Can't Figure Out a Schedule for 5 Month Old Baby! Please Help!

OK what's wrong with the schedule that your 5mo is setting for herself? I've always found it easiest to follow their lead, rather than make yourself crazy like you are.
My son always ate before he slept, not the other way around. It was how he soothed himself into sleep. So I would say, don't fight it.

As for the night feeds, I stopped them after DS slept through the night consistently. (4mos). After that, if he woke up, we only did paci. If you don't want to stop cold turkey - and it sounds like she may still need that night feed if she's not eating much during the day - try slowly descreasing how much she gets overnight over a week or two. Then, if she takes a paci, swap that out instead of the bottle once you get down to an ounce.

DS was a horrible napper until he was well past 1yr, so I have no suggestions for you there. He slept in increments like yours is. Occasionally longer, occasionally not at all. That was always a fight for us. CIO was the only option I had after awhile, and for naps, that never worked consistently for me.

In my experience with two boys, the books that say you can schedule a baby are full of beans. My kids didn't take to a regular nap schedule until they were 7 months old or so, and then magically they started taking a long morning nap and an afternoon nap.

Relax, and go with your daughters schedule. And let her eat before she sleeps, as long as she isn't falling asleep with the bottle in her mouth.

This time in their life is so short (I know it seems long right now) I don't think it is worth it to fight with her to get her on the schedule the book says she "should be on". Five months is still young, neither of my boys slept through the night until they were on solids.

Good luck. I know it is tough when you have other kids.

The best advice we received from our pediatrician was to let our babies let us know what their schedules should be. The first year is one of rapid change, development and growth for them. Think of ALL the things they learn in a REALLY short period of time and how much they change.

Schedules are very often more for us than for them, and when we get into a routine, their needs change, and we get frustrated.

If I were in your shoes, I'd work more on the schedule for the older kids and let the baby come along for the ride. I personally believe part of it, too, is that she's at an age where she's beginning to recognize when you're there and not, and she's going through some major developmental milestones, so it's probably a lot of things going on.

We couldn't set a schedule when our second was that age - too many outside distractions and unpredictable variables with my chemo schedule, recovery, so leaving the schedule behind was the only way we could survive.

Good luck!

When my now 10 month old son was born, he didnt wake to eat ever, day or night. So, we woke him every 3 hours, changed his diaper and fed him. At night I let him go 4 hours, then at 5weeks old I just quit waking him at night and let him sleep for 8 hours. As he got older, we stretched the times out, and I always woke him up at feeding time on the dot. We started solids at 4 months and he would eat a jar of food for his lunch. (by 4 months he ate 4 times a day, I think 6oz) I still wake him to eat, he gets himself up in between 9am and 11am, diaper, 8oz whole milk, 6oz jar of third foods plays about 2 hours and goes down. May get himself up about 2:30 otherwise I get him up at 3, he eats 8oz whole milk and stays up until 6, goes in his bed, may or may not sleep but he stays there until 7 when he has a diaper and then 2 4oz jars of food, stays up until 9:30, has his 8oz of milk, a diaper and goes to bed.
I think the biggest thing is to look at your day and anything you always do (say you pick your other kids up at 2:30, you dont want that to be during babies nap time) and then decide when you need the baby awake and asleep. Keep her up about 2-3 hours at a time, and always wake her up exactly at her feeding time (I know this is hard, esp when your doing something else it is tempting to just let them sleep!) Most people make a time to go down for a nap, I have found it much better to make a time to get up.
At night I would try just letting her cry for a bit, esp if it is just fussing. One night of being kind of sad and hungry will not hurt her and will help her reset her little internal clock to day eating.
My son has always just been laid in his crib awake to put himself to sleep, he cried about 20 min off and on when he was a newborn, now he doesnt even cry, he may play and laugh for a bit but he likes his bed.

