps for almost 2 hours.



4 p.m.: He has a 4-ounce bottle of breast milk. I pump at work.



6 p.m.: I get home from work.



6:30 p.m.: We all have dinner. The baby has homemade baby food and small pieces of whatever we're having. Then it's playtime until bed.



8 p.m.: He has a bath and playtime with Dad, then I nurse him (but not to sleep — he falls asleep on his own). He sleeps all night.

source: babycenter



Monday, May 5, 2008

Sample baby schedules for 7- and 8-month-olds

Getting into a routine with your baby is a personal thing. You'll learn to read your baby's cues to develop a pattern of eating, sleeping, and playing that meets your little one's needs and works for your family.



That said, it can be a big help to see what other moms and dads are doing. We asked parents of 7- and 8-month-olds to share their baby's daily schedule, then picked the seven below as a helpful representation. (If you have a baby this age, share your routine in the comments section at the bottom of this page!)



As you're creating a schedule for your baby, keep in mind that at 7 and 8 months most babies need:



Solid foods two to three times a day, plus about 24 to 32 ounces of breast milk or formula in a 24-hour period. (Get specific tips on how to tell whether your baby is getting enough breast milk or formula.) Now's the time to start increasing the amount and variety of your baby's foods and to introduce finger foods and perhaps a sippy cup.



• About 14 hours of sleep in a 24-hour period — this includes nighttime sleep and naps. Two naps during the day (morning and afternoon) is typical. Read more about sleep needs at this age.



• Time for playing, working on new skills, and interacting with you.



Schedule 1: A breastfeeding stay-at-home mom of an 8-month-old and an older child

Editor's note: This schedule is a parent-led routine



This is for a day when my older daughter doesn't have preschool or a playdate.



7 a.m.: Wake up and nurse for about 20 minutes.



7:30 a.m.: Play on the floor or outside with her sister.



8 a.m.: Breakfast, usually rice cereal or oatmeal and fruit (baby food).



8:30 a.m.: More playtime.



Between 9 and 9:30 a.m.: Nurse for about 15 minutes, then nap.



11 a.m.: Wake up and play.



Noon: Lunch (baby food — a fruit and a veggie).



12:30 p.m.: Play.



1:30 p.m.: Nurse for about 20 minutes, then nap.



3:30 p.m.: Wake up and play.



4 p.m.: Nurse for about 20 minutes.



5 p.m.: Dinner (baby food).



5:30 p.m.: Play, go for a walk.



6:30 p.m.: Bath.



7 p.m.: Nurse for about 20 minutes, then bed



1:30 a.m.: She usually wakes up for a 20-minute nursing session.

Schedule 2: A formula-feeding stay-at-home mom of an 8-month-old and older kids

Editor's note: This schedule is a parent-led routine



Here's what a typical day looks like for Gage:



8 a.m.: Wake up and have an 8-ounce bottle.



8:30 a.m.: Breakfast — baby food — a large jar of fruit.



9 a.m.: Playtime on the floor, crawling, and following his sisters into their playroom.



10 a.m.: 6-ounce bottle and nap time.



Noon: Wake up.



12:30 p.m.: Lunch — baby food — a large jar of meat and veggies.



1 p.m.: Playtime and outside time with his sisters.



2 p.m.: 6-ounce bottle and nap time.



4 p.m.: Wake up, have 4-ounce bottle, story time, and play time.



5:30 p.m.: Sit in highchair watching Mommy make dinner.



6 p.m.: Dinner — baby food — a half jar of veggies and a half jar of fruit.



6:30 p.m.: Playing on the floor or in his sisters' playroom.



7:15 p.m.: Bath time.



7:45 p.m.: 8-ounce bottle and down to bed for the night.

Schedule 3: A formula-feeding working mom of an 8-month-old

Editor's note: This schedule is a parent-led routine



I work out of the home 70 percent of the time and travel 30 percent. We have a full-time, live-out nanny.



6 a.m.: Wake up.



6:30 a.m.: 6-ounce bottle and reflux medicine.



6:45 a.m.: Dress for the day.



7:15 a.m.: Breakfast — a quarter cup oatmeal cereal plus one cube of homemade pureed fruit. Every other day he gets an egg yolk mixed in his cereal and brewer's yeast.



