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How do i get my baby into a feeding routine


Seven steps to creating a successful baby routine

In this article

  • 1. Teach your baby the difference between night and day
  • 2. Introduce a bedtime routine early on
  • 3. Learn to read your baby’s cues
  • 4. Keep your baby’s routine consistent
  • 5. Expect changes during growth spurts and milestones
  • 6. Adjust your baby’s routine to suit their age
  • 7. Don’t expect perfection!

Knowing what your baby needs and when can be a real challenge. But planning a routine for you and your baby with regular naptimes, feeds, activities, outings and bedtime can help. It will get you used to your baby’s rhythm and can be adapted as you learn their cues. A routine will also give structure to your day, and your baby will learn what to expect and when. Check out our seven top tips for creating a successful daily routine with your baby.

1. Teach your baby the difference between night and day

Newborn babies don’t understand the difference between day and night at first. You may find that your baby sleeps for long stretches during the day, only to perk up at night-time.

Helping them learn to tell day from night is an important step towards a routine that helps you both get the most from your day, as well as the rest you both need.

Simple habits can make a difference. Change your baby’s clothes before bed, and again when they wake up to show them when the day ends, and when a new one begins. Keep your house bright and noisy during the day, but dim and quiet at night.

Make night feeds calmer and quieter than feeds during the day. It’s a good idea to talk as little as possible, keep background noise to a minimum, and the room as dark as possible.

These changes will give your baby a chance to learn that night-time is for sleeping and daytime is for socialising and playtime.

Through the eyes of a child: your newborn to six month old

See the best way to communicate with your baby - from their perspective. It'll open your eyes! More baby videos

2.

Introduce a bedtime routine early on

You can have a simple bedtime routine from any age, but your baby will really start to benefit from it at around three months. Your baby will be old enough at this age to settle into a rhythm of going to sleep at the same time each night, although it may take a while for them to catch on.

Consistency is key to a successful bedtime routine. Try to come up with one that you and your baby can depend on night after night, and keep it as simple as possible. This will be a part of yours and your little one’s day for many years to come, so make sure it’s enjoyable too. Building a routine that you and your baby love will make sticking to it easier. For example, you could try:

  • giving them a bath
  • putting on their pyjamas or sleepsuit
  • giving your baby a massage
  • offering a breastfeed or bottle-feed
  • reading a short story
  • singing them a lullaby
  • giving plenty of cuddles
  • placing them down and saying "night night"

Keep your routine short – around 30 minutes to 45 minutes. Any longer and you may find your baby becomes over-stimulated, and you may have to start all over again.

Want to learn more about your baby's sleep? Get more information on the best sleep routines, whether sleep training is safe, and how much sleep your baby really needs.

3. Learn to read your baby’s cues

Let your baby be your guide to the routine that's best for them. If you read their cues, they’ll tell you what they need.

Learning what your baby wants takes time and patience though. Try making a note of when they seem tired, hungry, or ready to play. This will help you to create a routine that works for them.

As you see patterns emerging, you'll be able to anticipate their needs. For example, if you spot the signs that your baby's getting hungry, you can give them a feed before they become hangry.

4. Keep your baby’s routine consistent

It’s best to keep your baby’s routine as consistent as possible, especially while they’re still getting used to it. This consistency will help them to understand that certain things happen at particular times.

A routine may also help you to keep focus and order to the day, amid the chaos of constant feeds and nappy changes!

Of course, life with a baby is busy and you won't always be able to anticipate every disruption. While it's only natural to worry, changing things around for an afternoon play date isn’t going to undo your good work. After all, it’s good to get your baby used to being out and about, and meeting new people.

If you want to introduce a daily outing, such as going to a play group or visiting friends, try to fit it around your baby’s sleeping and feeding routine at first if you can. Many playgroups offer morning and afternoon times for this very reason.

Having a routine to stick to every day may feel daunting at first, so don’t be afraid to ask for help from your friends, family or health visitor. Remember, it’s not about having a strict routine but about getting to know your baby and responding to their needs.

5. Expect changes during growth spurts and milestones

Your baby will accomplish so much in their first year. They’ll nearly triple their weight, and you'll see them achieve major developmental milestones like sitting, crawling, and maybe even walking.

