If you’ve been going around a tired mom like a chicken with your head cut off, here’s a good sample newborn routine for you. I think it’ll go a long way in helping you survive the newborn phase.
I’d like to start off by saying that I feed my baby when he is hungry. I love routine and think they’re great, and we work towards a routine each day. But even if it’s “off schedule,” I feed my babies when they are hungry. In case you are a troll. Or a routine hater. Or about to send me hate mail. I just wanted to tell you. I feed my babies when they are hungry.
So let’s talk about how to get your newborn on a routine where they feed, “play”, and sleep in set patterns that are beneficial to everyone involved. Baby, siblings, and adults. Routine is not a dirty word. In fact, routine brings sanity to an otherwise chaotic home environment. Some mothers thrive on a spontaneous day, and that’s great for them and their kids, but some mothers need structure to make it through. And I’m one of those mothers!!
I know some of you are going to think my routine is cuh-ray-zeee. But all four of my kids have had the same newborn routine and I’ve had the same results with all 4. So I’m not saying it’d work for every baby, and definitely not for every mom, but it has worked for me and mine.
BASIC ROUTINE
Note: these are approximates, but most days we are very close to each of the times listed.
7:30-8:00 am – wake up and feed
8:30 am – down for a nap
10:30 am – feed, change diaper, play
11:10 am – down for a nap
1:00 pm – feed, change diaper, play
1:40 pm – down for a nap
3:30 pm – feed, change diaper, play
4:10 pm – down for a nap
6:00 pm – feed, change diaper, play, bathe
6:30 pm – down for a catnap
7:30-8:00 pm – change diaper, put to bed for the night
10:30-11:00 pm – dream feed swaddled, put back to bed
Then when they wake up during the night I feed them, and this is usually every 3 hours or so.
WHY SO MUCH SLEEP?
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| How much does new born baby sleep? |
Well, first of all, why not so much sleep? All 4 of mine have taken a nap after every single feeding from newborns until they were over 1. Of course the schedule changes, but they nap between feedings for the first few months without question unless they’re sick or we’re out.
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Sleep Where Baby Sleeps Best
Every mom, dad and baby must work out and keep evaluating what sleeping arrangement |
Most sources will say it’s normal for a newborn to sleep 18-24 hours during the first few months and I’ve always found this to be the case. If your baby refuses to sleep much I’d say that it’s a case of you keeping them up. If you try feeding them, swaddling, then immediately putting them down to nap to sleep you may see a big change.
DOES THE FAMILY EVER GET TO SEE THEM?
In a word: no. Not really anyway. My family always jokes, “When are you going to let the baby come out of its room?” and I reply smiling, “In a month or two!” :) Aside from the germs aspect, babies can be overstimulated very easily. People who are far removed from the baby world think it’s normal to talk very very loudly and try to wake the baby up to see the color of its eyes. It’s like… I mean… just… no. Please stop that.
By the time the baby is 3 to 4 months old they are awake more and have a lot more time to “socialize.” Ultimately, these first few months set the tone for their sleeping habits and newborns who are used to sleeping become babies who are used to sleeping and babies used to sleeping become toddlers used to sleeping, etc. A major sleep law: sleep begets sleep.
HOW DO YOU KNOW WHEN TO CHANGE THE SCHEDULE?
I almost always have to wake up the baby to feed it throughout the day. All four of mine were (and one still is) so sleepy they would either sleep until woken up, or awake at almost the exact time I normally feed them. I kid you not when I say they will wake within minutes of the normal feeding time. Their metabolisms are sort of trained to feed and sleep on the routine we make and they wake up happy!
I change schedules when the baby is able to be awake a lot more and is sleeping through the night. By four or five months when the baby is sleeping 12 hours at night, they are usually awake more during the day and able to cope with more stimulation and play. That’s when I’ll go to 3 hour or 3.5 hour feedings at whatever time seems to suit.
TIPS AND THINGS TO NOTE:
- At night feed swaddled to communicate they should stay asleep and during the day unswaddleto feed which helps wake them up
- Yawning, tugging ears, staring off into space, and eye rubbing are signs of tiredness, crying is usually a sign of overtiredness. Waiting until they cry to put them to sleep will likely result in a baby who can’t get to sleep on their own
- It’s okay to wake a sleeping baby during the day to feed them, really it is. Letting babies sleep long stretches during the day will not help in the day/night confusion issue.
- Earlier to bed and nap is always best! Wearing them out will backfire.
- I use white noise during naps and create a dark room. (Sources from http://amotherfarfromhome.com/)