Parenting | Getting My Baby Into A Routine

‘Baby’ and ‘routine’ in the same sentence together is likely to have a massive difference of opinion amongst some of you; while some will whole heartedly agree that getting your baby into a routine is best others would disagree. So should baby routines be implemented from the off, or not?

I honestly believe they should.

So Why Should I Have A Routine?

Well, I think it’s common sense. Surely it’s crucial to establish a mutual schedule so you both know (more, or less) what’s coming next. In the beginning, a baby’s needs are minimal; eat, sleep, poop, repeat. As a first time mum I found it quite hard to work out what each cry meant at first and so I didn’t want to leave much to chance. When Toby was unsettled I used to end up going through every possible reason before actually getting the right one.

However, once I was a couple of days in we tried to create a balance that would, more or less, eliminate all need for guesswork. Toby and I were much happier when we knew what to expect next. This allowed me to plan days out when I was ready to venture outside. I knew, roughly, when Toby was due to feed (although this can be slightly harder when breastfeeding as it’s always on demand) and due to nap.

Secondly, anybody who wants to help out with babysitting won’t have to guess either. You’ll be able to give them (roughly) a time when your baby is due to eat, sleep or when they just want to play!

When Should You Start A Routine?

Experts are often in disagreement but I’ve never really been one for listening to them and tend to go with the flow. I’d say from day one – the sooner you get something established, the easier it will be. I breastfed exclusively for 6 weeks, and stopped completely somewhere around the 10 week mark. It was pretty hard at first considering breastfeeding is an ‘on-demand’ job but it did get easier – and I was really, really lucky because our routine just fell into place. It also makes night times a dream; Toby slept through from 11 weeks once we’d got him into a proper routine and he’d learned day from night. It’s amazing what good a bit of uninterrupted sleep can do for you!

Consistency is key for any routine, so stick with it. Babies tend to be so much happier when they don’t want anything, thus all focus can be on play time and allowing them to explore the world around them happily!

What’s your baby routine? How quickly did it take for you to settle in first time round?