Baby Tips

Why A Schedule For Your Baby Is So Important

Thinking about putting your baby on a schedule? Find out the 7 reasons why having a schedule for your baby is beneficial to you and to your baby!

The first time someone told me to put my baby on a schedule, I just rolled my eyes and nodded my head. I was pregnant and it was honestly the last thing on my mind.

9 months later, I immediately regretted not paying closer attention because I quickly found out how important having a schedule for my baby was!

Why does my baby need a schedule?

Why is a schedule so important?

It’s impossible to get my baby on a schedule, why try?

I have heard all of these questions time and time again and trust me, I hear the validity in all of them!

Having a schedule for your baby comforts them by giving you baby something they can expect daily- this, in turn, will benefit both you and your baby greatly!

Your baby’s overall daily schedule will consist of 2 schedules within a daily schedule:

a feeding schedule, and
a nap schedule.

The feeding and nap schedule will create your overall daily schedule. (I know it sounds like a lot of information but it’s really simple- I promise!)

Take a second to think about your normal day… I bet it has some sort of schedule. It may or may not be a super detailed schedule but in some way, shape, or form you follow a schedule.

Wake up, go to the bathroom, get dressed, have breakfast, etc.

Babies are the same way! Only they can’t create their own schedule because they can’t do anything for themselves. This is where parents come in…

7 Reasons Why a Schedule For Your Baby is so Important!

1. Babies Thrive on Schedules

Did you know that babies actually love schedules? I’m not a doctor or therapist or scientist so I cannot tell you the actual facts behind this, but from experience, the babies that I have helped get on a schedule have drastically, positively changed.

When a baby is fed, bathed, plays, naps, and sleeps around the same time every day it gives them a pattern. This pattern will help you teach them fundamentals- such as eating, sitting up, self-soothing, etc.

When your baby knows what’s going to happen next, it becomes a part of them and then begins to flow naturally as they grow.

When I first started taking my daughter with me on errands she would be up the whole time and get fussy because she was overly tired. Then I started nailing down her schedule.

When I started planning my day with her schedule in mind, she completely stopped all fussiness because she wasn’t tired and uncomfortable anymore!

2. Schedules Can Help You Know Your Baby

Having your little one on a schedule can help you know them better. Because you can already anticipate what your baby will need from you doing or what he will be doing, can better guide and help him.

I started a schedule with my daughter when she was about 2 months. I began to know my daughter on a whole new level because I started to notice her moods at certain times.

If she was fussy at 2:00pm then I knew she wasn’t tired because this is the time that she usually plays, so it had to be something else.

I started to notice she was fussy and crying at certain times throughout the day and that’s when I was able to predict that she might have gas issues/colic.

If it wasn’t for her schedule, I would have just thought she was hungry or tired.

You begin to know your baby because your baby knows their schedule.

3. Schedules Help You Learn Your Baby’s Cues

When you know what your baby is about to do next (such as nap), you begin to quickly learn their cues.

When a baby is tired they can start to rub their eyes or rub their nose/face. Sometimes this can be confused with hunger because if you don’t know your baby you can maybe think they are touching their mouth for food.

By knowing your baby’s cues (hunger cues, sleepy cues) you can better understand them. This is their early way of communicating with you!

Truth is, a lot of parents miss out on these early communication cues. When your baby is on a daily schedule, it can help you learn your baby’s cues and help them communicate with you better.

Don’t forget to download your copy of my free Mommy & Me All in One Planner to help you start your own daily schedule with your baby!

4. Schedules Can Help You Teach Baby New Things

Having a schedule can help you teach your baby new things by allowing you to introduce something new to your baby at a certain time each day.

Let’s say you want to start your baby with tummy time and then eventually help her start sitting up. Use your scheduled play time to start baby exercises that you can do together.

After implementing the activity for a couple of days in a row, your baby will begin to learn those patterns, therefore remembering what you have done the day before.

Obviously, they can’t “remember remember”, but they can little by little learn the things you are teaching them.

This came in handy for me when I was teaching Baby L sign language. I knew I wanted to give her a way to further communicate with me so when she was 9 months old, every day at a certain time I would teach her one sign.

