Is a 7-7 sleep routine really the best?

[emza78]

I've been putting 9 week old LO to bed in a proper routine around 7pm since she was around 4 weeks old. She's currently sleeping 7-12 then waking up at 3ish and up at around 7. I decided to start this routine as I read that 7-7 is the best for baby but is that really the case? I'm now wondering if it might be better to keep her up later at night, 10 or 11ish so she has her longer stretch over actual night. Would this mean she would get up at 10/11 in the morning? I'm so not a morning person and would also love the lie in if so!

I always liked the 7pm bedtime because that's the one that's going to be consistent when they're a toddler and right through infant school. Plus it gives you a bit of grown-up time at the end of the day to unwind and relax. My experience of putting a baby to bed later was that they still woke at the same time in the morning - but they were grumpier with it. :)

Waking up at 3-ish will gradaully drop away as she gets older and learns to self-settle. Mornings are the best part of the day - time to discover your inner lark!

We always had DS around with us in the evenings, and then he went to bed at the same time as us - around 11pm. It meant that I got a decent chunk of sleep when he did his longest stretch, and he has always been a late waker - 8am-8.30am is normal.

I loathe mornings so this has always worked for us, and since he's been sleeping through I get to have a cup of tea in bed and a nice shower etc before he wakes up.

To be honest, it is unlikely that she will stay in this routine even if you decide to try and stick with it. 12 week growth spurt, 4 month sleep regression are all ahead of you, so my advice is to remain flexible! :)

Do you do a dreamfeed? We put our DD to bed at 7, then wake her at 10:30 for a feed (after which we go to bed). She then does a decent stretch after that. I know what you mean about the lie in, but I reckon you are better off getting them in the habit of an early bed time now. Works for us...