7:45 a.m.: Playtime with Mommy.



8:30 a.m.: Nanny arrives and starts the nap routine — changes diaper, reads a book, sings a lullaby, and puts him in his crib.



9 to 10 a.m.: Nap time.



10 a.m.: Wakes up, gets a fresh diaper. Plays and has time outdoors in the shade.



10:30 a.m.: 5- to 6-ounce bottle.



10:45 a.m.: Playtime.



11:30 a.m.: Lunch — two tablespoons whole-milk yogurt sprinkled with half a teaspoon ground flax seed and a cube of homemade pureed vegetables.



11:50 a.m.: Nap routine — same as above.



Noon to 1:30 p.m.: Nap.



1:30 p.m.: Wake up, gets a fresh diaper.



1:35 p.m.: Playtime.



2 p.m.: 6-ounce bottle.



2:15 p.m.: Playtime.



3 p.m.: Nap routine — same as above.



3:30 to 4:15 p.m.: Nap.



4:15 p.m.: Wakes up, gets a fresh diaper.



4:20 p.m.: Playtime.



5:15 p.m.: 6-ounce bottle (Mommy feeds while talking to nanny about the day).



5:30 p.m.: Nanny leaves, Mommy starts dinner, and Daddy comes home.



5:35 p.m.: Playtime.



6 p.m.: Mommy and Daddy eat dinner. (Baby sits in highchair and eats cereal Os.)



6:20 p.m.: Baby's dinner — two cubes homemade pureed veggies plus one cube homemade pureed fruit.



7 p.m.: Walk.



7:30 p.m.: Bath, baby massage, and pj's.



8 p.m.: 6- to 7-ounce bottle and reflux medicine.



8:15 p.m.: Bedtime routine — brush his teeth, two books, lullaby, put in crib.



9 p.m.: Fast asleep! He usually sleeps through the night except for the past two weeks, when he's been up at 2 a.m., 4 a.m., and 5 a.m. Yikes!

Schedule 4: A formula-feeding and breastfeeding stay-at-home mom of an 8-month-old and older kids

Editor's note: This schedule is a combination (parent-led and baby-led) routine



We don't have things set in stone yet, but this is the way it typically goes. Jacob nurses on demand throughout the day, but I'm trying to wean him to a bottle because I'm going back to work soon. I'd also like for him to start taking formula because I have issues with pumping.



7 to 7:30 a.m.: All the kids wake up, and Jacob nurses.



8 a.m.: Jacob gets cereal and fruit baby food while his older brothers, Zach, Matt, and Josh, eat breakfast. I offer Jacob a bottle of formula.



8:30 a.m.: Jacob gets a quick bath if breakfast was messy. If not, he plays on the floor while his brothers watch cartoons and I eat breakfast.



9 to 9:30 a.m.: All the kids play. Jacob nurses.



Between 9:30 and 10 a.m.: Jacob goes down for a nap.



While Jacob is napping, I try to entertain the older kids and squeeze in some laundry and cleaning.



Between 11:30 a.m. and noon: Jacob wakes up from his nap, and I prepare lunch for the kids. Jacob has meat and veggies baby food and pureed fruit for dessert. He also gets some finger foods to play with and a sippy cup of water while I eat my lunch.



1 p.m.: We go outside for some fresh air and maybe go for a swim.



Between 2 and 2:30 p.m.: We try for our second nap. Jacob nurses before sleeping.



4 p.m.: Jacob is up, and we have a snack.



4 to 5:30 p.m.: The kids all play. Jacob nurses.



5:30 p.m.: We have dinner. Jacob has meat and veggies baby food and pureed fruit. I also offer him a bottle of formula.



6 to 7 p.m.: The kids have quiet playtime.



7 to 7:30 p.m.: Bath time. On Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, my older two sons get bathed. On Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, my younger two get bathed. On Sunday, everyone has a quick shower.



8 p.m.: Pj's are on all the kids, and Josh goes down.



8:15 p.m.: Matt heads to bed.



8:30 p.m.: Zach heads to bed.



9 p.m.: I nurse Jacob and put him to bed.



3 a.m.: Jacob wakes to nurse and then sleeps until morning.

