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8 week old routine?

6 replies

Stargazer9007 · 06/07/2014 21:10

I'm a bit confused as a first time mum to an 8 week old... I've read on other sites/pages when I google sleep routines that I should try and introduce a bedtime routine between 6-8 weeks but I haven't a clue where to start! My interpretation I a bedtime routine is putting them to bed at a certain time but she doesn't go to sleep when I've tried this.
My Lo since the day she came home seems to know day from night as she sleeps for longer periods through the night. We take her upto bed with us and give her her last bottle at about 11pm and then she wakes up around 4am for her next feed. She feeds every 4 hrs throughout the day and has a nap for about an hour late morning and another after her 4pm bottle for a few hours.
I'm terrified if I don't give her any sort of routine as sync I'll make a rod for my own back and have a baby who won't sleep when she's supposed too... Any advice appreciated :)

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Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Flisspaps · 06/07/2014 21:13

Sounds fine and dandy to me as it is.

She's tiny, forget about routines and rods for your back. Do what works for you and your baby - not what websites/books say because the babies don't read the guidance, they do as they please. Routines are usually for 5-6months+.

stripedtortoise · 06/07/2014 21:16

Second what fliss has said. Forget about routines and stop reading books and websites ;) Your baby is so, so tiny and is still adjusting to the outside world. You should look into the fourth trimester and just enjoy cuddling your baby.

KirstyM2014 · 07/07/2014 06:52

Hi there,I have a 9 week old and have had a routine with her since about 2 weeks old. We bath her at 6.45/7 then I feed her upstairs (ebf) and then I put her down for bed - she takes about an hour to feed but then seems to sleep quite well most of the time. We started it early as she was downstairs with us and we found ourselves tip toeing around at night with TV down and curtains closed so it did suit us, it gave me a little bit of me time too. Really it is whatever suits u but personally its been best thing we did. We started it at a weekend and within a couple of days my lo seemed to have got the idea. There are days it doesn't go to plan don't get me wrong but that's normal, if u start one keep with it.

maui50 · 07/07/2014 10:12

Second what the first responders said in that it's too early to worry about a 'rod for your back' and also don't get too hung up on websites and what you're supposed to do.

Saying that, there's no harm in introducing a routine at this age - it's as much for yourself as it is for baby, in that you have some structure and some planned quality time with baby.

By about 4 weeks, we noticed DS was getting sleepy at more or less the same time every evening - sometime between 7 and 8 (bearing in mind he obviously slept A LOT at that age!). So I would bf him wherever in the house, and then bring him to the nursey for a nappy change and massage, with lights turned low and nice music in the background (again, as much for me as for him - and my choice of music of course!). It was just a nice way to wind down from a busy day - that's all a routine is at this age. Some would say that a bedtime routine is a message to the baby that 'now it's time for a longer sleep, not a nap like during the day' but that age, I didn't think so and sure enough it didn't happen - he slept erratically in those days no matter what I did.

But pretty soon, the bedtime routine became the best part of our day - DH would come home and we would do the massage together (either taking turns or doing one side each) and then one of us would sing to him for a little while. Did he ever get the message that this means bedtime? Who knows?

He's now 10 months old and the bedtime routine has naturally changed - he's too wriggly for a massage now (oh I wish he wasn't!) so now it's nappy change, crawl-chase for a bit, get into sleeping bag, story, song and pop him in the cot to chat to himself till he falls asleep (usually needs one more visit before he falls asleep). Again, it's as much a structure for my day as for his - I like the steps and I talk him through them as I do them.

Hedgehogging · 07/07/2014 11:00

My LO is similar but about a week ahead of you. I started the whole "bedtime routine" thing last week- basically just sticking her in PJs upstairs, reading a story (for all the attention she pays it!) and singing Twinkle Twinkle. I think it's more so she starts to get some idea this signals sleep but I don't think it'll mean anything to her till she's a bit older. She doesn't actually sleep till around 9pm anyway so I'm just doing it around 7 and then feeding her and keeping interactions calm and quiet and lights dim after that till she goes to sleep. I only started it because she was getting quite cranky and fussy after 7pm or so and she is actually going to sleep now earlier than the previous 10/11pm so I think it may be helping.

HTH!

Stargazer9007 · 07/07/2014 22:39

Thanks for all the advice, I've decided to use her 8pm feed as a starting point. Nappy change, pjs on, bottle, a cuddle then into her cot, like some of you have said it's given me and my husband a bit of time together even though we both sat there not knowing what to do with ourselves saying we couldn't remember what we did at times like this before she was here lol. So far tonight she hasn't woken up enough to start crying, heard a few whimpers and a lot of wriggling about but I've just come to bed myself and she's flat out.
She has always been good in knowing lights out is bedtime anyway so hopefully this will continue.... Just wondering now if she will wake up for her usual 11pm feed or sleep through and if she does sleep through will she wake earlier than her usual 4am... Only time will tell :)

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