OK Expert Mommys I need help,

My kids are 21 months and things have been kinda out of wack.

Some days they are up at 6am and other days at 7am so the schedule gets so screwed up. I have pretty much tried to follow a schedule, but not very strictly. Would it be a good idea to just give up the schedule and go with the flow or is it still necessary for them to have a schedule? Thank you

Kristine

GBB 01/13/07

We still follow a loose schedule that I would now call a guideline. We have been working out some kinks like wake-up times and when to nap, and I have found that about 5 to 5.5 hours after my trio get up in the morning they need a nap, and then I try to stick to an eight o'clock bedtime, if not earlier. I don't think a schedule is as necessary now that they are older but I would pay close attention to when they get tired and act accordingly.

We just started a later naptime because they weren't tired at their other naptime and they nap longer and go to bed when they are supposed to for the most part. They are up shorter in the PM which is the total opposite than what I am used to so I have been adjusting my schedule (LOL).

Jamye

Love my GGG ~


2 years old.....How did that happen?
Born on 08/07/06

http://www.babysites.com/sites/3petes/

I completely agree with pp. We have just recently started moving to a looser schedule than we used to have. It's really more of a routine lately. We try to nap around the same time every day and bedtime is the same everyday as well. I also have found that after around 5- 5 1/2 hours mine are ready for a nap, which means it moved from 11:30 to around 12:15. On a good day all 3 nap until at least 2:00. (Mine get around 12-13 hours overnight, so we don't get the 3 hour nap some do.) The best part of all of this is we can get out more during the morning and I'm not so afraid they will nod off in the car.

BTW thanks for your ideas on my post

Tiffany
DS 12/20/04
GBG 2/22/07
34 weeks

Thank you ladies. I have pretty much let go of my schedule and just follow a routine like you suggested. We have moved the nap time to around 1 because they dont sleep before that they usually wake up around 3:30pm and I try to get them in bed by 8:30pm but most nights they dont actually fall asleep till 9, 9:30.


The other problem that we have is that our boys are up atleast 2x a night. Its driving me up the wall. But I cant seem to get a handle on it. The boys have always been horrible sleepers and they continue to wake up allllllll the time.
Anyways one day it will all change(hopefully)

Thank you
Kristine

GBB 01/13/07

Mine are just a month older than yours, and we follow a routine more than a schedule. I try to make a point of putting them down for a nap at 1:30pm, and dinner at 5:30pm. Other than that, I just follow a general order of doing things.

Like yours, mine don't get up at the same time every day. Sometimes it's 7:15am, sometimes it's 8:30am. (sweet!) Depending on how their moods are and what we are doing, sometimes they are in bed at 7:00pm, sometimes it's closer to 8pm.

I like it so much better this way. It feels like it gives us a little more freedom to just be. For example, if we go out to eat, and they are a little late going to bed, it doesn't throw anyone into upheaval.

Our routine goes something like this:
Wake up, eat breakfast, get dressed
Playtime/go to kiddie place/arts n crafts
Lunch
Nap (try to get them down by 1:30pm so they don't sleep too late)
Wake up, go for a walk/neighbors house/etc
Dinner at 5:30pm
bath
read/snuggle
bed between 7pm-8pm

My super-nazi schedule worked well when they were infants, but I like the relaxed routine much better for their age. HTH.

Jenny
single mom to spontaneous BBB 34w 2d

http://lilypie.com>

I still keep a strict schedule but that what works for me, even if they wake later or take a longer nap. But we have alot of activities, tot class, the gym, 4 hours of therapy a week. I also started a business and run my local club so I guess the schedule is more for am than them.

BBG 6/21/06

I still keep a strict schedule but that what works for me, even if they wake later or take a longer nap. But we have alot of activities, tot class, the gym, 4 hours of therapy a week. I also started a business and run my local club so I guess the schedule is more for am than them.

BBG 6/21/06