3 Factors That Can Disrupt Your Baby’s Schedule
Most babies enjoy a predictable routine. They respond well to an established timetable for naps, meals, playtime, baths, and more. The parent who can identify their little one’s internal clock, create a routine that dovetails with it, and stick to that schedule will find parenting easier.
Having said that, not all infants follow the same agenda. And some are more consistent than others. What’s more, a number of factors can potentially disrupt the hard-won schedule you have created. Here are three that can throw off your baby’s internal clock:
#1 – Different Time Zones
While even adults struggle to cope with time zone changes, your baby will likely have a more difficult time adjusting than you. If you live in California and your little one normally goes to bed at 8:00 p.m., traveling to New York will disrupt her bedtime by three hours. It is a rare infant who can adjust quickly to a change of that magnitude.
You can help your infant recalibrate her clock by gradually moving activities forward or backward. Try ten minutes each day. It may take a few weeks to get her back on schedule, but she’ll have a much easier time getting there.
#2 – Vacationing
Even if you’re taking a vacation in the same time zone, the new surroundings and activities can disturb your little one’s routine. For example, if you take her sightseeing during the day, her lack of familiarity with the new locale can wear her out. It can potentially cause a rift in her normal napping, playing, and eating schedule.
Give her a week to grow accustomed to her new surroundings. She’ll probably be a bit fussy in the beginning, but will eventually adjust.
#3 – Occasional Disruptions
Parents will occasionally be forced to disrupt their babies’ normal routine. For example, an emergency may occur; addressing it might require interrupting their infants’ slumber, eating, or playtime. While interruptions to your little one’s schedule should be avoided whenever possible, many are inevitable. The problem is that babies are far more susceptible to such disruptions than adults. An adult can skip a meal or miss a nap, and adjust quickly. An infant will have a much harder time doing so.
All babies form different patterns as they develop. Some will prefer to nap at certain times of the day. Others will want to be fed at certain times. You’ll even notice your baby is more awake and alert during specific hours (hopefully, not during the middle of the night). All of these are signs that your little one’s internal clock is developing. Once it does, it’s important to prevent interruptions from throwing it off. The fewer disruptions to your baby’s schedule, the easier your life will be.
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