Routines

[finallypregnant]

Been trying to work out when to start to put a newborn into a routine. Can I have some input from you please?

My understanding (please correct me if I am wrong) is that baby should be fed and allowed to sleep whenever he wants for the first 6-8 weeks pretty much with me at all times.

Is it around then we should try for a routine like bath, change, feed and bed and may be have the moses basket upstairs with monitors on etc with him in a dark room?

Or will he sort of just do this himself and we'll find our own way?

Also, do you use sheets and blankets or have you been using these gro-bags that seem favourable?

Many thanks for your help.

Babies tend to establish their own routines.

I started to put my DCs to bed at 6.30pm from about 14 weeks to try and establish night time sleeping for them. It worked after a while.

Your baby will sleep and eat when it needs to in the first three months or so. If you're breastfeeding, it's important to respond to his / her needs in this respect.

When the baby is more awake and lively (you could have one of those from the off of course!), then you could look at starting one or two elements of a routine like a bath and then bed.

When the baby is at weaning age (around 6 months is recommneded apparently), you'll be able to establish meal times and more of a routine.

Good luck. Go with the flow and don't stress out about routines. There's so much time to establish routines.