And life happens as well – vacations, older siblings, plans with friends and family, errands you need to take care of, and other factors will all come into play in your daily life with your baby.
Sometimes, for whatever reason, your baby will want to skip a nap, have an extra snack, wake up before dawn, and so on.
And though babies do like consistency, you can expect changes from day to day and as your baby grows. Some parenting experts set the expectation that your baby's routine will always run like clockwork. As these developmental shifts happen, your child's schedule will shift as well.
They'll also need to eat solid foods – first just once a day, but eventually several times a day. As your baby gets older, they'll need fewer daytime naps and more playtime and stimulation. It may feel like just when you've gotten into a predictable groove with your little one, it's time to change it again. Hang in there – your baby may be back on schedule shortly, or this may be a sign that you need to adjust your routine.Īdjust your baby's schedule to suit their age Babies and toddlers regularly have sleep regressions as they approach big developmental leaps. They may be hungrier than usual, need more sleep, or return to waking up several times a night. They'll nearly triple their weight and achieve some major feats like sitting up, crawling, and perhaps even walking.ĭuring periods of growth or when they're working to achieve a new milestone, don't be surprised if your baby diverges from their usual routine. Your child accomplishes so much in the first year. Expect changes during growth spurts and milestones But it's best to keep your baby's schedule as consistent as possible while they're getting used to it. Once you establish a pattern for your baby's sleeping, awake, and feeding times, changing things for an afternoon isn't likely to undo their habits. Avoid deviating from the routine with vacations, meals on the go, or outings that push naptime back. If you're encouraging your baby to follow a schedule or observing their patterns to figure out a routine that works, make this process a top priority for at least the first couple of weeks. When starting out, put your baby's schedule first And if you log your baby's naps, feedings, and active times, you can use this record to come up with a timetable for doing things. But you'll see patterns emerge over time. Learning what your baby needs when takes time and patience. But your child is the most important guide and will tell you what they need – if you learn to read their cues. Websites, books, your baby's doctor, and other parents can all help as you figure out an appropriate schedule for your baby. Helping your baby learn to tell day from night is a key first step to getting into a workable routine. Many babies mix up their days and nights until about 3 to 4 months, sleeping long stretches during the day only to perk up once the sun goes down. Teach your baby the difference between night and day For more helpful information on establishing a bedtime routine, as well as other sleep tips, check out Baby Sleep 101 Opens a new window, our premium class led by a pediatric sleep doctor from Bab圜enter Courses. It's fine if feeding lulls your baby to sleep in the early months, but by 3 or 4 months you may want to try putting them down awake so they'll learn to fall asleep on their own. Keep the routine simple – for example, a warm bath, jammies, a feeding, then lights-out. The easiest way to develop a regular bedtime is to create a bedtime routine that you and your baby can depend on night after night. While you can't force babies to be predictable in the first few months, you can develop a consistent routine that's in sync with your baby's natural rhythms. Get your baby used to a bedtime routine early onīabies don't have regular sleep cycles until around 6 months old, according to the AAP.
#INFANT DAILY SCHEDULE HOW TO#
But how to start? Below, find some helpful guidelines for establishing a routine that works. Getting into a regular schedule for sleep, feeding, and activities can make life easier for you and your baby.
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