Parenting - Infant Care 2-Setting up a routine with your newborn baby

Dear Readers,

Hope you all are doing well.

This topic is going to be very important, very crucial in infant care. Setting up a routine for your baby.

Any work we do, we begin with planning- for instance going for a roadtrip, we start with planning as to what time are we starting, what route are we taking, what time we might reach …etc.

When you plan out the entire process, it is more likely to succeed. In the same way, baby care also needs planning a routine. It helps newbie mothers to understand the needs and necessities of their newborns so that moms can take better care of their children.

Setting up a routine for your baby is a process. Knowing what the baby needs and when, is a challenge for newbie mothers. You will have to learn to read the baby's cues to develop a pattern of eating, sleeping, and playing.

It will help you get used to your baby’s rhythm and can be adapted as you learn their cues. A routine will also give structure to your day, and your baby will learn what to expect and when.

As an example, knowing the baby’s signs when they’re hungry, is known as feeding cues. For example, a hungry baby will lick their lips, turn their head, and put their hands to their mouth. Learning these cues and becoming in tune with your baby will guide you when your baby is hungry and ready to feed, known as feeding on demand.

When the baby is as little as 1 and 2 months old, they have tiny stomach, which means they’re not able to eat a lot at each feeding. Instead, they’ll eat small amounts fairly often.

Babies this age also sleep a lot, dozing off for an average of 16 hours each day. Roughly half of these hours will happen during the day, the rest at night. Your baby won’t sleep for long stretches, because they need to eat often. Instead, they’ll sleep in short periods throughout the day and night.

Here are some tips for creating a successful daily routine with your baby.

1. Observe your baby’s cues

Let the baby be your guide to the routine that’s best for them. If you read their cues, they’ll tell you what they need.

Learning what the baby wants takes time and patience. Try making a note of when they are tired, hungry, sleepy or feel active. This will help you to create a routine that works for them.

As you see patterns emerging, you’ll be able to anticipate their needs. For example, if you spot the signs that your baby’s getting hungry, you can give them a feed before they become hangry.

2. Teach your baby the difference between night and day

Newborn babies don’t understand the difference between day and night at first. You may see that they sleep for long stretches during the day, and be awake and active all night.

Teaching them to make out the difference between day and night is an important step towards setting up a routine that helps both mom and baby take the required amount of rest.

3. Introduce a bedtime routine as early

You can have a simple bedtime routine from any age, but your baby will really start to benefit from it at around three months. Now the baby is slightly able to know things happening around. Your baby will be old enough at this age to settle into a rhythm of going to sleep at the same time each night, although it may take a while for them to catch on.

Consistency is key to a successful bedtime routine. Try to come up with one that you and your baby can depend on night after night, and keep it as simple as possible. This will be a part of your and your little one’s day for many years to come, so make sure it’s enjoyable too. Building a routine that you and your baby love will make sticking to it easier. For example

• giving them a massage
• giving them a bath
• wearing on their pajamas or sleepsuit
• feeding them
• singing them a lullaby
• giving plenty of cuddles

Keeping the routine short — around 30 minutes to 45 minutes is advised. Any longer and you may find your baby becomes over-stimulated, and doesn't fall asleep.

4. Keep your baby’s routine consistent

When it comes to little ones, consistency is very important. It’s best to keep your baby’s routine as consistent as possible, especially while they’re still getting used to it. This consistency will help them know that certain things happen at particular times.

A routine may also help you to keep focus and order to the day, in between the chaos of constant feeding and nappy changing. life with babies is always busy and unpredictable. Mothers have to be ready for anything and everything.

Having a routine to stick to every day may feel difficult at first, so don’t be afraid to ask for help from your friends, family or health visitor. The important thing to remember is, it’s not about having a strict routine but it is all about getting to know your baby and responding to their needs.

5. Expect changes during growth spurts and milestones

Your baby will accomplish a lot of things in their first year. They’ll nearly triple their weight, and you’ll see them achieve major developmental milestones like sitting, crawling and walking.

There will be times when the baby grows and ticks off milestones faster than others. And there are going to be some disruption to their routine during these growth spurts.

Babies normally have a growth spurt at:

• two weeks
• three weeks
• six weeks
• three months
• six months

During these times, they may sleep for longer, or they may wake up more frequently at night. You may also find that they’re hungrier than usual. They even get more cranky.

It’s OK to feel a bit disheartened if the routine you’ve perfected just doesn’t seem to work anymore. It’s completely normal for things to go out of the way during a growth spurt. Your baby will probably settle back into their usual routine within a week or so.

If they don’t pick up their routine again, try making a few adjustments to accommodate their new skills and needs. For example, if they’ve just learned to sit up, they may prefer a bath support that allows them to be more upright.

6. Adjust your baby’s routine to suit their age

Once you’ve got into a predictable pattern with your baby, it may feel like no time at all before it’s time to change it again. As your baby gets older, they’ll need fewer daytime naps and more playtime and stimulation.

At about six months, they’ll also need to start eating solid foods. So be prepared for mealtimes to take longer, and the clean-up afterwards.As your baby gets older, these routine changes will seem more natural.

7. Don’t expect perfection!

Your baby’s routine won’t always run like clockwork. Although babies like consistency, you can expect changes day to day and as your baby grows.

Sometimes, for whatever reason, your baby is not willing to sleep, have an extra feed or wake up before time. This could just be a one-off, or it may be linked to a new tooth coming through or a minor illness like a cold.

Life will get in the way too. Occasions, holidays, siblings, and plans with friends and family will all play a part in daily life with your baby. An occasional break shouldn’t cause too much disturbance to your baby’s routine. Going with the flow and adapting to changes are part of parent life.

Sample 1-month-old feeding schedule

As an example here am showing a sample schedule. Every child is different. The amount of milk intake, sleeping duration, playing time, and number of nappy changes differ from toddler to toddler. As a mother, you have to figure out all these parameters unique to your child. But one can always get inspired from examples.

6 a.m.: 4 ounces of milk, then falls back to sleep.

8:30 a.m.: Wakes up, has playtime and tummy time.

9 a.m.: 4 ounces of milk.

9:30 a.m.: Playtime on the activity mat or tummy mat.

10 a.m.: Naptime.

12 p.m.: Wakes up, has 4 ounces of milk.

12:30 p.m.: Walk in stroller and playtime.

2 p.m.: 4 ounces of milk, then naptime.

5 p.m.: Wakes up, has 4 ounces of milk.

7:30 p.m.: Bath time and bedtime routine.

8 p.m.: 4 ounces of milk.

12 a.m.: 4 ounces of milk, then back to bed.

3 a.m.: 4 ounces of milk, then back to bed.