Schedule 5: A formula-feeding working mom of a 7-month-old

Editor's note: This schedule is a parent-led routine



We have two different schedules — one for daycare during the week and one for when we're home.



Monday through Thursday:



5:45 a.m.: Wake up, get dressed for daycare, and leave.



6:15 a.m.: Drop off at daycare.



6:30 a.m.: 6-ounce bottle.



6:45 a.m.: Playtime.



7:30 a.m.: Breakfast — cereal mixed with a half jar of fruit (stage 2).



8 a.m.: Playtime.



9 to 10 or 10:30 a.m.: Nap.



11:30 a.m.: Lunch — 6-ounce bottle, a half jar of veggies (stage 2), cereal Os.



Noon: Playtime.



12:30 or 1 until 2 or 2:30 p.m.: Nap.



3 p.m.: 6-ounce bottle.



3:15 p.m.: Playtime.



3:45 p.m.: Pick up from daycare (he sleeps on the ride home).



4:30 p.m.: Home from daycare, play with Mommy.



6 p.m.: Dinner — cereal mixed with fruit and a half jar of veggies (stage 2).



6:15 p.m.: Playtime.



7:30 p.m.: Start nighttime routine — bath, massage, 6-ounce bottle, brush his teeth, and to bed.



8 p.m.: Sleeping.



Friday through Sunday:



6:30 a.m.: Wake up and cuddle with Mommy or Daddy.



7 a.m.: 6-ounce bottle.



7:30 a.m.: Breakfast — cereal mixed with a half jar of fruit (stage 2).



7:45 a.m.: Playtime.



8:30 to 10 a.m.: Nap.



10 a.m.: Playtime.



11:30 a.m.: Lunch — 6-ounce bottle, a half jar of veggies (stage 2), cereal Os.



Noon: Playtime.



1 to 2:30 p.m.: Nap.



3 or 3:30 p.m.: 6-ounce bottle.



4 p.m.: Playtime.



6 p.m.: Dinner — cereal mixed with fruit and a half jar of veggies (stage 2).



7:30 p.m.: Start nighttime routine — bath, massage, 6-ounce bottle, brush his teeth, and to bed.



8 p.m.: Sleeping.

Schedule 6: A breastfeeding stay-at-home mom of a 7-month-old

Editor's note: This schedule is a baby-led routine



Lately our days look a little something like this:



8 a.m.: Baby wakes, nurses.



8:15 to 9:30 a.m.: Playtime under mobile while Mom fixes breakfast, reads, gets ready.



Between 9:30 and 10 until around 11 a.m.: Naps (usually for about 45 minutes).



11 a.m.: Nurses, plays, rolls, attempts to crawl around on his blanket with his toys.



11:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.: Naps.



12:30 p.m.: Lunch — 3 tablespoons cereal mixed with 2 ounces breast milk, a jar of fruit (baby food), water in a sippy cup. After lunch, we read a Bible story, dance and sing along with music, hang out with friends.



2 or 2:30 to around 3 p.m.: Naps.



3 p.m.: Nurses.



3:15 to 5 p.m.: Playtime, errands, stroller walk.



5 p.m.: Dinner — 3 tablespoons cereal mixed with 2 ounces milk, a jar of veggies (baby food), water in a sippy cup.



5:30 p.m.: Naps — if I'm lucky — while I try to prepare a simple dinner for myself.



6:30 to 7 p.m.: Bath time. We play "Where's Baby?" with a bath towel, and he giggles hysterically and deliriously.



7:15 p.m.: Nurses.



7:30 p.m.: Bedtime.



10 p.m.: Nurses.



3:30 a.m.: Nurses.



8 a.m.: Wake up, repeat day.



He isn't sleeping through the night yet. He eats best during the night feedings, when he's not as distracted. I don't mind this since he's a petite one and can use the extra feedings. And I'm home, which helps a lot. His third and fourth teeth are coming in now, so this throws off his sleep schedule, too.

Schedule 7: A formula-feeding stay-at-home mom of 7-month-old twins

Editor's note: This schedule is a combination (parent-led and baby-led) routine



This schedule may seem very irresponsible to some of you early birds, but it works for us. My husband works until late and leaves early, and this is the only way he can spend time with the twins.



