Having a newborn can be a handful, especially in the first three months. The change in schedule can cause a lot of stress, sleepless nights, and even days and weeks without having the proper sleep and or being able to sit down and enjoy a healthy meal.
However, parents can maneuver this anytime they want. Little do parents know that they have all the control in terms of time management in both theirs and their newborn's time. But, how can parents be more effective when it comes to doing their own thing and taking care of their newborns at the same time? The answer: having an effective newborn routine.
Having an effective newborn routine can not only help parents have enough time to breathe, but this will also help the baby get used to the pattern even if they're still not aware of it. A good newborn routine can go a long way especially while the baby is growing.
But most parents would surely ask, how can you make an effective newborn routine? To start off, here is a sample newborn routine:
7:30 - 8:00 am wake up and feed
8:30 am short morning nap
10:30 am feed, diaper change, play
11:00 am noon nap
1:00 pm feed, diaper change, play
1:30 pm afternoon nap
3:30 pm feed, diaper change, play
4:00 pm short nap
6:20 pm feed, diaper change, bath, play
6:40 pm catnap
7:30 pm diaper change, put to bed for the night
8:30 pm cluster feed baby
10:30 pm dream feed swaddle, put back in bed for the rest of the night
I'm sure you all have noticed, there are a lot of sleeping and nap times in the sample routine. Letting the baby nap after they are fed is a must for newborns until they are over 1 year old. It is normal for infants to sleep for 18-24 hours during the first few months, and this is proven.
Newborn routines should be kept until they reach the toddler stage. It's best to train them in sleeping patterns while they're still young in order for them to adapt and stick to it when they grow up.
However, you can slowly change their routines while they are growing up. Some parents change their schedule after the first couple of months when babies tend to be awake a lot more and sleeping is mostly at night. Around four or five months, when babies are asleep for 12 hours during the night, they are awake most of the day. You can change their routine for more feeding and playtime at that time.
To know more about newborn routines and tips, here are some words to live by:
When you swaddle your babies to sleep at night, you should talk to them and communicate with them while doing so. A lullaby can also help. When you swaddle, make sure your swaddles are breathable for them to be at ease and so that your baby can sleep comfortably.
Crying is a sign of overtiredness for babies. However, signs, like yawning, tugging their ears, and staring off into space, are also signs that they need to be tucked into bed.
It's okay to wake a sleeping baby, but be gentle when doing so. Also, let them stretch.
Getting your newborn on an effective routine will benefit you greatly. It will allow you the opportunity to plan your day accordingly. You might even have time for a nap!
