Sleep/ Eat/ Play All Day

Having a structure to the days is so beneficial for baby. Knowing when naps and snacks and play times are provides baby with the security and consistency necessary for little one to feel relaxed and safe. The sequence of events that most sleep consultants recommend is one of, “Sleep/ Eat/ Play”. This pattern benefits baby’s napping as they don’t come to associate eating with falling asleep.

If we start from the time baby wakes up, a sample 7:00 AM- 7:00 PM schedule for a 3 month old would look like this:

7:00-7:15 AM Wake up and milk feed

7:15-9:00 Playtime

9:00-10:00 Nap-time

10:00-10:15 Wake up and milk feed

10:15- 12:00 Playtime

12:00-1:00 Nap-time

1:00- 1:15 Wake up and milk feed

1:15-3:00 Playtime

3:00-4:00 Nap-time

4:00-4:15 Wake up and feed

4:15-6:15 Play and outdoor time

6:15-6:45 Bathtime

6:45-7:00 Last milk feed

7:00 PM Bedtime

You will notice the only milk feed that is before sleeping is the final one before bed to help baby sleep as long as possible throughout the night. Between 6-9 months baby should drop to two naps and after 12 months, the second nap should drop, leaving one long early afternoon nap.

By Hannah Mira, Founder of Bonsoir Bebe Sleep Consulting