After 2 weeks she did the milk sign I was teaching her! AND it was a couple of minutes before her feeding time. Talk about a mommy win 🙂

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5. Schedules Can Help Baby Sleep Through the Night

Having your baby on a daily schedule can definitely help your baby sleep through the night sooner and smoother. (Sound amazing right??)

It sounds odd but when Baby L doesn’t have all of her scheduled naps during the day she doesn’t sleep well that night. In my mind, I would think because she’s so tired she’s going to sleep harder but that’s not the case with babies.

Babies need a certain amount of sleep to be regulated. When they miss a nap or have an irregular feeding it can mess with the schedule they are used to and throw them out of whack.

Having a consistent schedule throughout the day can help your baby feel rested, full and satisfied so they can go to bed easier.

Having a bedtime routine also helps with this too!

6. Schedules Can Help Make Baby Outings Easier

I remember being terrified of taking my daughter out in public. Call me a compulsive, new mom or whatever you like– but man was I worried.

I was afraid she was going to cry too loud and I wouldn’t know what she wanted so I would have to use trial and error. Having a schedule completely trumped these fears!

When you have a schedule for your baby you can already anticipate what your baby is going to do or what they are expecting you to do for them.

Maybe you have an appointment at 1:30pm and you know your baby eats at 12 and starts his nap at 1. You can plan so much better because you know what your baby is going to need.

You don’t have to just rush to the appointment and hope your baby sleeps. You can have peace of mind knowing that you have it under control!

7. Schedules Give You Sanity

When you have peace of mind knowing you have it under control, you find your sanity!

Sometimes the unpredictably of having a baby can be super stressful and overwhelming. Always being worried about what your baby needs and what you have to do can so debilitating.

Having a daily schedule can give you the reassurance because you know when your baby will be eating, sleeping, and playing so you know how to plan your day.

Baby goes down at 1, maybe 1:15 the latest- now I can get dishes done, fold the laundry and find time to feed myself. If I was stuck worrying when my baby was going to go to sleep for me to get things done I would be a mess! (Which I was before I got the schedule going!)

Now What?

What if you’re totally convinced that you need a schedule for your baby and have no idea what it should look like??

Question Answered! Read my post “What My Baby’s Daily Schedule Looks Like” here!

It is a sample daily schedule for your baby that I used for Baby L from birth. I adjusted the activities and times as she grew and took away some naps and feedings as she got older.

Be sure to get your FREE copy of the Mommy & Me All-In-One Planner!

The planner & tracker includes everything you need to help you start your baby’s schedules including a Baby Journal, Weekly Feeding Tracker, and Daily Baby Schedule Template!

Trust me, it will take the stress out of starting a schedule for your baby!

Be sure to get the Free Planner Now!

And there you have it! These are just some of the really great reasons to have your baby on a schedule.

Having a schedule for your baby comforts them by giving them something they can expect daily. This, in turn, will benefit both you and your baby greatly!

Remember that everything takes a little trial and error and that most things will take a while to adapt to. So definitely keep that in mind as you are beginning your schedule.

Don’t be like me and just roll your eyes at the mention of a baby schedule. Learn from my mistake and see how a baby schedule can change you and your baby’s life!

As always, feel free to drop me a comment or email me if you have any questions! Do you have your little one on some sort of schedule? How have you seen any benefits? Join the conversation below!

You can do this, mamma!

P.S. If you are convinced that your baby needs a schedule but have no idea how to start- do not fret!

Remember, your overall baby schedule will consist of 2 different schedules- a feeding and nap schedule.

To find information on how to know your baby’s feeding schedule, click here.

You can find information on how to start your baby on a nap schedule here.

How to Easily Care for your Sick Baby

Baby Routines

Inside: Want to find out how to care for your sick baby with a cold? Read on to find out my best tips below!

There’s nothing worse than your baby waking up with an awful cough, puffy red eyes, and a bogey faucet.

The first time my daughter got sick, I was panicking and pacing up and down my hallway thinking — “OMG what do I do?”

The best part is, if you know how to care for your baby properly then you’re little one will be able to recover quickly!

