Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Parenting

For free parenting resources please check out the Early Years Alliance's Family Corner.

Advice for 8 week olds routine please

7 replies

SamsMommyXXX · 08/12/2012 14:18

Hiya,

8 week old DS is not yet in a routine apart from a very slight bed time one where we make sure we get him changed into pjs, feed and bed. He sleeps for 8 hours a night which I am happy with but wondered if he should be in more of a routine and at a better time of night as his last feed isn't until 9pm.

Can anyone give me any tips or advice on how they sorted out a routine or is he too young for all this?

Thanks!

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
HaphazardTophat · 08/12/2012 15:00

At 8 weeks I wouldn't be overly concerned with a routine as such. You're still getting to know your baby, recognising what his different cries mean, learning the cues that he is becoming tired, hungry etc.

You've already started with an important one in establishing a recognised bedtime and being clear in your actions that this is sleep time. Don't worry too much about the actual time because as your son gets older and daytime sleeping patterns change so does the bedtime.

In the first 3-4 months your son will change so much with levels of alertness and how long he can stay awake for that any routine now would have to change so rapidly it would make your head spin.

I found it easier to have loose structure to my day in the first few months while I learnt all the cues and by the time I felt I knew what all the noises, face pulling, movements etc meant I found I was in a flexible, workable routine anyway. So for example ds1 would wake between 6-6:20, bum change from night nappy' feed, another bum change and a bath (couldn't bath at night as he'd get wired),
get dressed and playtime and then he'd want to sleep again by 8-8:30.

Another feed 10-10:30. Whatever other activities we did i.e out in pram or sling. Talking, singing etc until he was tired again. Nap, feed, play and the cycle continues until bed.

At first I found myself child led into a 4ish hourly feed pattern, with sleeps close to feeds so I was able to plan my day based on this.

However as my child got older this changed so may times that I was glad that I'd taken the first months to decode all the signs for baby's wants. I could then adapt to his developmental changes without a melt down as my 'routine' went out the window.

SamsMommyXXX · 08/12/2012 15:44

That's so helpful. thank you xx

OP posts:
catwoman101 · 08/12/2012 17:48

You sound like you are doing really well if you are getting 8 hours at night, well done. Carry on with what you are doing. I have an 8 week old and also do a bedtime routine. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't!

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Iggly · 08/12/2012 20:39

Just keep to a bedtime and wake them up the same time every day.

Then nap, feed based on their cues (they might need a bit of help as they get more alert). Over the next couple of months, it changes very quickly so no point getting hung up on a routine. As you get to 6 months they should settle into 3ish naps a day around feeds then introducing solids gives more structure.

ZuleikaD · 09/12/2012 15:59

You don't need to wake them - at this age sleep begets sleep. Their brains can't form memories so young so routines are completely for the parent's benefit at this point.

valiumredhead · 09/12/2012 16:43

If ds had slept 8 hours a night he could have had any routine he liked Wink

You sound like you are doing just fine OP :)

SamsMommyXXX · 09/12/2012 18:38

Thankyou, very reassuring :)

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page