5 Steps To Get Baby Into A Routine

When you get baby into a routine it can make a huge difference to your life as a new mom. Being able to plan your days makes everything much easier.

Just remember that a newborn baby won’t follow a routine. A newborn will sleep for about 2 hours and wake up for feeds and a nappy change before going back to sleep. It is only when your baby starts having more awake time that you can start with a routine.

Steps To Get Baby Into A Routine

1. Start With The Night Routine

Start with a basic night time routine by doing the same thing at the same time every evening. For example every night at 6h15pm play with baby, then bath him at 6h30pm and then swaddle him and breastfeed or give bottle before putting him down to sleep.

2. First Morning Nap

Watch your baby during the day for a while and see when he starts getting tired every morning, it should be around the same time. Start putting your baby down at the same time every morning. This should be baby’s longest day nap.

3. Awake Time

See how much awake time your baby should need at his age and keep him awake for approximately that amount of time watching for signs of tiredness. Do more stimulating activities (shopping trips, visiting friends, and playing games) with your baby when he first wakes up and quieter, more calming activities (a walk in the pram) for just before his next nap when he is tired.

4. Second And Third Day Naps

Depending on your baby’s age he may need up to three naps during the day. Follow the same procedures in steps two and three to find the best times for these naps. Baby’s second nap should be shorter than his first and if he has a third nap it could be as short as 20 minutes.

5. Slot In Activities And Feeding Times To Suit

Try and plan trips around his nap times and activity times as baby will often fall asleep in the car and this can throw his routine out the window for the day. Be prepared that not every day will work out according to “plan”.

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Little things to remember:

• A new born will most likely not fit into a full routine no matter how hard you try. You can possibly start the night time routine from birth but just go with the flow for the rest until about 3 months of age. The first few months are usually just a whirlwind of two hour naps day and night, nappy changes, feedings, and burping. Relax and things will sort itself out in time.
• All babies are different, use the information as a guideline and adjust as needed to suit yourself and your baby

Remember babies needs change all the time so refer back as soon as baby’s routine goes haywire (which it will). As your baby gets older he will need more awake time and less naps and you will need to adjust the routine to suit his changing needs. Every time there is a routine change it is usually a rocky week or two.