When is it crucial to have beginning/end of day times set?

[MPalmer]

I have a 5 1/2 week old who is touchy and gets over tired/over stimulated very easy.  I've kept awake times very short...pretty much limited to diaper change and clothes change if necessary.   For example this morning he woke at 3:00 am and I fed him and it took till 4:00 am to get him back to sleep since I had to change his wet clothes from diaper leaking.  Our routine usually starts at 6:00 am...but he was in a deep deep sleep and not waking up.  I know getting your wake up times is important so that baby can establish it's internal clock...but is 5 weeks to early to miss a day or two.  It seems like him getting adequate sleep is more important now because he isn't a good sleeper at all.  When is it crucial to maintain the same the beginning and end of the day times?

[GG]

How many times does your lo wake up to feed at night?  Is he bf or ff?

[MPalmer]

He is BF and usually wakes up around 2:00-3:00 am.  Before that he gets a bottle of breastmilk at 10:00pm that's usually 3 1/2 - 4 oz....and is on a 3 hr EASY usually starting at 6:00 am.

P.S.  The pictures of your little one are adorable!!!

[Jaime]

just a tip - in the middle of the night, you may find it easier to change his wet clothes before you feed him - it may be that the feeding him relaxes him more than the changing.

and to answer your original question, maybe around 2 months, start to try & set his internal clock by starting around the same time everyday?  really, you can start as soon as you want - but it's not very easy until they can start to do a 5-6 hour stretch at night!   :wink: 

[GG]

I agree with Jaime. 

P.S.  The pictures of your little one are adorable!!!

Thank you!!