These sample schedules are just one example of how you might schedule your child. They are meant to help you learn what you might expect from your child at each stage. No child will stick exactly to these schedules each day. See age-specific tips below.
0 – 1 Month
You can start trying to put your baby on a schedule around 2 weeks. Before 2 weeks, just feed and sleep on demand
6am/7am – Feed (right back to sleep – Nap 1 )
9am – Feed
9:30am – Play (10-30 min)
10am – Nap 2
12pm – Feed
12:30pm – Play
1pm – Nap 3
3pm – Feed
3:30pm – Play
4pm – Nap 4
6pm – Feed
6:30pm – Play
7pm – Nap 5
8:30pm – Bath
9pm – Feed
9:30pm – Bedtime
12:30AM – Feed
3:30Am – Feed
1 – 2 Months
Below is just a sample schedule. It’s incredibly hard to always stick to this. You may find that it’s easier for you to make your schedule fluid each day and more defined by wake windows than set nap times. You may also want to stick to “reset times” (Meaning you may always feed at 5:30pm no matter what. This allows your schedule to reset in time for the ultra-important 8:30pm feed before the night — even if that means squishing 2 feeds close together).
Short naps are common! See our SHORT NAP article for tips.
7 am – Wake & Feed
7:30/8 am – Nap 1
9aM: FEED
9:30 am: Play
10am – Nap 2
12pm – Feed
12:30pm – Play
1pm – Nap 3
3pm – Feed
3:30pm – Play
4pm – Nap 4
5:30pm – Feed
6:00pm – Play (may be “witching hour” and extra fussy)
6:30pm – Nap 5 (Catnap)
8:00pm – Bath
8:30pm – Feed
9:00pm – Bedtime
Between 2 am – 3 am: Feed (when baby wakes, don’t need to wake baby to feed)
2 – 4 Months
Below is just a sample schedule. It’s incredibly hard to always stick to this. You may find that it’s easier for you to make your schedule fluid each day and more defined by wake windows than set nap times. You may also want to stick to “reset times” (Meaning you may always feed 4pm no matter what. This allows your schedule to reset in time for the ultra-important 8:30pm feed before the night — even if that means squishing 2 feeds close together).
Transitioning from a later bedtime (around 9pm) to the more typical 7:30pm bedtime is difficult. You may need to shift schedules on days the naps don’t work out or use contact napping to elongate naps.
7am – Feed
7:30am – Play
8:30am – Nap 1
10am – Feed
10:30am – Play
11:30am – Nap 2
1pm – Feed
1:30pm – Play
2:30pm – Nap 3
4pm – Feed
4:30pm – Play
5:30pm – Nap 4 (Catnap)
6:30pm – Bath
7pm – Feed
7:30pm – Bedtime
2:30-4:30am – Feed (Eliminate this feed as you sleep train around 3-4 months)
4 – 6 Months
We recommend implementing a set schedule during this time vs. your previous more fluid schedule determined by wake windows. At this stage – you can pick one of the below times to give solids. We typically recommend the 8am time so you can see how any allergens may affect baby during the day.
7am – Milk
8am – Option for solids
9am – Nap 1
11am – Milk
12PM – option for solids
1PM – Nap 2
3pm – Milk
4pm – option for solids
5pm – Nap 3 (Catnap)
6:30pm – Bath
7pm – Milk
7:30pm – Bedtime
6 – 9 Months
If you start Solids at 6 months, we recommend offering solids 1x/day at 6 months, 2x/ day at 7 months, and 3x/day at 8 months.
7am – Milk
8:30am – Option for solids
10am – Nap 1
12pm – Milk
1:30PM – option for solids
2:30PM – Nap 2
4pm – Milk
5pm – option for solids
6pm – Bath
6:30pm – Milk
7pm – Bedtime
9 – 12 Months
We recommend that you drop the 4pm milk at 10 months and replace it with a solids snack.
7am –milk
8:30am – solids
10am – Nap 1
12pm – solids
2pm – Milk
2:30PM – Nap 2
4pm – Milk or Snack
5pm – solids
6pm – Bath
6:30pm – Milk
7pm – Bedtime
12 – 18 Months
2 nap schedule is the same as your 9-12 Month Schedule.
1 Nap Schedule:
7am – milk
8:30am – Breakfast
10am –snack
11:30/12pm – Lunch
12:30/1pm – Nap
3pm – Snack
5pm – dinner
6pm – Bath
6:30pm – Milk
7pm – Bedtime
12 - 24 Months+
This schedule is relevant as long as your child naps. Children tend to stop napping anywhere from 2-5 years old and most typically between 3-4 years old.
As your child gets older, their bedtime will get later.
Your child may stop drinking milk around age 2. Replace Milk in schedule with additional snacks if your child wants them. You may also move breakfast earlier and dinner later.
7am – milk
8:30am – Breakfast
10am –snack
11:30/12pm – Lunch
12:30/1pm – Nap
3pm – Snack
5pm – dinner
6pm – Bath
6:30pm – Milk
7-8:30pm – Bedtime