a summary of duke's first year

In preparation for this next baby, I've reflected a lot on Duke's first year - the feedings, the waketimes, the amount of naps, the duration of naps, etc.  I was pretty faithful about posting Duke's schedules every 2-3 months when things were changing.  I'm SO glad I did because I will definitely be referencing them.  But something else I wanted to do was compile all of the basic information (eating/waking/sleeping) of Duke's first year in one place.  Between Duke's monthly schedules and my letters to Duke, I was able to piece everything together.  I hope this will not only help me, but will help other moms as well!

1 MONTH

Nursing:  every 2.5-3 hours
Hours of Sleep at Night:  one 5-6 hour stretch and then a 4 hour stretch by the end of the month

2 MONTHS

Nursing:  every 3 (sometimes 3.5) hours
Duration of Nursing:  35 minutes-1 hour
Duration of Naps:  1.5-2 hours
Length of Waketime:  1 hour 20 minutes-1 hour 30 minutes
Hours of Sleep at Night:  8 consecutive hours by the end of the month

11 WEEKS

Nursing:  6 feedings a day; every 3 (sometimes 3.5) hours
Duration of Nursing:  25-45 minutes
Number of Naps:  5 naps
Duration of Naps:  1.5-2 hours
Length of Waketime: 1 hour 20 minutes-1 hour 30 minutes
Hours of Sleep at Night:  8 hours

3 MONTHS

Nursing:  6 feedings a day; every 3 (sometimes 3.5) hours
Duration of Nursing:  15-25 minutes
Hours of Sleep at Night:  7.5-8.5 hours

4 MONTHS

Nursing:  tried 5 feedings, but still needed 6 feedings a day
Duration of Nursing:  15-30 minutes
Number of Naps:  4 naps
Duration of Naps:  morning/afternoon naps - 1.5 hours each; 3rd/4th naps - 45 minutes-1 hour each
Length of Waketime: 1.5 hours before naps; a bit longer in the evenings
Hours of Sleep at Night:  9-10 hours

Worth Noting:
*We started rice cereal.

5 MONTHS

Nursing/Eating:  6 feedings a day; 2 feedings supplemented with rice cereal
Duration of Nursing:  15-20 minutes
Number of Naps:  3 naps, occasional 4th nap
Duration of Naps:  morning/afternoon naps - 1.5 hours each; 3rd nap - 1-1.5 hours; 4th nap if extra fussy
Length of Waketime: 1.5 hours
Hours of Sleep at Night:  9-10 hours

6 MONTHS

Nursing/Eating:  6 feedings a day; breakfast and lunch supplemented with rice cereal; dinner supplemented with a veggie (green beans, carrots, squash); fruits (bananas and applesauce) were added after 2 weeks of veggies
Duration of Nursing:  15 minutes
Number of Naps:  3 naps, occasional 4th nap
Duration of Naps:  morning nap - 2 hours; afternoon nap - 1.5-2 hours; 3rd nap - 45 minutes-1.5 hours; 4th nap if extra fussy
Length of Waketime: 1.5 hours
Hours of Sleep at Night:  9.5-10 hours

7 MONTHS

Nursing/Eating:  5 feedings a day; main meals supplemented with baby food and/or rice cereal
Duration of Nursing:  15 minutes
Number of Naps:  3 naps
Duration of Naps:  morning nap - 2 hours; afternoon nap - 1.5 hours; 3rd nap - 45 minutes-1 hour
Length of Waketime:  1.5 hours
Hours of Sleep at Night: 10.5 hours

8 MONTHS

Nursing/Eating: 5 feedings a day; main meals supplemented with baby food and/or rice cereal
Duration of Nursing:  12-15 minutes
Number of Naps:  3 naps
Duration of Naps:  morning nap - 2-2.5 hours; afternoon nap - 2 hours; 3rd nap - 45 minutes-1 hour
Length of Waketime: 1.5 hours before first two naps; 1.5-2 hours before 3rd nap
Hours of Sleep at Night: 11 hours

Worth Noting:
*Started doing "sippy cup time" during lunch and dinner for Duke to experiment with it.
*Started using the mesh food feeder.

9 MONTHS

Nursing/Eating:  5 feedings a day; main meals supplemented with rice cereal and fruit and/or veggie
Duration of Nursing:  8-12 minutes
Number of Naps:  3 naps
Duration of Naps:  morning nap - 2-2.5 hours; afternoon nap - 1.5-2 hours; 3rd nap - 30 minutes-1 hour
Length of Waketime:  1.5 hours before first two naps; 1.5-2 hours before 3rd nap
Hours of Sleep at Night:  11-11.5 hours

Worth Noting:
*Still was working on finger food skills.
*Began mashing up veggies and fruits instead of baby food.

10 MONTHS

Nursing/Eating:  5 feedings a day; main meals supplemented with rice cereal and fruit and/or veggie
Duration of Nursing:  8-12 minutes
Number of Naps:  2 naps
Duration of Naps:  morning/afternoon naps - 1.5-2.5 hours each; officially done with 3rd nap
Length of Waketime:  1.5 hours, but can be closer to 2 hours if needed
Hours of Sleep at Night:  11.5-12

Worth Noting:
*Really great with finger foods.  Especially loved Gerber puffs.

11 MONTHS

Nursing/Eating:  started weaning this month; 5 feedings a day (3 nursing periods and 2 bottles of formula); main meals supplemented with rice cereal and fruit and/or veggie
Duration of Nursing: 6-8 minutes
Number of Naps:  2 naps
Duration of Naps:  1.5-2.5 hours each
Length of Waketime:  1 hour and 45 minutes-2 hours
Hours of Sleep at Night:  11.5-12 hours

12 MONTHS

Eating:  fully weaned to a bottle 5 feedings a day by the end of the month; main meals supplemented with rice cereal and fruit and/or veggie
Number of Naps:  2 naps
Duration of Naps:  1.5-2 (sometimes 2.5) hours each
Length of Waketime:  2 hours, but we didn't really operate on "waketimes" anymore at this point
Hours of Sleep at Night:  11.5-12 hours

Worth Noting:
*Went cold turkey to drinking cold milk out of sippy cups and said goodbye to bottles right at 12 months.
*We pretty much transitioned to 3 main meals and 2 snacks right at 12 months.
*Began seeing signs of transitioning to 1 nap a day.