10 a.m.: Wake up and have 6 ounces formula each.



10:15 a.m.: Play on the floor, crawl around.



11 a.m.: Breakfast — one jar of fruit each (baby food), yogurt, and finger foods.



Between noon and 12:30 p.m.: Go down for a nap.



1:30 p.m.: Wake up, play, read books.



2 to 2:30 p.m.: Lunch — stage 2 veggies (baby food), yogurt, and finger foods. They get 6 ounces of formula afterward.



3 to 4 p.m.: Spend time with Grandma and in the bouncers.



4 p.m.: Nap.



5 p.m.: Wake up, play on the floor with toys.



5:45 p.m.: 6 ounces of formula.



7:30 p.m.: Nap.



8:30 p.m.: Wake up, play, read books.



9:45 p.m.: 6 ounces of formula.



11 p.m.: Bedtime. They sleep until 10 the next morning.

Schedule 8: A breastfeeding and pumping working mom of a 7-month-old

Editor's note: This schedule is a parent-led routine



I'm a breastfeeding working mom (a teacher). Here's our schedule:



5 a.m.: Nurse, change my baby's clothes and diaper, and he goes back down. Mommy and Daddy get ready.



6:45 a.m.: Nurse again, drive to daycare.



7:30 a.m.: Breakfast (at daycare): Cereal mixed with 2 ounces of breast milk and 2 ounces of fruit.



9 to 10 a.m.: Morning nap.



11 a.m. Mommy pumps at work. Baby has lunch: 4 ounces of breast milk, plus baby food — 2 ounces of meat, 2 ounces of veggies, and 4 ounces of fruit.



1 to 2:30 p.m.: Afternoon nap.



3 p.m.: Snack. Finger foods and 2 ounces of fruit.



3:30 p.m.: Mommy picks up the baby and we nurse right away.



Once we get home, we play!



5:45 p.m.: Dinner: Cereal, plus 2 ounces of veggies and 2 to 4 ounces of fruit.



7 p.m.: Bedtime routine: Bath, massage, nurse, book, lullaby, prayers.



7:30 p.m.: Baby is asleep.



He usually wakes up once to nurse between 2 and 3:30 a.m.



source: babycenter



Sunday, May 4, 2008

Sample baby schedules for 5- and 6-month-olds

Getting into a routine with your baby is a personal thing. You'll learn to read your baby's cues to develop a pattern of eating, sleeping, and playing that meets your little one's needs and works for your family.



That said, it can be a big help to see what other moms and dads are doing. We asked parents of 5- and 6-month-olds to share their baby's daily schedule, then picked the seven below as a helpful representation. (If you have a baby this age, share your routine in the comments section at the bottom of this page!)



As you're creating a schedule for your baby, keep in mind that at 5 and 6 months most babies need:



• 12 to 36 ounces of breast milk or formula in a 24-hour period. (Get specific tips on how to tell whether your baby is getting enough breast milk or formula.) Most babies start solid foods at this age, though they'll still get most of their nutrition from breast milk or formula.



• About 14.25 hours of sleep in a 24-hour period — this includes nighttime sleep and naps. Two naps during the day (morning and afternoon) is typical, though many babies will still take three naps. Read more about sleep needs at this age.



• Time for playing, developing important muscles, working on new skills, and interacting with you. Try reading to your little one, giving your baby a massage, or going for a stroller walk.



Schedule 1: A breastfeeding attachment-parenting mom of a 6-month-old

Editor's note: This schedule is a baby-led routine



6 to 8 a.m.: Piper (who sleeps with me) moves around without waking, and I nurse her or pat her and she continues to sleep.



8 to 9 a.m.: I kiss Piper awake and we snuggle in the bed for a few minutes. I take off her diaper and pj's and give her a T-shirt or short dress. I sign "potty" and we go to the living room so she can pee in her little potty. (We're doing infant potty training.)



9 to 10 a.m.: Piper plays on the floor wearing a cloth diaper or without a diaper (I put waterproof pads over the rug). She squeals at the cat and I show her the signs for "cat" and the things she's playing with. I've only been trying baby signing for a week.



