Babywise Babies

[crazydaycarelady]

In the last 2 weeks I have started two 9mo babies who are on the Babywise program. They are cousins. Babywise is a sleeping program: sleep, eat, play rotation over and over. It doesn't sound bad but the reality is neither of these kids is a good eater OR a good sleeper, and they are both needy sensitive kids when they are awake (probably hungry or tired!)

I guess my experience with "programs" is whenever I get a kid on one (Babywise, Attachment Parenting) they are the worst most problem ridden kids I have in care!

I much prefer a baby with relaxed parents who just do what feels right and let me do what feels right, rather than specific sleeping/eating times for babies. Each of these moms writes me a note daily to let me know the current situation with the times when baby should sleep and eat. Plus if they don't eat right after they wake then I have only one hour to get food into them or it messes up the ROTATION.

UGH!

[Shell]

I've had parents that wanted me to stick to a particular schedule, as well. It all looks good on paper, but isn't always a reality! I find these parents usually loosen up- especially when their "plan" backfires every weekend, and they see it just doesn't work.

[cheerfuldom]

They are way too schedule oriented at this point. The schedule is more important than the babies being happy. I am sure the parents think they are doing the right thing and they have good intentions but its clearly not working. I would keep what the parents said in mind but if the baby sleeps longer, needs food sooner, etc. I would just do what works for us at daycare. i absolutely am supportive of routines but i am not going to deal with a crying baby because mom says she cant be fed for 20 more minutes. I would consider the notes suggestions and try and hit within 30 minutes of the time frame but not stress me or the kids out by forcing things

[Heidi]

I do not accommodate "baby wise" any more than I can accommodate AP here. This is GROUP care, not nanny care. My 9 month olds eat when the group eats; breakfast, lunch, snack. They pretty much eat what the other's do as well at this point, other than honey, really hard crackers, p butter, etc.

They do get a morning nap, but I wake them after 45 minutes or so and then they take an afternoon nap with everyone else.

Now, if I enrolled a new child and mom said "hey, this really works for me....", I would tell them "well, as long as it fits into the group's day, I'll sure give it a try. Thanks for the tips"

[Cradle2crayons]

Did you know they did this "schedule" at the interviews??

Just being honest here, but I won't enroll an infant on any type of "program" like that. Correction, their parents can do it at home, but I make myself very clear I do NOT do those types of programs.

Don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with a schedule at all. But in my experience, "programs" dictating feeding schedules can sometimes lead to future feeding issues. And sleeping issues. And playing issues.

It's perfectly okay for parents to follow it, but those parents who insist I would need to do that type of program find my open spot closed

[Heidi]

Crazy thing is, I've looked into Babywise, and it's all about finding a schedule that helps the baby be content. The sleep-eat-play triangle is supposed to be optimized so that the baby gets to sleep before she's overtired, eats before she's too anxious, etc. It's a GUIDELINE; not designed to be a rigid schedule, and is supposed to be adjusted periodically.

Way too much work for a 9 month old, IMO. They usually will naturally have a 2-nap schedule at that point, and eat every 3 or so hours. What' the point?

[crazydaycarelady]

Did you know they did this "schedule" at the interviews??

No, neither mentioned this beforehand. One is a 3rd baby and they did not do this with the first two siblings who I watched as babies. The other one mentioned difficult sleeping and eating but never said the word Babywise until about a week into me watching for them.

Today the second mom was wondering why her baby is not sleeping well "because I am doing Babywise!" Um......that's probably why she is not sleeping well! She is a 1st time mom who lacks confidence in parenting.

I think I will consider the notes suggestions ad do what works here. I DO want both of these two to take a nap in the afternoon at the same time as all the others.

Way too much work for a 9 month old, IMO. They usually will naturally have a 2-nap schedule at that point, and eat every 3 or so hours. What' the point?

I agree! These are not newborns! Kids usually have a pretty good schedule by this time all on their own!

[Leigh]

Crazy thing is, I've looked into Babywise, and it's all about finding a schedule that helps the baby be content. The sleep-eat-play triangle is supposed to be optimized so that the baby gets to sleep before she's overtired, eats before she's too anxious, etc. It's a GUIDELINE; not designed to be a rigid schedule, and is supposed to be adjusted periodically.

Way too much work for a 9 month old, IMO. They usually will naturally have a 2-nap schedule at that point, and eat every 3 or so hours. What' the point?

