Should I Put My Baby on a Schedule? The Great Debate

Once past the shock of having a new baby, parents will eventually ask themselves: When does my child get on a schedule? There’s much debate surrounding routines that are baby-led (allowing infants to provide hunger and sleep cues) and parent-led (the adult sets the child’s schedule). Some parents, especially those with more than one child, may feel that life is a lot less hectic and more organized with a predictable eat-sleep-play schedule, while others prefer to note an infant’s signals and respond to their needs on-demand.

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Most newborns (whether they’re breast or bottle-fed) need to eat every 2 to 4 hours. So in the very beginning, any type of schedule should revolve around these needs. Some parents who aren’t ready to give their newborns full-fledged routines, create looser ones based around their child’s natural needs. That way, their babies are consistently happy and well fed but also have a sense of structure.

The Research

A 2012 study of more than 10,000 children found that feeding infants on demand, rather than on a set schedule, may help them do better in school when they’re older. Eight-year-old kids who had been fed on demand as infants had IQ scores that were up to four points higher than children who had been fed on a schedule as infants, although scientists don’t know why.

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However, a baby-led approach may not be best when it comes to an evening schedule. For a study published in the journal Sleep, researchers had 400 mothers put their babies to bed following their usual routines for one week, then divided them into two groups. The first group added a specific three-step bedtime routine: A bath, followed by 30 minutes of massage and cuddling, then lights out. The other group continued with their regular routines. Results showed that infants who underwent the three-step routine showed a decrease in the number and duration of nighttime waking due to the consistency of the routine and the soothing effects of the bath.

Are babies ever too young to be put on schedules? (Photo: Getty Images)

What the Experts Say

Advocates for baby-led routines say they center on the top priority: the baby. “Our job as parents is to meet our baby’s needs, rather than force them to meet our needs,” Cheryl Hausman, pediatrician and medical director of the University City Primary Care Center at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, tells BabyCenter. "It’s okay to gently guide babies, for example, to take a morning and an afternoon nap. But we get into trouble when we demand that the nap occur at a very specific time.“

When it comes to feedings, the American Academy of Pediatrics is emphatic about breastfeeding on demand, rather than sticking with a schedule: "Newborns should be nursed whenever they show signs of hunger—approximately eight to twelve times every twenty-four hours.” Others argue that how a baby is fed — breast vs. formula — matters. “While formula-fed infants can often be fed on a schedule early on, exclusively breast-fed infants generally need to feed on demand—particularly for the first few months, until they become more efficient nursers,“ Tamara Duker Freuman, RD, writes in US News & World Report.

But in general, many agree that babies do well with a predictable routine, even if it’s a loose one. "Babies like to know that [certain things will happen] at a certain time each day,” Tanya Remer Altmann, pediatrician and editor-in-chief of The Wonder Years, tells BabyCenter. “When they’re not sleep-deprived or hungry, it makes for a much happier baby. By meeting your baby’s basic needs, you put her in the best frame of mind — and body — to learn about and explore her new world.” She adds that babies are ready for a general schedule between the ages of 2 and 4 months old.

Pediatrician Marc Weissbluth, author of Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child adds that babies’ eating and sleeping schedules are more predictable around 3 months of age. So parents may want to begin a schedule around that time.

Even if you decide on a set schedule, build in some flexibility and pay attention to your infant’s cues rather than being super-strict, since your infant’s needs will change as she grows. “Even though your baby may have eaten one or two hours ago, if she’s crying as though she’s hungry, you should follow that direction,” Kathryn Akin, an associate professor of pediatrics at the University of Texas Health Center tells BabyCenter. “If your schedule indicates that it’s time for your baby to sleep, but she’s fussier than normal and needs comforting before going down, then she should be comforted. No schedule should supersede the needs of your baby.”

What the Parents Say

“While I was pretty consistent with feeding my son every few hours, I mainly paid attention to his cues. He was very good about letting me know when he needed to eat or nap. As for sleeping, I didn’t really stick to a strict schedule. He slept so well that I took his cues and let him tell me his needs. Letting things happen naturally was a lot less stressful for both of us.” —Mary Dail.

“We put our twins on a schedule and had a big dry-erase board in the dining room to keep track of everything. Now that they’re 3, we still keep them on a schedule for naps, meals, and bedtime. The routine is comforting to them and helps them get a sense of structure. With twins, you have to keep them on the same schedule or your life will become a never-ending marathon of baby tasks.” — Polly Blitzer.

"I just followed my daughter’s lead. When she was tired, she slept. When she was hungry, I fed her. She let me know.” — Stephanie Ann.

The Bottom Line

Whether it’s baby-led, parent-led, or a hybrid of both, follow the method that works for both you and your baby. If you prefer to let your infant tell you when it’s time to eat and sleep or if your baby is already naturally falling into a predictable pattern, then an explicit schedule may not be necessary for you. But if you think life for everyone would be saner and more manageable with some structure, coming up with a flexible schedule can make it easier to care for your baby — and yourself.

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