Evening Plans Vs. Baby's Bedtime?

I never did this kind of scheduling with my kids because I found it to be waaay too restrictive on lifestyle. I took my babies everywhere with me and would put her in a sling. She would fall asleep when she was tired and I could still be social while she slept in the sling.

I also personally believed in not having a quiet environment for baby so that they could sleep through anything and wouldn't wake up too easily.

At this age-- they will sleep when they need it

One of the best things we did when my son was 5 months old was to go on vacation. It was exhausting for us, but he learned to be flexible with his sleeping habits. We normally have a sleeping routine much like yours, but getting him out and teaching him that he can fall asleep when things around him are different was a great lesson. I wouldn't alter his routine or keep him up late every night, and we typically have him in his own crib at the same time nightly, but on the nights that we stay longer at grandma's or do something special, he usually takes an extra nap the next day to catch up. I say, get out once in awhile and have fun!

Routine is great for a baby but breaking it every once in a while is perfectly fine. It's not necessary to be so rigid with his bedtime routine because, over the next few months he'll do the same thing to you - change his routine! Just when you think you have it all figured out, he'll be wide awake or fussy, teething...etc....

Enjoy being new parents. I like the post about "going on vacation". My son was 5 1/2 months on his first vacation to DisneyWorld. They really do adapt. You will push the envelope somedays and keep him up too late and grandma's will look at you and have advise on how to console your screaming baby (because of the "new parent label") but...all in all, they adapt. If you do not go out during his infancy, you will feel like you are bogged down as a parent and you'll resent that. Also, it's important to get that quality time with your husband. Enjoy this time!

We had the same situation with our son. He goes to bed at 7 also. For the first year (since I was nursing) we had dinner with friends at 5:00 instead of 7:00, so we could be home for bedtime. Can your friends get together for dinner a little earlier? If you feel like you need more time with your friends, why not invite them to come to your house after your son goes to bed? We were fortunate enough to have my mother in law babysit for us a couple of times when there was a special occasion (I put him to bed first and she just stayed in the house until we got home.) Can someone do the same for you? I am a very firm believer in children getting the sleep they need, so I make sure we don't do late nights, because our son won't sleep in the next day, and so then he is REALLY crabby the next day. Eventually, your son will be able to stay up later, but for now, I think you are just bound to stay home while he is sleeping. Since the routine is working for you, I wouldn't want to do anything to hurt it. Good luck!

I would get connection with church or neighborhood moms that can help you find babysitter. I know a lot of Trinity students that are always looking for babysitting jobs. The only think is that you may have to drive them to and from. Or if you have different friends that aren't going out with you that night perhaps you can swap babysitting or if it is a childless couple they may enjoy having the experience. I know it is hard to leave the baby and not having that control over him. I promise he will be fine and it will do wonders for you and your marriage. If you take him with you teach him how to go with the flow a little better. I think getting him already for bed and then allowing him to fall asleep in the carrier while going there he may sleep right through. If not you just deal with it and if it gets completely unbareable you just make your excuses and leave. Don't let the baby dictact your life. If you start that you will be in a heap of trouble when he gets older, you are in charge. Kids adjust very easily as long as they are prepared for it and have the security they need. Have fun Friday!!!!

If you think it'll work, try to put him down in his carrier or pack n play...whatever. My son NEVER slept well in other environments (still a struggle). Not everyone can afford to get a sitter every time they go out, so when it does happen, I think you just have to deal with it. The only time (at that age) we had a shot of him going to sleep, is if my husband went inside first & got the pack n play set up, and then I'd walk in after, directly to the room (to not stimulate him too much). I'd cuddle him a bit, read a story, put on soothing music (George Winston was always our ace in the hole!) & stay in the room with him for a couple minutes. I'd say about 1/2 the time it worked!

