Baby Routine

[Kaiser1805]

Hi, I'm a first time mum due any day now really! I just wondered does anyone have any tips on how to get a baby into a good sleep/feeding routine? I obviously want to look at baby cues for when he's hungry and won't impose a hugely strict routine on him for a couple weeks while we find our feet with things, but if people could share their experiences/any tips that would be great! When did you get baby into a routine? Any tips for how you achieved it?
Thankyou ❤️

Are you planning to breastfeed? In my (limited) experience, you can't expect a breastfed on demand baby to get into a routine for ages, they're too busy running around cluster-feeding and growth-spurting and colicking and generally being maniacs.

Some people make EASY work for them: Eat (feed the baby), Activity, Sleep, You (ahahaha). But if your baby is determined to feed to sleep in the day it doesn't work. And if they aren't, getting them to sleep takes up all the alleged you time.

Introducing the concept of day/night early is the best you can do, IMO: curtains open and normal noise in the day, lights down and whispers in the evening/overnight. Only change nappies at night if it's poo, smallest light possible.

Thankyou so much for your reply, really appreciate it,
I'm not planning on breastfeeding, I'm planning on formula, for various different reasons, I know the main part of the routine will be baby led because of seeing how often he wants to eat etc, but I'm so stuck on how to go about getting that routine in place!

Thankyou for your comments on day/night I will deffo do that early on to help him learn!

I also want to keep myself busy during the day to make sure I don't just mope about as I have a history of anxiety etc, when it comes to daytime naps do you think to make sure I'm home for them or let him nap on the way to places/visits etc?

I know most of it depends on the child, I was a terrible sleeper as a baby I still struggle now! So I'm hoping my baby will be able to sleep better lol x

I honestly think it depends on the baby! Mine is a terrible sleeper who will only nap in the sling and occasionally the pram, and is happier out and about, so we go out a lot. I think naps-on-the-move are fine and like you would hate to be housebound and tied to a cot.

For the first few weeks I really wouldn't worry about routine, though; they just sort of feed and sleep and fill their nappies at will and don't really wake up to the world and need actively putting to sleep for a while. Invest in lots of biscuits and a Netflix account and insist on visitors bringing you lunch; get out and about if you want and the baby will do its thing.

Thankyou so much for your advice I really appreciate it ❤️

@Kaiser1805 my only advice would be to introduce sleeping in the bassinet or cot - wherever bubs will be sleeping - first night home from the hospital rather than co-sleeping.

Get them used to the bassinet early. Use black out curtains or blinds for day naps and obviously bedtime.

My DD is now 12 months and I'm still breastfeeding so can't comment on formula feeds - but be prepared for cluster feeding which happens in those first few months. It will pass!

Try and get out for a walk each day with the pram - and have 30 mins for yourself a day if possible. Cup of tea and a shower go a long way!!! You'll wonder what you did with all your spare time before the baby! And it will make you reflect on how previous your time is now!

It's fantastic being a mum! Good luck! You'll absolutely rock it!
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