I had my 1st child at 24-years-old. I had just finished my psychology degree and had been waited to be a mommy all my life! I had grandiose ideas of what it would and wouldn't look like, some of which I still stick to and others of course have developed and changed over the past 4 years. One of the 1st things I stressed about was learning what my new baby needed and how to figure that out. The thing that helped me the most in accomplishing this was learning her routine, patterns, or "putting her on a schedule", as some call it.

I've had tons of advice sent my way in these past 4 short years. Sleeping has been one of the major ones I've heard about: She needs more sleep. Do your thing, when she's tired she'll pass out. Let her drop where she may. Scheduling everything. Stay home during her napping years. Everyone needs their own room for sleep. She sleeps too much. Chunk'm all in a bed. Why do you do that?

I've sifted through it all. Deciding what advice is God-send and what isn't for our family. Here are a few of the things I've learned, believe in, and have adopted concerning my babies and their sleep:

• Sleep is a critical part of the growth of a child.
• "Sleep is especially important for children as it directly impacts mental and physical development."
• These are the sleep recommendations according to WebMD:

1-4 Weeks Old:15 - 16 hours per day
1-4 Months Old: 14 - 15 hours per day
4-12 Months Old: 14 - 15 hours per day
1-3 Years Old: 12 - 14 hours per day
3-6 Years Old: 10 - 12 hours per day
7-12 Years Old: 10 - 11 hours per day
12-18 Years Old: 8 - 9 hours per day

• These are the sleep recommendations according to the Mayo Clinic:

{I posted these 2 because they are the "norm" for sleep recommendations and are test and proven the healthiest in lots of realms including our home}

• Sleep is the most important 'job" children have. "...a child will spend 40 percent of his or her childhood asleep."
• The sleepfoundation.org has more information on sleep needs and patterns per age. Great information!

All this "sleep" talk and schedules may sound crazy to some or perfect for others. Some of you may be going, "I know they need sleep by why "schedule"? I'm with ya. I am an odd combination of an organized AND laid back personality type. By "schedule", all I really mean is I figuring out what she needed when. By trying to stick to this, it helped her feel secure by having simple things she could rely on dailey. An infants needs are basic: eat, sleep, play, lots-a-love! Routine gives them security by letting then know these basic needs will be met.

For our family, sleep was the hardest to figure out. I stresses all the time because my baby wouldn't stay asleep even though I could tell she was tired. I'd taken care of all her other needs I knew this must be the issue in her schedule. Once we figured out the sleeping everything else seemed to fall into place. I want my babies to be healthy. That's my 'job', right?

God blessed me with these little lives to disciple them into becoming bond-slaves for Him. The way I'm going to do that, starting in these formative years, is by treating them the way Christ parents me: He does what's best for me even when it doesn't make me happy, I think I know what's good {not best} for me, and have my own ideas of what I need. I tell my babies often, I'm not here to make you happy, I'm here to keep you safe, healthy, and show you the love of Christ. The love of Christ some times looks like what is often called "tough love" and many times it's good ol fashion gentle gracious snuggly love.

What is your biggest struggle with sleep and your littles?

Charting Baby's Routine,

Environment, and

"Cry-It-Out".