Lunch - how early is too early!!!

[lazzaroo]

I have a query about fitting in LO's meals around her nap times. We are only just getting to grips with a vague 'routine' which has come along at the same time as her eating 3 meals a day. She is just over 7 months. Wakes at about 6am and has breastmilk and breakfast before napping at around 8.30am.

She is usually then ready for another nap at around 11/11.30am (sleeps approx 1hour and half). To begin with I was giving her another milk feed at around 10.30 with a yoghurt or other snack before nap and then lunch when she woke at around 1.30pm.

BUT!! everything I read suggests that she should be napping after lunch. This would mean she would be eating lunch at anything from around 10.30am!!! and if I leave it any later will be too tired and stressy to eat properly. I have tried both and feel like I'm going round in circles.

I know all babies are different and we need to do what works but it would be really helpful to know what you all do to fit meal times around sleep?

My lo's eventually did nap after lunch but not till they were older and had dropped to 1 nap per day - they were over the age of 1 by then. If what you are doing works then just stick with it. As your lo gets older and needs less sleep then your routine will change again anyway. I would say that the earliest I would do lunch would be 11.15/11.30ish. Any time before that is snack time!

Thanks, this is what seems the sensible thing! I guess I just worry that she'll get used to eating at certain time and when she stays awake longer and sleep/feed times clash (as they inevitable seem to do at some point!) she'll be confused about 'lunchtime'.

I know that sounds ridiculous. I can see that even as I type but people do go on about making problems for later down the line!

I would still be interested to see examples of others sleep/feed routines

to confuse you further sometimes I had to play it by ear day to day e.g. depending on how tired ds was sometimes he would have a snack before his nap and lunch after his nap which could be up to 2.30pm. On other days he would be a bit more wakeful and would have lunch before his nap and a snack when he woke up. They are very flexible at this age and I dont suppose they care what times lunch/snacks are as long as they get fed in the end.