Baby's feeding schedule at home

A strict on-the-hour schedule is no longer considered good for babies. Allowing a hungry baby to cry for any length of time just because it isn't time for a feeding disturbs the baby and the mother.

So, have a schedule for your sake as well as Baby's, but keep it flexible. Let common sense and consideration for the baby's needs be your guide.

If the baby wakes ahead of time, crying and gnawing at his fists, feed him. Adults often get hungry and eat before their next scheduled mealtime, so why shouldn't Baby? Don't worry that he'll be set in bad habits.

Occasionally, when he wakes up like this, he may not want the full amount of formula. Allow him his freedom of choice and let him take as much as he wants. However, if Baby continues to cry ahead of time, try increasing the amount of formula or shortening the length of time between bottles.

A schedule to fit your baby

Baby will quickly establish his own schedule, which will be the one best suited to him. This is called the "self-demand" schedule, which many doctors now recommend.

Let Baby have a hand in determining his schedule. Take things easy for the first week or two after you get the baby home, and get the feel of things. Find out when he seems to want to eat and sleep, and take this into account. At the same time, though, guard against letting him be disturbed, for this will throw both you and Baby off the track. For the first week after you're home, note the times when he sleeps, eats, is wide awake: This is his schedule.

Most newborn babies sleep the greater part of the time, except when being fed, changed, or bathed. There are a few, however, who seem to be awake much of the day. This is no cause for concern, but such a baby should be allowed to rest quietly without being disturbed, even though he's awake.

It's usually convenient to bathe him before the midmorning feeding, and it's a comfort after the night's sleep. But bathe Baby before you feed him, not afterwards. He's ready to sleep once he's nursed or had his bottle. If a later bath hour is more convenient for you, don't hesitate to change it.

By the time he's 3 or 4 weeks old, you'll have found the best time from Baby's standpoint for the various operations of his day and settled into a routine. His day may begin at 6 A.M., 7 A.M., or 8 A.M., according to his ideas and your convenience.

Once you've worked out a satisfactory routine, follow it consistently every day—not to the minute necessarily, but within 15 minutes, for instance. Baby will be better and happier, and he won't wear himself out crying. If an occasion arises, however, which you think is important enough to justify some rearranging, do it. Let your common sense guide you.

After you've had a chance to learn how smoothly things go when you follow a planned day, you'll be in a better position to decide whether or not something is important enough to disrupt it.

Take Dad's convenience into account, though. Arrange it so that he can have some of the pleasure of taking care of his baby.