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Mateo’s schedule has shifted a bit recently, so I thought I would give you a little update, and the second installment in his schedule series!
I’m writing this as Mateo just turned five months old, and clearly I don’t have a crystal ball to see all the way to six months, but I don’t anticipate his schedule changing much in the next month. I’ll update you if it does!
At around four months old, I started noticing that Mateo’s wasn’t going back to sleep very easily at bedtime after his third nap of the day. I decided to stretch-out his awake times, and remove the third nap.
It took a few days of getting used to, but by putting him down a bit early for bed the first few nights, and then slowly moving his bedtime back up towards 7pm by 15 minute increments each day, he was totally on schedule after a week.
Introducing him to solids has helped with this as well, since he now is more full and sleeps longer at nap times. I’m not sure if this would effect babies who are exclusively breastfed at the same ages.
In between meal times and nap times, Mateo hangs out with us, practices tummy time, and plays!
Feel free to ask any further questions you may have in the comments below!
SCHEDULE…
7am: Wakeup Time! Curtains opened! 6 oz. of formula in a bottle. (I use HIPP Hungry Infant formula!)
8am: Breakfast! (Right now, Mateo is enjoying baby yogurt mixed with some puréed fruit, or baby oatmeal mixed with fruit.)
8:30am-9:30am: Play Time!
9:30am-12pm: Nap Time! (He sleeps with a sleep sack, and a sound machine on.)
12pm: 4-5 oz of formula in a bottle.
12:30pm: Lunch Time! (Right now, Mateo is enjoying puréed vegetables at this meal.)
1pm-2:30pm: Play Time!
2:30-4:30pm: Nap Time!
4:30pm: 4-5 oz of formula in a bottle.
5pm: Dinner Time! (Right now, Mateo is enjoying veggie purée mixed with baby oatmeal at this meal.)
6pm: Bath Time! (I still bath him individually, after I bathe the two older kids together.)
6:30pm: 6-7 ounces of formula! (fed in his bedroom, darkened room, sleep sack and sound machine on.)
7pm: Bedtime!
Photographs by Julia Dags
Hi Eva!
With regards to Mateo’s naps, do you put him down drowsy but awake?
Correct! And sometimes not so drowsy! He is usually asleep within 5-10 minutes
Hey Eva,
Your schedule posts are sooo helpful! Thank you for sharing. I know you aren’t a doctor lol but can you share the quantity you are giving at each feeding. We started our 5 month old on bananas and have been giving him about a 2” slice mashed but he seems to want more…. any ways just curious on the quantity. Thank you!
Mateo eats a lot! About 3-4 ounces of puree per feed. He started off less though– check out my blog post about starting him on solids for more info!
Can you provide more details on what made you realize you needed to drop the 3rd nap? You said you started noticing that Mateo’s was going back to sleep very easily at bedtime after his third nap of the day. Can you explain that more?
Hi! Your posts have been super helpful! I’m a first time mom to a little boy (11 weeks) and have used your tips so many times already! I’m curious how do you handle if Mateo wakes up early from his naps and keeping with his schedule?
Sometimes he falls back asleep! So I let him hang out there for a while before I go in and grab him
Hi Eva!
Thanks for sharing! How old was Mateo when he started sleeping in his own room? Did he sleep in your room when he was younger? Trying to get our first on a bit of a schedule 🙂 She’s four weeks tomorrow!
Hi! Is Mateo staying asleep in his naps for the full 2.5-2 hours? That’s impressive! Any tips for extending nap times?
Hi Eva! I have an 8 month old baby boy. How did you ever get Mateo to take such long naps?! My son typically naps 10-11:30 and 2:30-3:30 on a good day. Help!!
What is his sleep environment, and do you go in right away if he “wakes up”?
Hi Eva!
Thank you for sharing Mateo’s schedule! Did he experience the (dreaded) 4-month sleep regression? My son is almost 4 months old and I’m wondering if there’s any way to avoid it. He’s a great sleeper now – sleeps in the Snoo bassinet – but I’m fearful that’ll change soon.
He sure did! But I just left him in his crib when he woke and he would chat for about thirty to forty minutes then go back to sleep
Hi Eva!
Do you mind posting the schedule that you had for Mateo for the first 3 months?
Thanks!
It’s linked in this post where I mention it!
Hi Eva! How did you train him not to cry or scream and seat relatively calm in his crib until he falls asleep, even though you place him awake in his crib when it’s time for his naps? Did you ever use the “cry it out” method ? I know first hand that if a baby expects hugging and rocking before sleep it’s nerve wracking and a couple of my mama friends have struggled a lot with this matter but I wish I knew exactly how it’s done.
My baby is 5 months old and she’s not napping as I wanted her to nap so I’m about to start this schedule you had Mateo feo
3 to 6 months but I have to ask when you put him to nap at 9:30 or every time he naps do
You give him milk or something to eat before the nap? Thanks
Hi! No I don’t feed him right before the nap
hi, when did you start solids? 12 weeks ? 13 weeks ? 16 weeks ? Also how did you introduce solids and what was introduced?
My boy is 13 weeks and formula seems no not be enough for him.
everything I’m reading says for me to wait until hes over 4 months but I’m torn.
FTM, thank you 🤍