When I had my first baby, it was hard for me to figure out what her daily schedule was supposed to look like.  I decided to write up the schedule that we are currently following with N so other moms can get an idea of what timing we use for things.  Keep in mind that every baby is different and has different needs.  This schedule works for us — especially because it meshes well with L’s schedule.

7:00am  Wake up — N usually wakes up for the day between 6:30 and 7:15am.  If she is still sleeping at 7:30am, I wake her up.  I know, I know, never wake a sleeping baby.  I don’t like that advice.  I wake her up so she’ll be ready for her afternoon nap at the right time.  I need to know what to expect from her the whole day, especially since I also have a toddler at home.

7:30am  Breakfast — This is when we serve solid foods to N.  She is 9 months old, but she doesn’t yet have any teeth!  We are still serving her mostly purees, with a few mum-mums mixed in so she can practice chewing something that will dissolve in her mouth.  Even if she still doesn’t have any teeth by 10 months, we will begin serving her soft finger foods — I like to start with the same foods that she enjoys as purees.  For example, I’ll steam some cut up apples or carrots and serve those first.

8:00-9:30am  Playtime — This is usually when I’m getting ready in the morning, so I have a little space set up in my bedroom for N to play while I’m getting ready.  It doesn’t take two hours, so we also play downstairs when I’m done.  N usually plays independently at this time or with L.

9:30am  Bottle (or Nurse)/Snack — I’m so glad that we’re done with morning naps!  However, your little one might still need that short morning nap in addition to an afternoon nap.  N doesn’t take scheduled morning naps anymore, but she does sometimes fall asleep for 5 to 10 minutes while feeding or in the car if we’re running errands.  As your infant is getting closer to the one-year mark, you can give her a small snack at this time as well.  With L, I started replacing the bottle with formula in a sippy cup during her eleventh month in preparation for the switch over to drinking milk.

10:00-11:30am  Playtime — I usually play with N during this time, or we use it to run errands!

11:30am  Lunch — Solid foods and water.  Sometimes we have this meal outside if L wants to play in the backyard.

12:15 Bottle (or Nurse) — N usually falls asleep while drinking her bottle.

12:30-3:30pm Nap — N usually naps until at least 2:45, sometimes all the way until 3:30!  This is when I work on my blog or clean.  Haha.  But really, I hardly ever clean.

3:30pm   Bottle (or Nurse)/Snack

4:00-5:30pm  Outside Play — This is when we usually go outside to play.  N will no longer sit still on a blanket outside, but I still spread it out for me to sit on.  She wanders around — usually following her big sister all around the yard.  This is usually a free exploration time rather than planned activities.

5:30pm  Dinner — Solid foods and water.

6:00pm  Bath/Walk & Playtime — We don’t give N a bath everyday unless she’s REALLY dirty.

7:30pm  Bedtime Routine — We go upstairs together as a family to get ready for bed.  We put on pajamas, brush teeth [at least we will if N every gets any…], and read a book together.

7:45pm  Bottle (or Nurse) & Bed — N usually falls asleep while drinking her bottle, but if she doesn’t, we put her down still awake while she’s holding her lovey.

 

Once again, every child is different.  What works for us might not work for you.  Adjust accordingly.  You know your own child better than I do — follow your child to see what works for your family.

 

Click on these links for sample schedules for your 6- to 9-Month-Old, your 12- to 18-Month-Old, your 18-Month-Old to 3-Year-Old, or to Know You’re Not Alone.  🙂

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