When do i start a routine with a baby

You should never withhold food or sleep when your baby seems to need it because it's "not the right time yet. If your schedule indicates that it's time for your baby to sleep, but she's fussier than normal and needs comforting before going down, then she should be comforted. No schedule should supersede the needs of your baby. To make things easier, we've grouped baby scheduling methods into three main styles: parent-led , baby-led , and combination.

Parent-led schedules are the most strict. They may specify exactly when and sometimes how much your baby will eat, when he'll sleep and for how long, when he'll play or go out, and so on. The schedule may be one you create based on your baby's natural patterns or a suggested routine from an expert, but once it's set, it's very consistent — even down to the minute — from day to day.

Read more about parent-led schedules. Baby-led schedules are the least defined kind of routine. You follow your baby's lead, meaning you'll look for his cues to decide what he needs next rather than imposing a timetable for feedings, rest, or play. This doesn't mean your days will be totally unpredictable: After the first few weeks, most babies form their own fairly regular patterns of sleeping, playing, and eating.

But your baby's schedule may vary from day to day depending on the signals he's giving you. Well-known advocates of baby-led scheduling include attachment parenting gurus William and Martha Sears a pediatrician and registered nurse, respectively and famed pediatrician and author Benjamin Spock. Read more about baby-led schedules. Combination schedules bring together elements of both baby- and parent-led methods. With this approach, you'll have a timetable for when your baby will eat, sleep, play, and so on, and you'll generally stick to a similar pattern every day.

But you'll have more flexibility than with a strictly parent-led routine. A nap can be pushed back if your baby doesn't seem tired yet, and lunch can be postponed if a trip to the store takes longer than expected.

Read more about combination schedules. Popular links under Pregnancy First Trimester. Popular links under Baby Baby Month by Month. Popular links under Toddler Toddler Month by Month. Baby Products. Bookmark BookmarkTick BookmarkAdd save. Before you do anything, read this. By Elena Donovan Mauer. Image: Gardenhouse Films. Baby Schedule Mistakes to Avoid. Becoming accustomed to being awake during the day and sleeping at night, and to other daily routines, takes time and help from you.

Like everything else about her, your baby's schedule is unique. It reflects her individual needs and temperament. Some babies need to sleep 17 hours a day; for others, 14 is sufficient.

Certain babies are more active or have a faster metabolism. Getting to know your baby will help you respond to her in a way that meets her needs best. Nevertheless, babies are not usually capable of being on a fairly consistent schedule until they're 4 to 6 months old.

So the first few months of your child's life is not the time to work on imposing a rigid routine. For newborns, it is best that naps and feedings are on demand. However, developing some caregiving routines around sleeping and eating will set the groundwork for establishing a schedule later on.

For example, when you see that your baby is getting drowsy, sing her a lullaby, and then put her to bed. Depending on her weight, you may also need to get your baby up to eat every four hours throughout the night.

During those feedings, encourage a quick return to dreamland by being quiet and keeping the lights dim. Your little one will likely be taking three naps a day, ranging in length from 30 minutes to two hours. The morning nap could start about two hours after your baby wakes for the day, and the first afternoon snooze should begin around four hours after the a.

The optional third nap could be about two hours after waking from the second. At the first sign of fatigue, begin a consistent presleep routine: Sing his favorite song and sit with him in the same chair. As babies grow, they can go longer between meals. To set a schedule, talk to your pediatrician about how often and how much to feed.