Do I have to put my 6 week old baby into a routine?

[FEJ2016]

(Sorry, long)
I keep reading about sleep routines; everyone seems to do something different and there are so many different opinions out there! At the moment my LO is 6 weeks and she sleeps when I sleep. I bath her and read her a story before I go to bed (about 10pm) and on a good night she wakes a couple of times in the night to feed.
For the evening she just stays downstairs with me. Recently I’ve felt like maybe I’m doing (or not doing!) it wrong? After all I’ve read some people seem to be bathing and putting baby to bed by themselves already! My daughter doesn’t sleep for that long though There’s no way she’d manage 7-10pm without waking up. Also she still won’t go down at all and I really don’t want to let her cry so we’re co-sleeping. So would I put her in our bed by herself? Having her in by 6:30pm for a nightly routine will really isolate me (my husband works during the week and I have dinner with my parents so often I’m not home until 9:30pm ish). I don’t want to give this up until I have to I really like the company.
Anyway thank you for reading, and thanks in advance for your advice. please go easy on me I’m a first time mum and I’ve no idea what I should be doing.

[Anatidae]

Nope you don’t.

At that age, just keep night dark and dull and days bright and fun. Keep them with you, cuddle and feed as required. That really is it.

Some sleep loads early. That’s normal. Some wake bloody constantly and that’s normal too.

Yours sounds pretty good for that age. Keep doing what you’re doing!

[Twofishfingers]

you are doing the right thing! Its up to you, there are no rights or wrong. I don't like a strict routine and never did it with my kids. Sounds like she is sleeping well so why would you change what you are doing? She is so young anyway.

[Unihorn]

Mine was about 10 weeks when she started sleeping for longer stretches. At no point did I force a routine but I did use an app to record her usual sleeping and feeding patterns as it helped me better anticipate her needs. I found this was consistently the same for a few weeks and just followed her lead then so it became a natural routine. There's really no rush!

[GummyGoddess]

No you don't, you can if you want to but you don't have to. We didn't at art a routine until dc was over 6 months and he sleeps very well and goes down without a fuss. Wakes up a couple of times but goes straight back down.

[Starwhisperer]

I find the whole routine thing hard when they're meant to be in the same room as you 24/7. We didn't start anything until 6 months and my son sleeps 12 hrs a night and gets himself.tonsleep with no fuss

[AprilShowers16]

No you don't. We did similar to you until around 6/7 months and it was only around 8/9 months that he started properly going to bed earlier than us. I'm pregnant with second baby now and I may well try and introduce an earlier bedtime earlier this time so as to try and get them vaguely in sync but I think especially with your first there really is no pressure

[Borntoflyinfirst]

No you don’t! I put myself into such a state with my first child trying to eat her into a routine she didnt want to get into! I’m pretty sure babies have their own agenda on sleeping. All 3 of mine did something different and I felt much better working with them not against them.

Do what’s right for your family. Whatever that turns out to be.

[Ropsleybunny]

I'm not a routine sort of person, so I just did my own thing. It worked for me. Just do what suits you.

[gybegirl]

Sounds like you're doing it perfectly right for you.
Someone else maybe doing it differently but perfectly right for them.

It is not a competition, although some articles would suggest otherwise.

There's about 5 million books on raising a baby. They don't all advocate the same methods. Go with what YOU want. Anything other than that would be stressful for you and your baby.

(For note, your way and my way are pretty much the same. It made me and my baby happy and looking back I would do it the same again!)

PS. I want to cuddle a baby. They don't stay that tiny for long. Embrace every minute!

[gybegirl]

Also just to say, you sound completely lovely. I bet your baby is lucky to have you.

[FEJ2016]

Thank you so much for your replies I feel so much better! All of these books and websites etc can drive a mum insane!