10 a.m.: Nurse and nap. She usually sleeps about 45 minutes in her bassinet in our bedroom. I prep things for our day and maybe grab a few minutes on the computer. When Piper wakes, I dress her and put her in a disposable diaper. She gets more time on the floor with toys and books and maybe a Mister Rogers record.



11:15 a.m.: One more try on the potty, and I slide Piper into the sling, shoulder my bag, and head for the bus. Piper likes to look around as we walk, and she insists on coming out of the sling for at least part of the bus ride. She smiles at everyone and gets a lot of attention. It must take a lot of energy, because she usually wants to take another short nap toward the end of the bus ride and while we walk the four blocks from the bus to work. On the days we don't work, we hit the park or the library or run errands that we can do on foot.



Noon: Greet the teenagers I'm babysitting and offer them lunch. I give Piper a chance to use the potty. I feed the kids, we play cards or video games, and Piper "helps" or plays on the floor with the toys we keep there. Every time someone wins or makes a good play, they tell Piper about it at high volume and she laughs and kicks.



2 p.m.: Piper's laughter starts getting that hysterical edge, and we break off for nursing and a nap. She sleeps in a Moses basket in the laundry room for about 40 minutes, and then gets up for more play. We go outside to watch the turtle or the kids playing basketball. If she seems clingy, I'll carry her around in the sling so she can see everything but doesn't have to interact unless she wants to.



5 to 6 p.m.: I make dinner for the kids, depending on when their parents are coming home, and Piper and I nurse again, then head home or to a friend's house on the bus. Piper often takes a little nap while we're walking, and she doesn't always need to get out of the sling when we're on the bus going back. On the days we don't work, she naps sometime between 4 and 5 p.m.



6:30 to 7 p.m.: We get home, and I'm pretty tired. Piper gets to spend some time with Daddy or in a bouncer while I make dinner. Sometimes she's tired at 7 p.m., but I know if I put her to bed that early she won't sleep through the night. Sometimes Piper tries some mashed-up fruits or veggies, depending on what we're eating. I keep giving her tiny bites of food as long as she seems interested.



9 p.m.: Dress for bed, nurse in the papasan chair or in bed, and I place Piper asleep in the bassinet (she's really outgrowing it, but I haven't figured out the physics of getting a crib into our postage-stamp-size bedroom yet). She fusses about every 40 minutes, and I pat or nurse her back to sleep. I'm careful to get lots of help from my husband at night or to go to bed early because I'm not my best self when I'm overtired. After I put Piper to bed is when I'm most likely to feel overwhelmed by household responsibilities, but in the morning they're easily managed.



9:30 to 11 p.m.: I take Piper into bed with me when I go to bed. She nurses again and then usually sleeps soundly until 6 a.m. But sometimes she's fitful and needs comfort every hour. There really isn't an in-between.

Schedule 2: A formula-feeding stay-at-home mom of 6-month-old twins and an older child

Editor's note: This schedule is a parent-led routine



7 a.m.: First baby wakes up and drinks 6 to 8 ounces of formula, then relaxes in the swing.



7 to 7:30 a.m.: Big brother wakes up and entertains. 8 a.m.: Second baby drinks 6 to 8 ounces of formula and relaxes in our other swing. Diaper changes.



8:30 to 9:30 a.m.: Playtime — tummy time, playpen, swings, bouncers, and cuddles.



9:30 a.m.: More formula for first baby that woke up, usually about 4 ounces. 10 a.m.: Nap for the baby who woke at 7 a.m. Feeding time for the baby who woke at 8 a.m., usually 4 to 6 ounces.



10:30 a.m.: Naptime for the second baby. I have playtime with the twins' big brother and do some cleaning.



11:30 a.m.: Feeding time for the baby who wakes up first — one jar of baby food, either veggies or cereal.



Noon: Feeding time for the second baby.



12:30 to 2 p.m.: Playtime.



2 p.m.: Feeding time for both babies — 8 ounces of formula each. They're usually on the same schedule at this point.



2:30 p.m.: Naptime.



4:30 p.m.: Feeding time — half jar of veggies and half jar of fruit each.



5:30 p.m.: Relaxing in swings or in bouncer, playing with soft toys.



6:30 to 7:30 p.m.: Bath time.



7:30 p.m.: Feeding time — 8 ounces of formula each.