While we can’t miraculously heal our baby, there are things we can do to alleviate their symptoms, calm them, and comfort them. Learning how to care for your sick baby can help baby feel better and also help you stress-less

How do you care for your sick baby? Our goal is to help combat their uncomfortable symptoms while always make them feel comforted and loved.

First things first…how do you even know your baby has a cold?

Disclaimer: I am not a doctor and do not claim to be a doctor, physician or nurse in any way. All advice is based on my own experience and pediatrician references.

Does your baby have one or more of these symptoms?

A cough
Mucus/runny nose
Watery eyes
Wheezy when breaths (due to congestion in the nose not wheezing in the chest)
Cries when lays flat
Tired/weary
Tired but refuses to lay down

(These symptoms are of just a regular cold while some may be signs of the flu or other serious illness. In this post we are going to review how to care for your baby with the common cold.)

Your baby may be experiencing one or more of the symptoms for a couple of days but do not fear! Here are some tips to make your little one feel comfortable.

How To Care For Your Sick Baby

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Tips to Help Baby With A Common Cold:

1. Use baby saline nose spray.

Spray each nostril with the saline spray and let the mucus drain naturally. Refrain from using a nose syringe after the spray unless you feel it’s necessary. (I use NoseFrida Baby Saline Spray with all-natural sea salt and water formula.)

2. Incline the baby’s mattress.

Put a small pillow or folded towels under the baby’s mattress to slightly incline the head. Instead of raising the mattress alone, another pediatrician recommended I put a book under the legs of the crib where the baby’s head is so the whole crib is inclined on one side.

The mucus will drain out of the nostrils and not down the baby’s throat while sleeping. (I have read that some parents do not do this due to safety but my pediatrician recommended I do. While I appreciate other parents’ suggestions and cautions, it’s important to always listen to your pediatrician.)

3. Sit in a steamed bathroom for 20-30 minutes.

Strip baby down to a diaper and sit with your baby in a steamed bathroom for a minimum of 15 minutes and a maximum of 30 minutes. The steam will naturally decongest the baby’s chest and open the air passages for mucus to drain.

To do this, turn on your shower to the hottest setting, close the shower curtain/door and let the steam fill the room with the bathroom door closed. (BABY DOES NOT EVER TOUCH THE HOT WATER.)

This has personally been a miracle for me. The first day I notice Baby L showing signs of a cold I always sit with her in a steamed bathroom and do it every day until she is feeling 100% back to normal. On really sick days I even do it twice!

Read more about the awesome benefits and how to properly give your baby a steam bath here: “The Miracle of a Steam Bath for Baby”

4. Put baby vapor rub on the baby’s chest, back, and feet.

Do this when the baby wakes in the morning and before the baby goes to sleep. Use a pajama or onesie that you do not mind getting a bit dirty because sometimes the vapor rub can stain certain materials. Be sure to put socks on the baby after you apply the vapor rub on the feet. Remember to use baby vapor rub- not the regular vapor rub. (I use Vicks BabyRub Soothing Chest ointment.)

5. Give baby Zarbee’s mucus and cough medicine.

My pediatrician recommended I use this product (Zarbee’s Naturals Children’s Cough Syrup + Mucus) when Baby L was about 4 months old and got her first dreaded cold. The product is 100% natural and is made of agave.

The syrup can be given to babies as young as 2 months. It comes in a bottle form or little pre-measured packets and can be found in local pharmacies or big supermarkets.

(Update: my pediatrician was not in the office one day when I took Baby L to get checked and a pediatrician associate took the doctors place. The associate actually told me while Zarbee’s is safe it is also inefficient and may not even work at all…soooo I was a little stumped.)

6. Write down notes when baby is sick.

Jot down when you noticed symptoms, when you administered medicine, took steam baths, and when baby naps or does anything out of the ordinary. This can help you look back and see progress, be a reference when baby gets sick again, or help you remember symptom times and dates when you take baby to the doctor.

BONUS: Don’t forget to download the FREE Baby Illness Tracker to take the overwhelm out of caring for your little one! Easily track symptoms, remedies, medications & more. GET IT FREE NOW!

