Schedules... do you have them

DVFlyer wrote: Whenever I watch the "Nanny" shows, one of the first things they do is make a schedule for the families. I love the idea, but my wife is more of a "shoot from the hip" kind of person.

Anyone use or tried a schedule? And, if so, how did it work?

lisar replied: I always used a STRICT schedule when they were younger. 2 and under. It was the same things at the same times. Now not so much. We do have bed times and thats about it.

moped replied: HUGE scheduler here.................

luvmykids replied: Not like I did when they were younger, but I think we're going to have to reinstate it in the next few days. I refuse to let them watch tv all day, and honestly we ALL operate better when we know whats going to happen next. I hate to be on a schedule because I get rebellious but I actually get a lot more done in the day if I'm not just moseying through it, and the kids seem less whiny and bored

PrairieMom replied: I live by schedule, and if something suddenly comes up it really throws me off

Crystalina replied:
I'm like you Lisa. Before they were school age (Evan's only in pre-school now) we had wake-up times, snack times all that good stuff. Now not so much. I think if my kids were bored all the time or unruly I would make one but they are very good at playing together and occupying themselves.

BTW, bedtimes....always.

My2Beauties replied: I'm horrible with schedules. We have so many different things going on, between my DH's work being weird times and t-ball games and practices being on different days then we have gymnastics and all kinds of stuff going on, I'm a horrible scheduler and probably would never stick to one, my kids seem to do fine. Theyt may have one at daycare though I'm not too sure.

mckayleesmom replied: I did schedule when they were younger...not so much anymore. Basic stuff is regular....meal times...bed times..etc.

Im like Monica though....my kids love to play outside...so not alot of tv gets watched. Its on alot, but they are really big outside players....They just love being outside.

Boo&BugsMom replied: I have an approximate schedule. The same things are done "around" the same time each day for the important stuff like naps, meals, etc.

HuskerMom replied: With Summer we really don't, and with Keith just for bedtime and naptimes but other than that we're pretty spontaneous.

Danalana replied: I fly by the seat of my pants

Calimama replied: We have a bed time schedule, nap time and meal schedule. But besides that we wing it. It would be nuts to change our schedule everytime DH left or came home and our day to day life is VERY different when he's home.

coasterqueen replied: During the week we are on a basic schedule due to work and school/daycare. On the weekends there really is no schedule. I do make them take naps on weekends, but not at a specified time per se and they get to stay up later.

It's hard to have a schedule when both parents work full-time. Some days you have to get certain things done when you get home and it's never on the same day. If I was a SAHM where I can stick to a schedule I'd do it, but putting my kids on a schedule and then it being disruppted all the time due to work, activities, and having to get certain things done that are a bit last minute - it would not work well for them.

A&A'smommy replied: I never really had a schedule with my first we just did whatever.. BUT this time I'm on a feeding schedule I feed her every three hours (and she is benefiting from it) and with my first she is on a dinner schedule, and bedtime schedule everything else is kinda lets just figure it out... I don't think I could be on a strict schedule I would get bored with it and so would my daughter (we have tried)

DVFlyer replied: I think things would be better with schedule. Maybe we could start small and get bedtime nailed down... but of course if naps are off, bedtime will be too. So maybe naps and bedtime... but then of course if they don't eat on time, they probably won't nap well.

So meals, naps and bedtime.... but.....

My3LilMonkeys replied: We're not really on a schedule at all. Bedtime is about the same time every night, they get up about the same time every morning, and that's it.

MommyToAshley replied: We have a bedtime schedule/routine on weekdays when school is in session. We kind of have a schedule for meals (we have an approximate time we eat breakfast, lunch and dinner). During the summer when school is out and on weekends, we just wing it. It's kind of nice because when we want to go somewhere, we don't have to make sure that we are back by a certain time for bed. I know some kids need a schedule and fall apart if they aren't in bed by a certain time, but we're lucky in that Ashley is pretty laid back and flexible. I think there are pros and cons to having a schedule... winging it works for us. You just have to decide what works for you.

When Ashley was smaller, we did have a certain time each day that was for naps. But, she was never on a "regular" feeding schedule, she ate when she was hungry.

AlexsPajamaMama replied: Meals nap and bedtime have always been on a schedule. I'm a sahm and we do certain things on certain days of the week. I'm a big scheduler/planner/list maker so its easy for me to stick to a schedule

Cece00 replied: Not so much a schedule as a very regular routine.

Maddie&EthansMom replied: Schedules make me crazy. I'm not a scheduler and it's so much pressure for me to keep one since I'm always running in a million directions and I always have surprises. But if I had one my life would be so much easier.

MoonMama replied:
Same here.

lovemy2 replied:

Our Lil' Family replied: When Thomas was younger we were definitely on a schedule. I think for babies it helps them when they know what to expect. Now that he's 3 the only "schedule" we have really is nap time dinner time and bed time. And we're pretty flexible if we want to be. He doesn't always take a nap, if we're home though he does. I've enjoyed this flexibility but I know as soon as we have #2 we'll go back to a schedule.