I agree. If you're looking for a way around this with the parents, you may check your licensing rules. In MY state, under 12 months must be fed on demand-parental preferences are not to be considered. You could try telling the parents that you are not allowed to schedule meals at this age.

[blandino]

I have had a few babywise parents/children, and have always had success with them. BUT, they always understood that I would be fitting the babies eat/play/sleep schedule into my daily schedule as opposed to following theirs.

To the parents I have had, they liked/chose babywise because heir liked the idea of a child on an adult decided schedule not specifically one specific schedule. If that makes sense.

I have been lucky that my experiences have been good.

I would sit down and look at what baby typically does, and decide what/how that fits with your schedule and then work toward combining the two.

[blandino]

Crazy thing is, I've looked into Babywise, and it's all about finding a schedule that helps the baby be content. The sleep-eat-play triangle is supposed to be optimized so that the baby gets to sleep before she's overtired, eats before she's too anxious, etc. It's a GUIDELINE; not designed to be a rigid schedule, and is supposed to be adjusted periodically.

Yes ! Yes ! Yes !

I am actually a proponent of babywise, when used like this. When parents don't use common sense in conjunction is wen things go awry, IMHO.

I am more for the guiding principles of babywise.

[sammie]

Crazy thing is, I've looked into Babywise, and it's all about finding a schedule that helps the baby be content. The sleep-eat-play triangle is supposed to be optimized so that the baby gets to sleep before she's overtired, eats before she's too anxious, etc. It's a GUIDELINE; not designed to be a rigid schedule, and is supposed to be adjusted periodically.

Way too much work for a 9 month old, IMO. They usually will naturally have a 2-nap schedule at that point, and eat every 3 or so hours. What' the point?

I used Babywise with both of my boys and what you said is exactly it....it is a guideline not a strict schedule/routine. And your right, by 9 months the baby should have naturally fallen into the two nap schedule and eating routine.

[Lavender]

In the last 2 weeks I have started two 9mo babies who are on the Babywise program. They are cousins. Babywise is a sleeping program: sleep, eat, play rotation over and over. It doesn't sound bad but the reality is neither of these kids is a good eater OR a good sleeper, and they are both needy sensitive kids when they are awake (probably hungry or tired!)

I guess my experience with "programs" is whenever I get a kid on one (Babywise, Attachment Parenting) they are the worst most problem ridden kids I have in care!

I much prefer a baby with relaxed parents who just do what feels right and let me do what feels right, rather than specific sleeping/eating times for babies. Each of these moms writes me a note daily to let me know the current situation with the times when baby should sleep and eat. Plus if they don't eat right after they wake then I have only one hour to get food into them or it messes up the ROTATION.

UGH!

LOL, the bolded is what attachment parenting felt like to me. I never would have thought it would be compared to babywise. Thankfully I've not yet had a parent following that sort of scheduling, but I have certainly had very particular parents.

[cheerfuldom]

LOL, the bolded is what attachment parenting felt like to me. I never would have thought it would be compared to babywise. Thankfully I've not yet had a parent following that sort of scheduling, but I have certainly had very particular parents.

In general I am an attached parent too although I really dislike labels. I co sleep and baby wear and breast feed on demand BUT my son is here and I am able to handle all the kids in care, including our choice to parent this way. I obviously could not provide any of this to daycare families so that is where the conflict comes up and what I think the poster was saying.....parents that chose to parent in a particular way and expect the provider to do it that way too. Its an unreasonable request, especially when the baby is so miserable with the parents plan!

[crazydaycarelady]

It's weird because I have another 9mo in care also and he is on a great schedule. Morning nap, eats lunch about the same time as the other kids, takes an afternoon nap the same time as the others. He is a happy delightful baby who has the same schedule everyday.

Now the babywise babies, whose parents are trying to get them on a schedule wont eat, won't sleep, are fussy when awake, and have a different schedule everyday. What time will they nap tomorrow? Who knows it all depends on when they get up and when the rotation starts.

I'll take the baby in situation number 1 any day!!!

[cheerfuldom]

at this point, I would just straight out put them on your daycare schedule when they are on your time. I was totally missing that they are 9 months but they are old enough at this point to start the slow transition to your normal routine for the older kids. No matter what the parents are doing, I would keep their day at daycare very consistent with one short morning nap with a longer afternoon nap. I would also feed them just as you would the bigger kids. Breakfast if they come in time for that, lunch, snack/meal after nap. I bet getting their days at daycare consistent would really help at home. That has always been the case with the parents I have worked with that have all sorts of "programs" for babies. just typing out that sentence is really strange to me.....