Should my 3 month old be in a routine?

[figgyandpig]

Hi just wondering if my 3 month old should be in a ‘routine’ now? He doesn’t nap much during the day, 40mins here 1hr there probably 2-3 times but by 5-6pm he just concks out for like 4-5 hours . He will have a dream feed around 11pm then another around 3am but by 5am he’s up and ready for the day.😭 is that right??

he is very happy during the day, drinks 5-6 ounces 7 times a day and is hitting all his milestones etc.

should I try to get him into more of a routine? I like just going with his flow and waiting for his cues but not sure it’s normal to have such a big sleep?

im sure it’s all normal but wanted to see what other people’s 3 month olds are like…thanks.

I've never worried about a routine until mine were 6 months. Always completely baby led before then. Even then it was a loose routine.
Sounds like you're smashing it, he's happy and the sleep sounds good to me!
Both mine have always been early to bed and early to wake. Nothing I did would change it.

Neither of mine were really in a routine until around 6 months. Both times I stressed myself out unnecessarily because they weren't in a routine the first few months and then it just naturally happened. Just go with the flow and if it's working for you all, you're doing great.

My favourite rule for parenting babies: it's only a problem if it's not working for you (or the baby). But no, I wouldn't expect a baby to be in a routine that young, they're still changing so fast

Lots of people will say it is too young - but it sounds like baby isn’t far off a routine. Personally I found a routine better. There are always people on here saying their toddler won’t sleep so I would go for it.

Just do what works for you. I cant stick to a strict routine so dont bother but other people swear by them. Sounds like you are doing amazing btw. Just follow your gut and your babies cues! Enjoy this time it goes so fast even if it is exhausting!!!

Didn’t have a set routine but did find the concept of wake windows useful at that age even though I don’t think there is much science behind it. I found add didn’t always show sleepy cues until she was overtired/overstimulated or I missed the cues so aiming for sleep after a certain period of time (2hr?) resulted in less overtired crying later in the day. Never woke her at a set time and bedtime was just 2hr after the last nap.

Agree that you only need to change something if it’s not for you.

I really stressed myself out trying and failing to get my firstborn into a routine when he was only weeks old. With my second, who’s now 4 months, I’m going with the flow more and I think we are both much happier for it. Similar to PP, the best advice I’ve ever heard is ‘It’s only a problem if it’s a problem for you.’ My elder child eventually settled int a routine by the time he was 1 and at 2.5 sleep has not been an issue at all for well over a year, so I don’t think you need to worry about getting them into ‘good habits’ out of fear of what the future might hold if you don’t either

Thank you everyone. He seems to be falling into his own routine. It’s hard because they change all the time and so I should probably just enjoy him having a big sleep in the early evening

No, of course not, he's 3 months old and can't tell the time! He's far too young.