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
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