Lockdown routine

[Jade2021]

Hi,

I’m a new mum to a beautiful healthy happy baby boy of three months. We have had a lot of issues with his feeding, reflux and wind which we seem to have sorted now (fingers crossed) but it really has taken its toll. Because of the issues we have had my baby is really behind on tummy time and I just feel like I am just struggling a bit. I feel fine in myself I think, but because of lockdown I feel very cut off from a friends and family, and when you would normally take your baby out and do things we can’t.

I feel like I’m plodding on aimlessly day to day not really knowing what I’m doing. I feel like a routine would help but again I have no idea what a good routine looks like. Can anyone help me? Am I the only one? I know all babies are different and what fits for one won’t fit for all, but if you have examples of your your routines or advice I would much appreciate it.

Thank you in advance.

Hi Jade,

Sorry to hear you're finding things tough. I certainly did when my DS was born. My baby is 4.5 months old so I'm not much ahead of you. Only now am I starting to get a vague routine (nap in the morning, nap around lunchtime and nap mid-afternoon, but it just sort of came into place naturally. Im not really very good at strict routines but some people like them. My day usually looks something like this, with feeds interspersed throughout! Sometimes there may be an extra nap if he is very restless!
7-7.30 DS wakes up.
7.30-9/9.30 play on mat/tummy time/read books with flaps/sounds/look out the window
9.30ish-11ish nap
11-1 play with light box/more of the above/nursery rhymes
1-2 sit at table while I eat lunch
2-4 walk (nap in the pram)
4-7 more of the above! Looks at mobile, plays without nappy on
7 bath time
7.30 bedtime

I found at around 3 months he suddenly was much more able to entertain himself - you may find this soon.
It is quite repetitive though and so hard with nothing to do. I know there are also some online classes I haven't done but lots of people I know love them!

Btw it sounds like you're doing brilliantly, all babies hate tummy time in my very limited experience. Please don't worry you're behind, he's still soooo little!!

Also just realised there should be one more nap around 4.30. Sorry!

Hi cafedeserves

Thank you so much for spending the time to write that I rally appreciate it. I don’t know if I’m just worrying too much about things because I don’t have anyone to so park notes with. I have tried this for the past few days (with a few tweaks for the title one) and I seem to feel a bit better and a bit more organised.

Thank you x

I'm literally in the same boat as you! My son is almost 2 months and I have barely left the house!
Some nights when he doesn't settle I wonder if I'm not doing enough during the day. I wonder if there's a routine that I should be doing with him. I currently let him lead the way and if he wants to sleep I let him and if he's awake I try and have some play time with him.
I live half an hour away from all my family and friends so I can't even take a walk to see anyone from a distance.

Sorry to hear you are finding it tough, I completely sympathise with the whole lockdown/lack of routine and new baby! My second baby was born just 3 weeks before the first lockdown and I felt very lost even as a second time mum. I don't have any suggestions as I am still struggling nearly 11 months on but just wanted to give you a quick un mumsnetty hug to let you know that you are not alone.

Sorry to hear it’s so tough, I have a 10 month baby and it has been really hard having a baby in lockdown.

Now is a great time to get in to a routine and lots of people follow a sleep > eat > play routine with appropriate wake windows, that would work well.

I always used to get up and go for a long walk for first nap so that I was out and in the fresh air in the morning, that worked really well for me. I also put together a list of places I wanted to visit and tried to do one / two a week. Country parks, that kind of thing. Also don’t underestimate the value of a decent coffee from a park somewhere.

Re tummy time, you’re not behind at all, there are lots of ways to have tummy time which is just about strengthening their neck muscles. If you hold your baby upright, that’s working their neck muscles so is the same as tummy time! Equally having the baby on your chest or stomach works too.

You are doing great so far and I really feel for all of those in your position!

I know all we can do right now is go for walks but how about downloading an audiobook and going for long walks whilst listening. I used to love that!