Routines

1. A baby routine can be as relaxed or as firm as you want! For me, the definition of a routine is the structure to a baby’s day which takes into account and fulfils his feeding and sleeping needs during the day & night. It means that both you and baby know vaguely how the day is going to go so you can plan activities and keep your baby content.
2. Get the elements right first before trying to combine them into a routine. Establishing breastfeeding comes first. Early, frequent, good feeds in the early weeks promote a good supply of milk for your baby. Initially babies need to feed frequently, and on demand. Later, if you encourage your baby to take full feeds he should start to have longer spacing between feeds. This makes a routine easier and won’t affect your milk supply. More on feeding later.
3. Good sleeping habits are essential to a successful routine. Again, it can be easier to work on these before embarking on establishing a timed routine (see my Top Tips on Sleeping ). Good sleep is essential for the whole family’s benefit, so teaching your baby good sleep is important not just for a routine but for the well-being of the whole house!
4. Waking your baby at the same time every day is a good starting point. Start the day with a feed, and the first nap an hour or two after he first wakes (depending on baby’s age).
5. Another good ‘anchor point’ is introducing a regular early evening bathtime for your baby by around 2 or 3 months. A bath, massage, feed, familiar soothing lullaby and environment will signal to your baby that it’s bedtime and is a lovely way to end the day.
6. Younger than 6 months, the average amount of time a baby is able to stay awake for is 90 minutes. Use this as a guide to help you work out when your baby is tired rather than the ‘time’ on your routine. Your baby may struggle to settle if you put him down too soon, or too late! Newborn babies in the early weeks may stay awake only long enough to feed (45-60 mins maximum), then go back to sleep.
7. If your baby is lasting 3-4 hours between feeds, aim the feeds for early morning, mid-morning, mid-afternoon, early evening and late evening. Leave your baby to wake naturally in the night for his feeds.
8. Encourage playtime/awaketime after baby’s daytime feeds once he starts to show a natural alertness (around 3 weeks). This awake time at first will involve little more than a chat and singsong as he has a nappy change. By 3 months, most babies will enjoy time on a baby gym, bouncy chair, out in the buggy or on your lap for a little while before being ready for a nap.
9. Babies love the consistency, familiarity and security a routine gives them. By managing your baby’s sleep especially you can avoid too much of the overtired grumbling and crying.
10. Breastfeeding mums should ensure that in order to protect their milk supply and fulfil baby’s needs for milk, they always offer baby a feed if he seems to need it, no matter what the routine says. The odd ‘snack’ or early feed will make no difference to the routine overall.