I have a six-month-old who sounds very much like your daughter with the sleeping. She has always taken 30-45 minute naps, and I can't get her to sleep longer. Luckily, she's great at night, so I guess she's making up for lost sleep. I tried the same eat, activity, sleep that you're trying, but it didn't work for her either (nor my older son). She always wants to eat right before she sleeps, and since she's great about putting herself to sleep, it's fine with me. The problem with eating before sleeping, I think, is that many babies use that to fall asleep and never figure how to fall asleep on their own; because of that, when they wake at night as is normal, they can't fall back asleep without eating for comfort even if they aren't hungry.
I would try concentrating on the sleeping on her own first before you worry about when she eats. We let her cry and fuss to learn to fall asleep, though I know many people don't use that method. I'm a big Weisbluth fan, so I follow his book pretty closely. It took about two days before she really didn't fuss much when put down. My son took longer to learn; every baby is different.
Solids at this point are just to practice eating. She doesn't really need three meals a day because most of her nutrition is still from milk. She might be taking less bottle because she's filling up on solids. You could try cutting down to two meals, or less food at each meal, and see if her oz intake goes up.
Our schedule revolves somewhat around my older son, but since you have older kids too, you will probably have to do some of the same. She wakes around 7, naps around 9, go out/play, eats solids around noon, naps around 1 and goes to bed around 6:30 or even earlier depending how tired she is. She wakes up around 9pm and 1am but puts herself back to sleep after rolling over a few times and banging the side of the crib for about 5 min. She usually doesn't cry at all during these times. I get up anywhere between 3-5 when she wakes hungry, and she's back down till about 7.
I know my reply was long, but I hope it helped a little!

I have a sleep program that puts your baby on a sleep schedule. If you want it send me an e-mail ____@____.com I may still have my sons schedule from when he was 5 months. I can send that too if I still have it.

Mine is 6 months old. I did the Eat, Activity, Sleep with my first child but it just isn't happening this time and that is okay. I can't help much with the eating portion of your question. As far as sleep, is she getting 12 hours at night (even if it is interrupted)? I believe they need to settle into their night sleep patterns before the napping patterns get better. At 6 months, bedtime for my baby is 6:30 and he wakes 1-2 times a night still to eat. Wake time is 7am. He is taking 3 naps a day and 2 of them are still 45 min naps. The 3rd nap just recently started lasting 1.5 hrs. (fyi - their sleep cycles run in 45 min increments). So my advice is try to get 12 hours at night and eventually naps will last longer. It's just a process as baby's natural melatonin doesn't kick in until after the first few months. As far as night feedings/wakenings, I wouldn't stop feeding her yet. She must still need to eat. My little one nurses for short periods and I suspect he gets just a few oz at a time, so I suspect he still needs to eat throughout the night, but oh how I wish we were through with that. I'm with you there! Hang in there. :)

Oh, and I also recommend Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child. It's an awesome book that will help you learn about the sleep cycles and patterns of newborns thru 12 yrs of age. So many people write it off as a CIO book, but it isn't as someone else here stated. The author gives 3 options of getting your newborn to sleep, but still that is just a tiny tiny part of what the book has to offer.

It sounds like you may be over-feeding (but which I mean offering food too often, giving her the chance to be picky about when she eats). 3 solid feedings a day is quite a lot for a 5 month old, in my opinion. I kept mine at 1 solid feeding until 6 or 7 months, then got up to 3 feedings a day by about 9 months. In general, though, I don't think its helpful to try to force your child to eat. If she isn't hungry after a couple efforts, I would just give up until the next feeding.

Now, although I did the eat, play, sleep routine for both of my kids, I'm not convinced its necessary. Some of my friends routinely used milk to put their kids to sleep, and those kids started sleeping through the night at about the same time as mine. But, if you do want to follow that schedule, then you just need to bite the bullet. Pick a day when you can focus on your child and just don't offer milk before naps. Calm your child in other ways put hold firm on no milk.

How often is your child eating during the night? If its more than once or twice, then I would definitely try to reduce it. If it is only once or twice, then I think its up to you, and what you can tolerate. My first child's sleep habits started deteriorating, rather than getting better, around 4.5 months. He started waking up 5 or 6 times a night. So, at 5 months, I started waiting 15 minutes before going to him. After just a couple days, he started sleeping 12 hours through the night. My second child was still eating 3 times during the night at 6 months. So, I started to wait 15 minutes before going to him, and then comforting him until it was later than the night before when I fed him (so I was theoretically always making progress). Well, under that plan, my son very quickly went from 3 to 2 feedings, but I had a very difficult time getting rid of the two feedings. And, whenever he got sick, he backtracked. Anyhow, after 2 months of that I gave up. Then, at 10 months, my pediatrician told me I really shouldn't feed him during the night anymore. So, I let him cry it out. I spent much of the night in his room, comforting him in various ways, but he cried for almost the whole night. It was a very bad night, but, the next day he slept 12 hours through the night! There have been some other nights with some crying, but in general, he sleeps through the night now. Crying it out is hard, but I do think it works, and I don't think it harms the child in any way. As for the 45 minute naps, unfortunately, I think that's just common for this age. They will get better as your baby gets older. If you are still doing three naps, you might want to try to go down to two naps a day ... it may help. Good luck!!

