To make things easier, we've grouped baby scheduling methods into three main styles: parent-led, baby-led, and combination.
Parent-led schedules are the most strict. They may specify exactly when (and sometimes how much) your baby will eat, when he'll sleep and for how long, when he'll play or go out, and so on. The schedule may be one you create based on your baby's natural patterns or a suggested routine from an expert, but once it's set, it's very consistent — even down to the minute — from day to day. Well-known advocates of this style include British nurse Gina Ford and Gary Ezzo, author of On Becoming Baby Wise: Giving Your Infant the Gift of Nighttime Sleep.
Read more about parent-led schedules.
Baby-led schedules are the least defined kind of routine. You follow your baby's lead, meaning you'll look for his cues to decide what he needs next rather than imposing a timetable for feedings, rest, or play.
This doesn't mean your days will be totally unpredictable: After the first few weeks, most babies form their own fairly regular patterns of sleeping, playing, and eating. But your baby's schedule may vary from day to day depending on the signals he's giving you. Well-known advocates of baby-led scheduling include attachment parenting gurus William and Martha Sears (a pediatrician and registered nurse, respectively) and famed pediatrician and author Benjamin Spock.
Read more about baby-led schedules.
Combination schedules bring together elements of both baby- and parent-led methods. With this approach, you'll have a timetable for when your baby will eat, sleep, play, and so on, and you'll generally stick to a similar pattern every day.
But you'll have more flexibility than with a strictly parent-led routine. A nap can be pushed back if your baby doesn't seem tired yet, and lunch can be postponed if a trip to the store takes longer than expected. Well-known advocates of this style include Tracy Hogg and "Supernanny" Jo Frost.
Read more about combination schedules.