Sample Baby Nap Schedule for 3 Month Olds
by Babywise.life
Jun 16, 2017
Knowing when and how to change baby's feed-wake-sleep routine can be a challenge, so we wanted to share some Babywise insights with this sample baby nap schedule for 3 month olds, specifically babies that are 10-15 weeks old.
Merge Three of baby's schedule typically happens between Weeks 10 and 15: this is when most Babywise babies are capable of dropping their late-evening feeding and begin sleeping 10-12 hours at night. (The spread of 10-12 hours reflects a baby’s unique sleep needs.)
When that happens, seven cycles are reduced to six. The morning feeding will remain the same, unless Mom wishes to change it for her convenience, or for the overall benefit of the family. The last feeding of the night will be fairly predictable because it falls 10-12 hours before the morning feeding.
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The breastfeeding mom however, must stay mindful of her milk production. Allowing a baby to sleep longer than 10 hours at night may not provide enough stimulation in a 24-hour period to maintain an adequate supply.
While this may not hold true for all mothers, it will have an impact on some, especially those in their mid-30’s or older. Therefore, if you are breastfeeding, we recommend that you maintain the feeding that comes around 10:00 or 11:00 p.m. Some moms will continue this feeding for the next four to five months.
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Adjustment to Baby’s Routine after Merge Three
Assuming Baby is sleeping 11 hours at night with the first feeding of the day at 7:00 a.m. and the last feeding near 8:00 p.m., Mom must schedule in four additional feedings during the day.
Baby’s waketimes are significantly longer, although the length of naps may not increase from the last phase, since Baby is receiving a substantial amount of sleep at night. This new phase continues until
Baby starts solid foods, sometime between four and-a-half and six months of age.
Sample Nap Schedule After Merge Three
(Weeks 10-15)
Activities
1. Early Morning: 6:30-7:00 a.m.
- Feeding
- Waketime
- Down for a nap
2. Mid-morning: 9:30 a.m.
- Feeding
- Waketime
- Down for a nap
3. Noontime: 12:30 p.m.
- Feeding
- Waketime
- Down for a nap
4. Mid-afternoon: 3:30 p.m.
- Feeding
- Waketime
- Down for a nap
5. Late Afternoon: 5:30-6:00 p.m.
- Feeding
- Waketime
- Down for a nap
6. Evening: 8:30-9:00 p.m.
- Feeding and down for the night.
Do you have a question about baby nap schedules or when to merge? Leave a comment below or check out these nap time articles:
For more help getting your Baby on a Babywise sleep schedule, you can read more articles on Baby Sleep here on Babywise.life.
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Excerpted with permission from On Becoming Babywise by Gary Ezzo, M.A. and Robert Bucknam, M.D., copyright Parent-Wise Solutions, Inc. You can learn more and purchase the book here.