There'll be times when your baby grows and ticks off milestones faster than others. And you're likely to be in for some disruption to their routine during these growth spurts.

Your baby may be particularly likely to have a growth spurt at:

  • two weeks
  • three weeks
  • six weeks
  • three months
  • six months

During these times, they may sleep for longer, or they may wake up more frequently at night. You may also find that they’re hungrier than usual.

It’s OK to feel a bit disheartened if the routine you’ve perfected just doesn’t seem to work anymore. It's completely normal for things to go a bit awry during a growth spurt. Your baby will probably settle back into their usual routine within a week or so.

If they don’t pick up their routine again, try making a few adjustments to accommodate their new skills and needs. For example, if they’ve just learned to sit up, they may prefer a bath support that allows them to be more upright.

You may have heard changes in you baby’s sleep patterns called a "sleep regression". Learn more about what a sleep regression is and why it happens.

6. Adjust your baby’s routine to suit their age

Once you’ve got into a predictable pattern with your baby, it may feel like no time at all before it’s time to change it again. As your baby gets older, they’ll need fewer daytime naps and more playtime and stimulation.

At about six months, they’ll also need to start eating solid foods. So be prepared for mealtimes to take longer, and the clean-up afterwards.

As your baby gets older, these routine changes will seem more natural. If you find it difficult to find a routine that suits their age, your health visitor will be happy to give you some pointers.

7. Don’t expect perfection!

Your baby’s routine won't always run like clockwork. Although babies like consistency, you can expect changes day to day and as your baby grows.

Sometimes, for whatever reason, your baby will want to skip a nap, have an extra feed or wake up early. This could just be a one-off, or it may be linked to a new tooth coming through or a minor illness like a cold.

Life will get in the way too. Holidays, siblings and plans with friends and family will all play a part in daily life with your baby. An occasional break shouldn’t cause too much disruption to your baby’s routine. Just pick up as usual when you can, and remember that every parent faces the same challenges. You aren't alone.

Check out more helpful advice on caring for your baby

  • Our guide to breastfeeding positions
  • Your little one’s teething timeline
  • Know when it’s time to start weaning

Seven steps to creating a successful baby routine

In this article

  • 1. Teach your baby the difference between night and day
  • 2. Introduce a bedtime routine early on
  • 3. Learn to read your baby’s cues
  • 4. Keep your baby’s routine consistent
  • 5. Expect changes during growth spurts and milestones
  • 6. Adjust your baby’s routine to suit their age
  • 7. Don’t expect perfection!

Knowing what your baby needs and when can be a real challenge. But planning a routine for you and your baby with regular naptimes, feeds, activities, outings and bedtime can help. It will get you used to your baby’s rhythm and can be adapted as you learn their cues. A routine will also give structure to your day, and your baby will learn what to expect and when. Check out our seven top tips for creating a successful daily routine with your baby.

1. Teach your baby the difference between night and day

Newborn babies don’t understand the difference between day and night at first. You may find that your baby sleeps for long stretches during the day, only to perk up at night-time.

Helping them learn to tell day from night is an important step towards a routine that helps you both get the most from your day, as well as the rest you both need.

Simple habits can make a difference. Change your baby’s clothes before bed, and again when they wake up to show them when the day ends, and when a new one begins. Keep your house bright and noisy during the day, but dim and quiet at night.

Make night feeds calmer and quieter than feeds during the day. It’s a good idea to talk as little as possible, keep background noise to a minimum, and the room as dark as possible.

These changes will give your baby a chance to learn that night-time is for sleeping and daytime is for socialising and playtime.

Through the eyes of a child: your newborn to six month old

See the best way to communicate with your baby - from their perspective. It'll open your eyes! More baby videos

2.

Introduce a bedtime routine early on

You can have a simple bedtime routine from any age, but your baby will really start to benefit from it at around three months. Your baby will be old enough at this age to settle into a rhythm of going to sleep at the same time each night, although it may take a while for them to catch on.

