Babies and young children often thrive on daily routines, but finding a schedule that works for your child can feel overwhelming. Every baby is different, and what works beautifully for one may not work for another.

When my son was little, I would research sample schedules for his age and try a few to see what fit him best. With that in mind, I’m sharing example schedules you can try for your baby, organized by age group. In this post, you’ll find schedules for:

• 3–6 months

• 6–9 months

• 9–12 months

• 12–18 months

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When friends or family helped watch my son, I always had his schedule ready to go (color-coded, of course!). I’m very much a planner and thrive on structure, and having a routine gave me peace of mind throughout the day. Knowing when it was time to play, eat, nap, or wind down helped both of us stay on track.

That said, schedules aren’t one-size-fits-all. If you’re not a schedule-oriented person, that’s perfectly okay. These routines are meant to offer guidance—not pressure. Children benefit from predictability, but how that looks can vary from family to family.

Feeding times, nap lengths, and amounts are always up to you and your baby. For example, my son loved his naps and took more ounces than many babies his age. Your routine may also look different if you’re introducing solids, which you’ll see reflected in one of the 3–6 month schedules.

No matter your lifestyle or baby goals, your little one will adapt in time.

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Remember, schedules don’t need to be followed exactly—they’re simply a helpful framework. If you already have a routine that you and your child love, feel free to share it in the comments. Whether you’re a new mama or a seasoned one, we can always learn from one another—because motherhood can be beautifully chaotic, and support makes all the difference.

These schedules are examples only and can be adjusted to fit your baby’s needs.

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6–9 Month Sample Schedule

Babies in this stage are often on 2–3 naps and may be eating solids once or twice a day.

7:00 AM – Wake + feed
8:30 AM – Breakfast solids
9:00 AM – Nap
10:30 AM – Wake + feed
12:00 PM – Lunch solids
12:30 PM – Nap
2:00 PM – Wake + feed
4:00 PM – Short nap
5:30 PM – Dinner solids
6:30 PM – Bath, books, cuddles
7:00 PM – Feed + bedtime

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9–12 Month Sample Schedule

This age often transitions to two naps and more structured mealtimes.

7:00 AM – Wake + feed
8:00 AM – Breakfast
9:30 AM – Nap
11:00 AM – Wake + snack or feed
12:30 PM – Lunch
1:30 PM – Nap
3:00 PM – Wake + snack
5:30 PM – Dinner
6:30 PM – Bath, books, quiet play
7:00 PM – Feed + bedtime

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12–18 Month Sample Schedule

Toddlers typically settle into one nap and three meals with snacks.

7:00 AM – Wake + breakfast
9:30 AM – Snack
12:00 PM – Lunch
12:30 PM – Nap
2:30 PM – Wake + snack
5:30 PM – Dinner
6:30 PM – Bath, books, wind-down
7:00–7:30 PM – Bedtime

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A Gentle Reminder

These schedules are meant to be guidelines, not rules. Wake windows, feeding amounts, and nap lengths will vary from baby to baby. Some babies need more sleep, some need less—and that’s perfectly normal.

If you have a schedule that works well for your family, we’d love for you to share it in the comments. New moms and seasoned moms alike can always learn from one another 🤍