If you are beginning to form a routine for your child, this tip is a good one no matter the age of the child. It is especially important, and helpful, for parents of older babies and toddlers who have not had a routine or schedule ’til now.
The first place to start is the time they wake up. Establish what time you want them to wake up in the morning. You will need to wake them up at the same time every morning, even on Saturdays, at least for a few weeks until the pattern is established. This may seem hard on you now, but the reward is so great.
This one thing is key whether you want a more strict schedule, or a more flexible “go with the flow” routine. It is the starting point of the routine because it is the starting point of their day. Even if this were the only thing you did to form a routine, you would see little Jimmy begin to form his own routine naturally. He would get tired around the same 30 minutes or so every day, and you would begin to see that his day would become more predictable.
Most parents make the common mistake of choosing bedtime as a place to start. If the bedtime is the ultimate goal, you still must establish what time they wake up. This sets a pattern for the day leading up to bedtime. And enough wake time in the day equals enough sleep time at night!
This is great advice. I have to say I am fairly strict on the bedtime routine, but morning routine is all over the place on the weekends especially.