Consistency is key to a successful bedtime routine. Try to come up with one that you and your baby can depend on night after night, and keep it as simple as possible. This will be a part of yours and your little one’s day for many years to come, so make sure it’s enjoyable too. Building a routine that you and your baby love will make sticking to it easier. For example, you could try:

  • giving them a bath
  • putting on their pyjamas or sleepsuit
  • giving your baby a massage
  • offering a breastfeed or bottle-feed
  • reading a short story
  • singing them a lullaby
  • giving plenty of cuddles
  • placing them down and saying "night night"

Keep your routine short – around 30 minutes to 45 minutes. Any longer and you may find your baby becomes over-stimulated, and you may have to start all over again.

Want to learn more about your baby's sleep? Get more information on the best sleep routines, whether sleep training is safe, and how much sleep your baby really needs.

3. Learn to read your baby’s cues

Let your baby be your guide to the routine that's best for them. If you read their cues, they’ll tell you what they need.

Learning what your baby wants takes time and patience though. Try making a note of when they seem tired, hungry, or ready to play. This will help you to create a routine that works for them.

As you see patterns emerging, you'll be able to anticipate their needs. For example, if you spot the signs that your baby's getting hungry, you can give them a feed before they become hangry.

4. Keep your baby’s routine consistent

It’s best to keep your baby’s routine as consistent as possible, especially while they’re still getting used to it. This consistency will help them to understand that certain things happen at particular times.

A routine may also help you to keep focus and order to the day, amid the chaos of constant feeds and nappy changes!

Of course, life with a baby is busy and you won't always be able to anticipate every disruption. While it's only natural to worry, changing things around for an afternoon play date isn’t going to undo your good work. After all, it’s good to get your baby used to being out and about, and meeting new people.

If you want to introduce a daily outing, such as going to a play group or visiting friends, try to fit it around your baby’s sleeping and feeding routine at first if you can. Many playgroups offer morning and afternoon times for this very reason.

Having a routine to stick to every day may feel daunting at first, so don’t be afraid to ask for help from your friends, family or health visitor. Remember, it’s not about having a strict routine but about getting to know your baby and responding to their needs.

5. Expect changes during growth spurts and milestones

Your baby will accomplish so much in their first year. They’ll nearly triple their weight, and you'll see them achieve major developmental milestones like sitting, crawling, and maybe even walking.

There'll be times when your baby grows and ticks off milestones faster than others. And you're likely to be in for some disruption to their routine during these growth spurts.

Your baby may be particularly likely to have a growth spurt at:

  • two weeks
  • three weeks
  • six weeks
  • three months
  • six months

During these times, they may sleep for longer, or they may wake up more frequently at night. You may also find that they’re hungrier than usual.

It’s OK to feel a bit disheartened if the routine you’ve perfected just doesn’t seem to work anymore. It's completely normal for things to go a bit awry during a growth spurt. Your baby will probably settle back into their usual routine within a week or so.

If they don’t pick up their routine again, try making a few adjustments to accommodate their new skills and needs. For example, if they’ve just learned to sit up, they may prefer a bath support that allows them to be more upright.

You may have heard changes in you baby’s sleep patterns called a "sleep regression". Learn more about what a sleep regression is and why it happens.

6. Adjust your baby’s routine to suit their age

Once you’ve got into a predictable pattern with your baby, it may feel like no time at all before it’s time to change it again. As your baby gets older, they’ll need fewer daytime naps and more playtime and stimulation.

At about six months, they’ll also need to start eating solid foods. So be prepared for mealtimes to take longer, and the clean-up afterwards.

As your baby gets older, these routine changes will seem more natural. If you find it difficult to find a routine that suits their age, your health visitor will be happy to give you some pointers.

7. Don’t expect perfection!

Your baby’s routine won't always run like clockwork. Although babies like consistency, you can expect changes day to day and as your baby grows.

Sometimes, for whatever reason, your baby will want to skip a nap, have an extra feed or wake up early. This could just be a one-off, or it may be linked to a new tooth coming through or a minor illness like a cold.

Life will get in the way too. Holidays, siblings and plans with friends and family will all play a part in daily life with your baby. An occasional break shouldn’t cause too much disruption to your baby’s routine. Just pick up as usual when you can, and remember that every parent faces the same challenges. You aren't alone.

