by Amber Hulsberg

Created on: June 26, 2009

As a parent myself, you soon realize what applies to one family may not apply to your own. For instance, your child's bedtime. There is no rule or law stating what time to put your child to bed. It is simply preference, and what works with your schedule. Though, many people tend to forget, not everyone works "9 to 5." So, as a parent, you have to make a routine for your baby with what is conducive to your daily needs.

Typically, it is best to instill night and day into your baby's new life. They have no concept of time or of time of day. That is not instinct, you teach that to your child. Most parents put their "little ones" to bed at night to have some down time for themselves and to make sure that the baby will sleep through the night so they can too. Now, let us say you work "the graveyard shift," most parents would want their children awake at night for the same reasons others want their kids awake during the day. So, when they get off work they can have their down time and be able to sleep as well. Now other parents, may want their children awake during the night if they work all day. Why? So they can still have bonding time with their children.

The time they go to bed is not what is important. What is important is that the child still gets enough hours of sleep. The sleep patterns need to be the same regardless if they sleep during the day or through the night. Remember, every child is different, but they all function better with a routine. If you are going to keep your baby awake during the night, then that has to be the pattern for the child. Do not have them stay awake all one night and put them to bed early the next night. They will miss out on the much needed hours of sleep which will result with you having a cranky irritable baby. The routine you decide on is what must work best for you and your child, and for whomever attends to your childs needs while you are at work, etc. Once you figure that out, other people's opinions do not matter. As long as the baby has all it's needs met, your needs are met, and you both are functioning happily, that is what matters.

There is not a standard formula to managing your chid's needs. That is the job of the parent, not the polled opinion of family and friends. Sleeping at night is the typical routine for a child. That does not mean having a "night owl" for a child is wrong. It is simply just different.

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