Hi Haleytreat, welcome to BW forums
It sounds like your LO hit the 4 months regression, which is why things became more difficult for you about 2 weeks ago. This is really common at this age, even for those on a routine.
I always found with my DS I knew when he was hungry, tired or something else because of our routine, I could rely on it to help me with the detective work. People say mums recognise baby's cries but honestly I didn't, I needed the routine, but I also know it appeared to the outside world that I knew just what he needed when he needed it
I can't answer your first question fully I'm afraid. I personally don't suggest dropping the paci cold turkey as the SIDS guidance recommend not to drop cold turkey until after 6 months old. A paci doesn't go with PUPD method though if you chose this. There are other sleep training methods though if you decide to keep the paci. You would probably need to be prepared to re-plug that paci for a while yet but eventually LO can learn to re-plug herself.
Routine versus schedule. To get into a suitable routine Tracy recommended watching the clock more, this helps to establish the routine however even during this time it is not 100% strict on timings and there can be variability based on LOs needs and signals. Once a routine is in place the clock isn't watched to the minute, for instance if feeds are at 11am and 3pm but you go swimming at 12.30pm baby is likely to be super hungry right after swimming. This would be a time where you wouldn't make her wait until 3pm for her milk but instead feed her right after swimming, even at 1pm, the calories used up for that swim would make her super hungry (and probably super tired so naps would likely change that day too), where as the general idea would be that if a baby is eating at 11 and again at 1pm, only 2 hrs apart (and doing this every day) she might be snacking or there might be a feed to sleep prop rather than hunger at that time. My DS fed every 3hrs and was unable to move to the 4hr EASY as most LOs do. Tracy did mention some LOs don't manage to move to 4hr E until more like 6 months, this was exactly so for my DS (he was small so probably had a very small tummy, he also had silent reflux and couldn't take a bigger feed). I hope these examples help to show how the EASY routine allows for LO's needs and puts structure in the day without being rigid.
Getting out to things you care about dearly is good for your health. IMO it's worth working LOs routine around the class or changing the routine on that day to enable you to go. I would first off look at establishing an age appropriate routine and then look at your class times to see how it might work.
hope this helps