Check out more helpful advice on caring for your baby

  • Our guide to breastfeeding positions
  • Your little one’s teething timeline
  • Know when it’s time to start weaning

How to teach a child to the regime and draw up a daily routine of the newborn

Content of Article

  • When you can start accustoming the child to the mode
  • Advantages of maintaining the regime and excluding
  • Rituals in the schedule of the child
  • Feeding
    • 9000

Question about when and how to accustom a child to the regime, inevitably confronts young parents. To develop a daily routine for an infant means to draw up a schedule for feeding, sleeping, bathing and walking, which contributes to the normal physical and mental development of the child. It is important that the given rhythm is convenient for both the baby and all family members.

When can you start accustoming your child to a sleep routine? But in the first month after birth, the child's body only adapts to life in new conditions for it, while experiencing stress. Therefore, at first, you should simply observe the newborn: how long he can sleep without a break, how often he asks for food, what excites him, and what acts soothingly. To establish an optimal daily routine in the future, at the initial stage it is worth fully adjusting to the natural needs of the baby.

It is helpful to record your observations of how the baby sleeps and eats, marking the time. This data will help to identify the rhythm of his life and will serve as the basis for building his daily routine in the future.

Starting from the age of two months, you can gradually accustom the newborn to the regime, based on some of his already established habits. In order for this process to be successful and painless for all participants, several recommendations should be followed:

  • observe consistency and punctuality in everything related to the baby;
  • provide the child with a calm environment: exclude loud music, do not watch TV in the children's room;
  • refrain from guests in the first months: the appearance of new people can cause anxiety in the crumbs;
  • avoid conflict situations in the family.

Benefits of maintenance and exclusion

The child's needs for food, play and rest change at regular intervals. Properly adjusted daily routine helps the baby:

  • getting used to distinguishing day from night is a skill that parents will appreciate, especially if the newborn is breastfed and the father cannot replace the nursing mother at night to give the baby a bottle of formula;
  • avoid overwork - a small organism at the level of reflexes will know what to expect after certain actions and procedures, which will reduce the energy and time spent on the transition to a new type of activity;
  • harmoniously develop mentally and physically - a properly built sequence of successive periods of rest and activity contributes to the most efficient distribution of body resources.

Just like an adult, a child can get tired earlier than usual or, conversely, get overexcited. In such cases, you cannot demand from him a strict adherence to the regime - do not let him fall asleep until a certain time or try to rock him to sleep, despite the desire to play. Such tactics will not bring joy to either the baby or his parents.

Given that the child develops very quickly, it will not be possible to establish a clear regimen once and for all: during the first year of life, it will have to be changed several times. It is necessary to be sensitive to the changing needs of the baby and adjust the daily routine, while adhering to the timely observance of the basic rituals.

The importance of rituals in the daily routine of a child

The following types of activities can serve as reference points in the daily routine of a newborn child up to the age of one year:

  • bathing;
  • gymnastics;
  • massage;
  • walks;
  • games.

With regard to the primary needs of the body - food and sleep - it is necessary to listen more to the desires of the child, not striving to strictly follow the schedule. This does not mean that feeding and rest should be completely unsystematic - they can and should be organized. If they are successfully inscribed in the sequence of other actions and procedures, then there will be few exceptions to the regime, and it will not be difficult to restore the usual rhythm after them.

Feeding

Depending on whether the baby is formula-fed or breastfeeding, he may receive food at different intervals and in different quantities: the mixture is easy to measure, but it is difficult to prepare each time on demand, and mother's milk is always ready for use, but measuring how much the baby drank is very difficult. In both cases, it is easy to predict when a child will get hungry, if one remembers that the increase in appetite is facilitated by:

  • gymnastics and massage to speed up metabolism;
  • water procedures, which include both physical activity and elements of the game.

    • The optimal interval between feedings of a newborn baby in the first 1-2 months of life is 2-2.5 hours. Over time, this gap gradually increases. It is necessary to increase the time between meals up to 4 hours starting from 3-4 months.

    A good appetite is a sign of a properly built regimen. If the baby began to eat poorly, you should take care of the state of his health.

    Sleep

    The second most important component of a child's routine is sleep. In order to develop a system of day and night rest that suits everyone, you must remember the following.

