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Should we have sleep routines? Are we being 'baby-centred' or just chaotic?

28 replies

Scirocco · 04/06/2022 11:17

Our DC is 4 months old now and I've noticed that, in comparison with other parents we know, we don't really have set routines for naps etc.

DC usually has 2 or 3 naps during the day, when they fall asleep by themselves - they can be in the car, pram, playmat, anywhere really. Environmental light and noise don't seem to matter too much to them at these times. There aren't set times, but roughly speaking there'll be one nap in late morning, one after lunch and another late afternoon/early evening. Each can last between 30 - 90 minutes, but usually at least 2 are under an hour.

DC usually falls asleep around 8/8:30, after a feed, but again with no particular routine to the process (eg no special music, blackout blinds, etc). They usually sleep in the living room next to us for a couple of hours (while we work, eat, etc) then move through to the bedroom with us for the rest of the night (not usually waking during the move through). We have 2 or 3 overnight feeds (usually just with gentle "I'm getting hungry" cues - and back to sleep within a few minutes), and then the next day starts around 6/6:30, when they wake up with us.

Should we be trying to create more structured routines? Are we setting ourselves up for chaos in the future?

(For context, DC is our first living child and we don't have family support, also our health visitor is off sick so we don't have anyone in real life that we feel able to ask.)

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
catsnore · 08/06/2022 22:32

Sounds very similar to mine, although I have started putting her down in the cot in the evening. If it works, keep doing it. Routine becomes more structured when mealtimes gets introduced, and then again when they start to go to some form of childcare if you go back to work. You could start doing sleep cues like reading a particular story/getting into pyjamas etc so that they associate those things with night time sleep.

jumperoozles · 10/06/2022 21:53

AliceW89 · 08/06/2022 20:46

Goodness, sounds like you have been blessed with a very easy going baby. I didn’t think I’d ever be a routine led parent, but DS had other ideas - no falling asleep anywhere, in light and noise for us after the first week or so! Therefore a routine became imperative to us to actually get him to nap and stop him getting overtired. If not having a routine works for you then don’t change a thing - all babies are different.

This! If your baby just falls asleep happy days!! Don't change a thing! We had to start introducing a 'routine' as such because my LO would get himself more and more overtired.

redandwhite1 · 10/06/2022 22:50

4 month old here too and no routine, generally she has a nap after being awake for 1.5-2 hours so has about 4 ish naps per day

Im out and about quite a bit so she falls asleep in the car so can't really help the times most of the time!

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