7. CLEAN EVERYTHING BABY TOUCHES!

I am not a crazy, obsessed, super clean person (even though my husband would say I am) but I am very particular when it comes to babies.

Take a mental note of things that baby is touching, playing with, sleeping on and clean, clean, clean! If baby is napping, clean the toys she played with. If baby is playing, change the blanket he slept with.

Making sure to isolate the germs will help baby get better faster and ensure the sickness does not linger and pass on to the next person.

Clean doorknobs, toilet handles, sink faucets and anything else you might touch after caring for baby too. Disinfect away!

8. Have Mommy take vitamin C and/or immune booster.

Yes, mommy needs to care for herself so you can continue to be healthy to take care of baby. Drink plenty of water and keep yourself hydrated.

9. Wash hands frequently

Making sure to clean everything baby touches is very important but sometimes we forget that we are constantly caring for your little one that we need to wash our hands more frequently than normal. I am guilty of not washing my hands as much as I should and those are the times I usually get sick too.

10. Check for signs of temperature and check baby’s temperature at least once a day.

You may be able to tell if your little one has a fever but sometimes temperature can creep up on you. Being proactive and checking baby’s temperature is just a precautionary measure to make sure you’re not blind-sighted if baby gets worse. ( I use the Baby Digital Thermometer for Infants, Babies, and Kids)

11. Take into account how baby has been acting before being sick.

Was baby going through a nap transition? Teething? Sleep training? If something else is bothering baby that is not cold-related, comfort and tend to baby accordingly.

12. Make sure baby is staying hydrated.

If baby is still on breast milk/formula, make sure baby is having all feedings. If baby is old enough to have water, give baby 2 ounces of water- maximum to be given throughout the day for babies 6 months-10 months. I know personally, Baby L loves her water when she is sick, just like I do!

13. Make sure baby is comfy!

Make sure baby is dressed warmly and not overheated. Put baby in favorite pj’s or something you know they love.

14. Love, hugs, and kisses go a long way!

Your little one will be out of sorts and in need of many kisses and lots of love. Cuddle your little one, let her sit on your lap, let him fall asleep on you even if they normally don’t.

15. You may have to throw away your schedule until baby is better

If your baby is on a schedule or you have a certain thing you don’t let baby do, such as fall asleep on you or take more than 2 naps a day. Do not worry about these couple of days ruining your schedule or think that all of the things you worked with your baby on up until this point will be lost.

Just like when adults are sick and they sleep in, that doesn’t mean when they go back to work they forget how to wake up. When baby feels better, they will usually fall right back into a schedule. Be patient with your little one and if baby needs some readjusting know that its normal!

16. And always, if anything seems out of the ordinary call your pediatrician!

If you see your baby getting worse or seeing more symptoms then you should call and ask your doctor how to care for your sick baby. Make sure to ask if they need to see your baby to correctly diagnose him.

Download the FREE Baby Illness Tracker!

The easiest way to keep track of your baby’s symptoms and medications/ homeopathic remedies is to actually write them down! To help you easily track your baby’s symptoms I created an awesome Baby Illness Tracker you can print and use every time your little one is sick!

It’s a great way to keep track of your baby’s sick days and you because you wrote all of the symptoms and medications down, you never have to second guess when your baby was feeling what symptom.

This comes in SUPER handy when you have to take your baby to the doctor and they ask you questions like “how long has your baby been sick?” and “when was the last time you have him/her medication or tended to the symptoms?”.

All you have to do is look at your handy Baby Sick Journal and you have all of the information right there!

The Baby Illness Tracker helps you:

Track your baby’s last medication
Write down the date and time of your baby’s symptoms
See when your baby started to improve
Has an area to write down how you cared for your baby (example: when you gave your baby a steam bath or used baby vapor rub, etc.!)

Download the FREE Baby Illness Journal Now!

There you go! Remember, your goal is to help alleviate symptoms, comfort them, and make them feel calm and comfortable.

After I had my mini freak-out when my daughter got sick for the first time, I wrote down all of these tips and the next time she got sick– I knew exactly what to do. AND she was able to recover in less than 5 days!

You got this mama…hope your baby gets well soon!!

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