Sunshine & Prosper,
re: Putting babies on schedule
Benefits for babies:
we pre-empt what they need before they cry for it.. the same reason why mummies fix their feeding schedule. It goes for the same for sleep too. its mainly to leave baby calm and assured and avoid unnecessary crying in addition to health and psychological reasons.
Extract from Gina Ford's The new contented little baby book.
Page 108.
John Herman, PHD, Infant Sleep Expert & Associate Professor of Psychology and Psychiatry at University of Texas "If activities are being scheduled to the detriment of sleep, it's a mistake."
Page 109.
"recent research shows that a nap between noon and 2pm is deeper and more refreshing than a later nap because it coinsides with the baby's natural dip in alertness.
Benefits for mummies:
It allows me to be able to plan what i need to do and when i can do it.
i.e.:
1. i can have my meals in peace during her nap or sleep
a. 9.00am - 9.45am : my breakfast
b. 12.00pm - 2.15/2.30pm : i cook lunch and eat my lunch
c. 7.00pm - my dinner (tingkat or i cook)
apart from my meals, i can plan out household chores like laundry, magic clean my floor, iron my clothes, read books, watch tv etc..
when her schedule is fixed.. i know i can have my meals or do stuff in peace without worrying when she is gonna cry then i have to drop what i am doing halfway to go to her.
as for bringing her out:
I bring her out for a stroll around my condo pool / neighbourhood after her morning nap and come back before her afternoon nap time.
for going to Jurong point, i normally go after her afternoon nap time at 2.30pm then reach home around 5.00pm.. its only 1 mrt station away and not much to shop at Jurong point anyway.
for venturing further, normally will be after her moning nap. she sleeps in her carrier around 12.00noon anyway. i just try to avoid noisy places to let her rest better.
Anyway.. its sharing on my part.. we are all individuals who have our own preference and styles in parenting ya?