All babies are different. Each baby has their own personality and has different needs. My 3rd is 5 months old right now and he is completely different from my other two. I suggest Elizabeth Pantley's "The No-Cry Sleep Solution" for napping and nighttime. Also, my 5 month old has been only taking 20 - 45 minute naps during the day and seems to be just fine. None of my kids slept through the night before they were 2 years old. Most of the time they just needed to know that their parents were there and that we will be there for them whenever they need us. Just keep in mind that early childhood is gone in a flash and before you know it, they will have their own kids and be asking you these same questions. Best of luck to you.

Let your baby tell you what schedule she wants to be on. Some 5 month olds are not ready for solids. Maybe she's trying to tell you to hold off for a couple weeks. Mine didn't take solids until 8-9 months, and he didn't drop night feedings until 12 months. If she doesn't want a bottle after her nap, that's ok. Let her play a little while and work up a good appetite. I hate to say it, but you are kinda at her mercy. Do what she says and no one gets hurt!!!

just my opinion and not wanting to sound offensive but, let your baby decide the scedule. They know when they are hungry and will eat when they want it. It is nice in theory to have a set schedule but what is nice for us may be wrong for your baby. my two kids were totally different. my daughter was a 30- 45 minute napper and never had a schedule she had super energy. my son would sleep all the time and wake up to eat stay up an hour then sleep again.

Routine is the answer, not schedule. Be flexible. Just because you want her on a specific schedule doesn't mean she will get on it. All babies are different. Instead of trying to force her to your schedule, try to figure out hers and your life will be easier.

I am not an expert because my first child is just 4 months old but I am reading Heathly Sleep Habits, Happy Child and it addresses your issue. I think the book is helpful...especially if you are staying home. He outlines three options from the most conservative "no cry" method to extention which is where they cry it out. You can pick which method is best for you. Good Luck!

The short answer is, stop trying to boss your baby around! :D I say that jokingly, but really - she cannot be reasoned with, you cannot discipline her or explain that if she just goes to sleep first, THEN you will give her that bottle she's crying to get. Sounds like your first two were exceedingly easy babies - I had one of those, then my middle one was just like this one, so I completely understand.

I bet the fussiness after her short nap is the fact that you're trying to give her a bottle when she doesn't want one! And trust me, I've been there with a catnapping baby, so I feel your pain. Some kids do that, and some 5-month-olds don't sleep through the night.

Let her tell you what she needs. THAT is good parenting, not making her do what you want her to do. Everyone else will just have to be understanding, including the other kids and you. Every baby's different!

I know the sleep deprivation isn't helping, so don't forget to ask for help when you need it. Good luck!

hi mommy 24 seven.i have an 8mnth old son who is totally different feeding wise to wot my daughter was who is now 14.lol.it is all so new and different with such a gap its all changed.now u r advised not 2 start solids until ur baby is 6mnths.my son is not a great eater either,he naps during day also and sleeps all night.my son is still in a 4-5hr routine for bottles.he will not drink any other fluids and believe me its not without lack of trying and still.i found that if i wait an hour or 2 after 1st btle in morn,he will take sum weetobix or porridge.then by time nxt btle is due,usually abt 2hrs later,he will take most if not all 8oz.my son takes 4 bottles a day.there is no set routine realy,i take it from his 1st btle in morn now,making sure there is an hour or 2 btwn his btle and food.most days i find he will have btle-1,2hrs later brkfst.most days he will jst take 2nd btle on own.2hrs b4 his 3rd btle he will have half jar of food,n quartre jar pudding.then he will take lst bottle on own b4 sleeping all night.my son is happy with his bottles which ur daughter is with 2.try n give her the bottle 1st then try food an hour or 2 after.if my son falls asleep at certain time of night,i will wake him up after half hour then i no if he falls asleep after 9pm it will b 4 the night.gd luck.xx