    • During the whole day, and especially before going to bed, the room in which the crib is placed must be well ventilated.
    • During the day, sleep should not be accompanied by complete silence and darkness - dim light and moderate noise will help the baby to distinguish the time of day. An ideal afternoon nap is combined with a walk in the fresh air, provided the weather is good.
    • Nightly bathing followed by feeding will set the baby up for a long night's rest.

    The older the child gets, the longer his periods of wakefulness become. The total duration of sleep per day changes as follows:

    • in 1 month - up to 20 hours;
    • at 2 months - 17-18 hours;
    • from 3 months to six months - 15-16 hours;
    • from 6 months to a year - 14-15 hours.

    Accordingly, gradually the baby begins to sleep less and less:

    • in the first month - 5-6 times a day;
    • in six months - 3-4 times;
    • at the age of one year - up to 1-2 times.

    The quality of a baby's sleep largely depends on what emotions he experienced while awake, and how he slept, in turn, directly affects his mood. The adjusted and convenient mode helps not only to streamline the life of the baby, but also makes him more balanced and cheerful.

    How to teach your child to sleep and day

    December 8, 2020

    November 29, 2022

    4 minutes

    5369

    ProWellness

    Contents

    • Why is it important to keep a sleep schedule in childhood?
    • What are the dangers of an unstable sleep pattern?
    • How to teach a child to sleep?
    • Conclusion

    Disclaimer

    Please note that all information posted on the site Prowellness is provided for informational purposes only and is not a personal program, a direct recommendation for action, or medical advice. Do not use these materials for diagnosis, treatment, or any medical procedure. Consult your physician before using any technique or using any product. This site is not a specialized medical portal and does not replace the professional advice of a specialist. The Site Owner is not liable to any party who has suffered indirect or direct damage as a result of misuse of materials posted on this resource.

    How to teach a child to sleep and day

    It is important to teach a child to a correct and stable life schedule, his health and well-being will depend on this. How to start accustoming a child to the correct mode of sleep and rest?

    Why is it important to keep a sleep schedule in childhood?

    In childhood, it is important to observe the sleep and day regimen. A harmonious daily routine is useful for the following reasons:

    • has a positive effect on the child's nervous system and development;
    • serves as a prevention of overwork and bad mood;
    • improves immunity, activates the body's defenses;
    • helps fight children's whims and tantrums;
    • improves the performance of the baby and prepares him for the upcoming activity;
    • helps to keep the baby interested in games, walks, creative activities, learning;
    • forms the correct behavior and accustoms to further organization.

    What threatens unstable sleep patterns?

    If the baby does not go to bed and wake up at about the same time, this can threaten the following health problems:

    1. Lagging behind peers in development.
    2. The beginning of the formation of sleep deprivation syndrome (healthy need for sleep and rest begins to disappear).
    3. Bad mood, disinterest, lethargy.
    4. Disturbances in behavior, disobedience, inability to control oneself.
    5. Decreased memory, memory processes, mental activity.
    6. Reluctance to contact parents and other children.
    7. Reduced immunity, aggravation of the course of infectious and viral diseases.

    How to teach a child to sleep?

    What should be done to teach the baby to the correct sleep pattern?

    • Learn to distinguish between dark and daylight hours. When he wakes up, open the curtains, fill the room with sunlight, do activating activities. Darken the room while sleeping.
    • Gently resist falling asleep immediately after feeding. But if he shows serious signs of drowsiness, then you should not deprive him of the opportunity to rest.
    • Monitor baby's sleep habits. Determine what time he wakes up and falls asleep. Take this information as the basis of his future daily routine.
    • Compare the rest schedule with the age and physiological needs of the child.
    • Try to put the little fidget to bed at the same time, do not deviate from the schedule.
    • Children sleep well after meals and outdoors. It is worth adjusting to these features of a growing organism.
    • After the newborn is six months old, try to reduce the number of night feeds. They make the baby wake up often at night, interfere with his restful sleep.
    • An hour before going to bed, try to engage in calm activities with the baby, do not excite him for no reason.
    • Introduce certain rituals in preparation for sleep (calm games, massage treatments, bathing). Children quickly get used to the rituals if they are carried out in the same order every day.
    • If the baby does not want to fall asleep at the time that was allotted for sleep, it is worth slightly modifying the schedule of his life. Maybe the time allotted just isn't right for him.