Once in a while is ok, but kids need routines and schedules so I wouldn't do it often. If you have a playpen, bring that along and put her down in it (thats what we use to do for naps if we had to be at someone's house during that time)or the carrier too.
Oh, and her bedtime will change. It will probably get to 7/7:30 once your baby is older...

It's ok to keep your baby up once in a while. You'd hate to sit at home thinking what a great time everyone is having at the dinner. Do you use a sling or any type of carrier? My son is sleeping as we speak in an Ergo on my back and will sleep for the better part of 2 hours like this. I think it works wonders. Kids need to learn to go with the flow and also need to be exposed to social situations. If you really feel that it will cause too much of a disruption in your lives, then skip it or bring a pack and play or find somewhere to put the baby down where you're going to be. Some kids are willing to sleep anywhere. My first is finally getting used to sleeping at my Mom's house and my second won't sleep in any bed but ours. I guess we felt that we wanted our children in all aspects of our lives, even our nightlife (within reason, of course!) and didn't want to leave them home everytime we wanted to go out to eat at 6 pm. Or you just learn to dine with the senior crowd! There are bound to be times when you just can't be home by 6:30 or if there isn't then more power to you, I need to get out sometimes and not be at home all the time.

Hi Melissa,

I have 4 kids and it has been a while since they were babies, but I think I have a few answers. There is alot to be said for having a schedule and sticking to it. But, when it comes to getting out, it is good to teach them how to go with the flow. If you start taking them out now and getting them used to different situations it will be easier down the road. Go out, have fun. I learned how to eat with a child in my arms and how to hold them while they slept. My kids have grown into easy going people. I can take them anywhere, because I always have!
Have fun and just go with the flow!

We had similar thing with our daughter. Once in a while nights outs are fine. If its not frequesnt they do come back to regular routine. Thier long term memory is not developed at this age so that helps :-).

All the Best!! Go ahead and enjoy your Dinner..and let us know what happenned hence.

Melissa

I think you will find that as long as you maintain your bedtime routine your child will develop good sleeping patterns. If you depart from this routine everyone suffers. Unfortunately you will have to adjust to his schedule and find creative ways to incorporate these other events around his schedule. One parent stays home. The other attends. Invite people to your home for a quiet gathering after he is in bed. Find a trusted babysitter who can put your baby down successfully or leave your baby with the babysitter after you have gotten him to sleep. My husband keeps reminding me that these are the sacrifices we made once we decided to have children. As much as I hate to admit it, its true!

Michelle

Go out and have fun and don't fall prey to getting tied down to routine every night. Routines are great when you don't have anything else to do but you can't be tied to your house forever. I am pregnant with my fourth and all of my kids have learned to go with the flow..it would be impossible to stay home every night after 6:30 and it isn't fair to anyone to not be able to socialize with your husband anymore. All of my kids have slept through the night from the latest at 2 months old, and they will sleep in their car seat, a swing, a pack n play, a crib, a floor, etc. Keep as much of the routine as you can at your friends house..pjs, bottle, bed wherever that may be. Actually at this age, I would bring him in the pjs and have him drink his bottle/put him to sleep in the car seat so you don't have to transition back to the car.
The first few times you try it may be a little rough but don't give up. Babies are very resilient and will adapt and get back to your routine. I am all for keeping some sense of normalcy in the adult life for everyone's sanity!

Wow - my situation is exactly the same. My daughter is 7 months old and won't sleep anywhere else but her own crib. Portable beds don't work and she refuses to sleep anywhere else. I'm at the point where I don't want to go anywhere because she and I both end up miserable. My husband thinks it's ridicluous, but he's not the one dealing with her. I regret I didn't start getting her used to being other places at an early age. Maybe if you make more night-time plans, he'll get more used to it.

We usually would just take the pack and play with us to keep the routine up. Minus the bath just do what you normally do at your friend's house and put baby to bed in the pack and play in another room. Then relax and enjoy yourself.....OR you can invite your friends to your house to entertain them.