8 to 8:30 p.m.: Brush their teeth, then bedtime for both babies.

Schedule 3: A breastfeeding work-at-home mom of a 6-month-old

Editor's note: This schedule is a combination (parent-led and baby-led) routine



6 to 6:30 a.m.: Wake up, diaper change, nurse 10 to 20 minutes.



7 to 8 a.m.: Sit with Mommy in rocker, read books, watch PBS.



8 a.m.: Nap for one and a half to two hours while Mommy gets to work in her home office.



10 a.m.: Wake up, diaper change, breakfast (half jar stage 2 fruit and 2 tablespoons rice cereal with 1 ounce breast milk; nurse for 5 to 10 minutes). We mix some of the fruit into the cereal because he doesn't like the bland cereal but we like that he gets vitamins and minerals from it.



10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.: Play in swing, play gym, and jumper and watch Mommy work.



Noon: Nap for one and a half to two hours.



2 p.m.: Wake up, diaper change, nurse 10 to 20 minutes.



2:30 to 4 p.m.: Play time, watch Mommy work.



4 p.m.: Short nap (30 to 45 minutes).



4:30 to 6 p.m.: Play with Mommy on bed, work on crawling skills. (He got up on all fours today!)



6 p.m.: Dinner (half jar stage 2 veggies and 2 tablespoons cereal with 1 ounce breast milk; nurse 5 to 10 minutes).



6:30 to 7:30 p.m.: Play with Daddy.



7:30 p.m.: Bath.



8 p.m.: Nurse 10 to 20 minutes in rocker. He usually falls asleep like this.



8:30 p.m.: Bed time. Sleeps through the night!

Schedule 4: A formula-feeding evening-shift-working mom of a 6-month-old

Editor's note: This schedule is a combination (parent-led and baby-led) routine



9 to 10 a.m.: Wakes up and plays in her crib for a while, then I give her a 6-ounce bottle. She plays for about an hour or we just relax and read or roll around on the floor. Sometimes she's content to just lie on the couch with me and have her binkie. It's my treasured quiet time with just the two of us.



11 a.m.: She usually naps anywhere from one to one and a half hours.



12:30 p.m.: She gets up, we play, then I make her lunch — usually a 5-ounce jar of fruit or veggies and a 4-ounce bottle. Then it's her quiet time with Daddy while I get ready for work. She likes to lie with him and play until she gets sleepy again.



2 to 3 p.m: Naptime.



3 or 3:30 p.m.: She wakes up and it's time to play! Then we take her to Grandma's because we have to go to work.



5 p.m.: Dinnertime with Granny. She eats a 5-ounce jar of veggies or a dinner. She loves stage 2 mac and cheese or veggies and chicken. She also drinks a 4- to 6-ounce bottle.



7 to 8 p.m.: Naptime again. Grandma takes her to visit other family before rolling home around 9 p.m.



9:30 to 10 p.m.: Bath time, then an 8-ounce bottle, a book with Granny, and off to bed. She likes to babble to the animals on her mobile before finally falling asleep. She sleeps through until about 9 a.m.

Schedule 5: A formula-feeding stay-at-home mom of a 5-month-old

Editor's note: This schedule is a parent-led routine



6 a.m.: Jack wakes up and has an 8-ounce bottle.



6 to 7 a.m.: Playtime with Daddy.



7 a.m.: Cereal and pureed fruit (baby food).



8:30 to 10 a.m.: Naptime.



10 to 11 a.m.: Playtime.



11 a.m.: 6- to 8- ounce bottle and jar of fruit (baby food).



Noon to 2 or 3 p.m.: Naptime.



3 p.m.: 6- to 8-ounce bottle.



3 to 6 p.m.: Playtime.



6 to 6:30: We go for our evening walk.



6:30 p.m.: Cereal and veggies (baby food).



6:45 p.m.: Bath time.



7 p.m.: Prayers, 8-ounce bottle, brush his teeth.



7:15 p.m.: Bedtime — Jack sleeps until the next morning.

Schedule 6: A formula-feeding working mom of a 6-month-old

Editor's note: This schedule is a combination (parent-led and baby-led) routine



Isabella is in daycare and has a pretty set schedule.



6 a.m.: She wakes up, starts talking in her crib.



