Routine for a 4 month old

[ManCubsMama]

Worried that we don’t follow a strict routine :-/

Baby was a fantastic sleeper until recently (think we’re in the 4 month regression), waking 2-3 times a night.

Baby can’t have a bath every evening due to sensitive/dry skin. Usually stays up with us until
22:30ish when we all go to bed together, also usually boobed to sleep.

Naps in a Moses basket in our lounge during the day, or pram/car seat as we’re more often than not our and about.

Has a couple of good naps a day, usually 1-3 hours long.

I’ve been looking at sleep guides but daunted by how strict they are and I don’t want to be confined to strict timings as we enjoy different activities and groups each day.

Happily been following Baby’s lead until now but nighttime sleep is no longer as could as it was and I don’t want to create bad habits that will be difficult to break. Just want to do right by her and give her the skills she will need, such as settling herself etc.

Sorry for typo’s... one tired mama!!

Honestly I wouldn’t worry about it. 2 to 3 night wakenings is as good as it gets for most people at 4 months especially if Breastfed. It will settle down. Let and you fall naturally into your own routine.

My second is 9 months now and bf. He naturally settled into a routine of waking at 7am, 20-60 minutes nap at 9am, sometimes a late morning nap. Lunch some time between 12 and 2. Nap at 2.30 for 1-2 hours. Sometimes late afternoon nap. Dinner at 5:30- 6 ish. Bed around 7-8. Bath every 3 days, cba to do it more regularly than that! He wakes 1-2 times a night now. Totally normal! He started waking less when he went into own room @6 months. Daughter was the same.

Honestly didn’t think about it. It just happened that way. I don’t clock watch, just look for signs from my baby about what he needs/ or think to myself ‘ooh it’s been a while since nap/ milk/ food/ nappy.... better do it now’.

Having a strict routine can tie you down. I know mums who can’t leave the house between x and y / z and w hours due to routine. If you’re more flexible and less anxious it makes life soooo much easier. I’ve noticed those with a strict routine are more stressed out! But of course that could be their personality as parents anyway

^ should say... Let baby and you fall naturally into your own routine

You sound like you're doing a great job. 2-3 wake ups isn't unusual for that age.

We moved bedtime earlier around then because DS started to look very tired early on and I was desperate for a break in the evening!

Thanks @BlueSkies2020 I’ve been trying to tell myself exactly what you’ve advised. She’s a happy baby so I can’t be doing that badly.

Your routine seems similar to that of the guides, so it’s good that your baby naturally fit in with that. My baby seems to want to stay up later than most babies but then she was actually sleeping through (well, 11pm til 6/7am) up until this week. Agree, 2-3 wakes a night isn’t terrible, especially as she settles again quite quickly.

Just worry as a FTM that our “routine” or lack thereof is different to all the other mums I know.

Thanks for advice.

Thanks @Bipbipbipbip Tbh she’s no bother to us in the evenings, she’ll just sit in her bouncer or play gym and play with toys or watch tv with us. It’s only for her that I thought about introducing a proper bedtime routine as I want her to enjoy a happy and secure little life.

My DS is 14 weeks. He doesn't have a strict daytime routine. I just read his cues for milk/sleep etc. He naps either in his moses basket downstairs or in his pram if we're out and about. At around 7 (ish), we'll do bottle, bath most nights (not all), Pj's And sleeping bag, then dim the lights downstairs and stop playing with him. He stays downstairs with us until we go to bed (sometimes asleep, sometimes not). He generally wakes twice in the night for a bottle.

My baby is 4 months and up about 3 times a night, he only slept through once or twice but has generally always been hungry during the night. I have thought about routine during the day too but prefer baby led so have stuck with that and he seems happy so that's all that matters

Thanks @Purplequalitystreet this is very similar to our set up and currently works for us