6:15 a.m.: Talking louder, letting Mommy and Daddy know it's time to get up.



6:30 a.m.: Daddy feeds her a 7-ounce bottle and then plays with her and kisses her while Mommy showers quickly and gets ready for work.



7 a.m.: Dress Isabella and leave the house by 7:15.



7:15 to 8 a.m.: Nap time on the way to daycare.



8 a.m.: Kisses and goodbye to Mommy, who goes to work.



At daycare, she spends time in an activity saucer, looks in the mirror, plays with friends, and rolls around on the floor. Sometimes they take her outside to enjoy the fresh air.



10 a.m.: One jar of stage 1 baby food, either vegetables or fruit.



10:30 a.m.: She has a 4-ounce bottle.



10:45 a.m. to noon: Playtime.



Noon to 2 or 2:30 p.m.: Nap time.



2 or 2:30 p.m.: She has a 6-ounce bottle.



After that, she listens to stories and music, plays with friends, and goes outside if the weather is nice.



4:30 or 5 p.m.: Mommy picks up Isabella.



5 to 6 p.m.: Naptime while on the way home.



6:30 p.m.: She has some rice cereal mixed with formula.



7:00 p.m.: Playtime with Daddy while Mommy makes dinner for the adults.



7:30 to 8 p.m.: Bath time and tummy time with Mommy.



8:30 p.m.: 6-ounce bottle, then cuddle with Mommy or Daddy till she falls asleep. She sleeps through the night and we start all over again the next day!

Schedule 7: A breastfeeding stay-at-home mom of a 6-month-old

Editor's note: This schedule is a parent-led routine



Our schedule is pretty set. Luke is a creature of habit — just like me! Having our routine makes it so easy for my parents or anyone to watch him. It's a pain when we're out, though, because he isn't very flexible. After being awake for 90 minutes, he's ready to sleep again.



7:30 a.m.: Wake up, nurse, change his clothes and diaper.



8 a.m.: Breakfast — cereal with fruit (baby food).



8:15 to 9 a.m.: Play with toys, sit in activity saucer.



9 to 11 a.m.: Nap time.



11 a.m.: Wake up, nurse, change diaper.



11:30 a.m.: Lunch — one jar vegetables (baby food).



11:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.: Play with toys, go on a walk if the weather is nice.



12:30 to 2:30 p.m.: Nap time.



2:30 p.m.: Wake up, nurse, change diaper.



3 to 4 p.m.: Play.



4 to 5 p.m.: Nap.



5 p.m.: Wake up, nurse, change diaper.



6 p.m.: Dinner — vegetable and fruit (baby food).



7 p.m.: Nurse, then read a book and go to bed.



10:30 p.m.: I wake him up to nurse so I don't have to pump and so I don't lose my supply. He doesn't mind!

Schedule 8: A breastfeeding and pumping working mom of a 6-month-old

Editor's note: This schedule is a parent-led routine



5 a.m.: I hear D start to whimper in his crib. I get up, change his diaper, and bring him back to my bed where we nurse lying down.



5:30 a.m.: Burp and cuddle with D while he falls back to sleep.



5:45 a.m.: I pump the other breast and get bottles ready for the day.



6 to 7 a.m.: I shower and get ready, wake D, change his diaper and outfit, and we're off to the nanny and work.



9:30 a.m.: I sneak off to my car to pump. The nanny feeds D a 4-ounce bottle of breast milk, followed by playtime and a nap.



12:30 p.m.: Again, I sneak off to my car to pump. The nanny feeds D a 4-ounce bottle of breast milk, followed by playtime and a nap.



3 p.m.: D has a 2-ounce bottle of breast milk, usually followed by a nap.



3:30 p.m.: I leave work and pick up D. We make it home by 4:30.



5 p.m.: Nurse.



5:30 to 6:30 p.m.: I play with D, make dinner, and clean my pump supplies.



6:30 p.m.: Dinner — D has pureed veggies mixed with rice cereal while my husband and I eat. Then we have playtime and a walk.



7:30 p.m.: Story time, bath time.



8 p.m.: Nurse.



9 p.m.: I put D in his crib and he falls right to sleep.



9 to 10:30 p.m.: I get ready for the next day.



source: babycenter