How to create a newborn routine? Just ask your newborn

Settling your newborn into life at home is a special time for you and your baby. For first-time parents, and even those with experience, the first 6 weeks require patience and constant care to ensure your little one is happy and healthy. A routine can be beneficial to ensure all your newborn’s needs are met and you have time to take care of yourself.

However, a strict schedule is not advised as newborns require responsive care. This means up until 3 to 4 months of age, you need to respond to your baby’s tired, hungry, and wakeful cues as your newborn knows best what they need, and when they need it.

Routine versus schedule

They might seem similar at first glance, but routines and schedules have distinct differences, each with its own set of benefits and challenges.

A routine is like a familiar dance, where you do things in a particular order each day without being tied to strict timetables. For example, at bedtime, you might give your little one a bath, read a story, and then tuck them in. It's all about the sequence of events, but you have flexibility with the timing.

On the other hand, a schedule is more like following a strict timetable. You still do the same activities in the same order, but the timing is set in stone, regardless of what happens around you.

Do newborns need a routine?

It is important to note that every baby is unique and so are their daily needs. This means that while a structured schedule may work for some families, a strict timeline is not so easily followed by others.

Introducing a schedule for your baby can be useful for planning your day, and brings a degree of predictability that may be soothing for some parents. However, your baby is always quietly, and sometimes not so quietly, letting you know what they need, day or night.

No family or their little one will have the same newborn routine. So, it makes sense to follow your baby's lead when it comes to feeding or napping and develop a baby routine together.

It is also important to remember that meeting the needs of your baby will help develop natural rhythms and a strong relationship between the two of you. Knowing they are loved and cared for will also encourage your baby's development.

What kind of routine could my newborn have?

Ultimately, it is best to introduce a flexible routine, allowing for adjustments depending on your baby's cues or behaviour that day. This foundation can be introduced from birth, but the first few weeks and months of a newborn’s life are dominated by feeding and sleeping. This means using a rather simple pattern that is prone to change depending on whether your baby is hungry, tired, active, or looking to interact with you.

The feed-play-sleep routine is a great starting point and soon you will learn to identify your baby’s hunger and sleep cues. It can be helpful to follow a feed-sleep-play routine during the day, and a simple routine of sleep and feed during the night.

In fact, the initial few weeks of taking care of your newborn are perfect for getting to know each other and building a deep bond. So focus on spending enough quality time with your baby and follow their lead when it comes to sleeping or eating.

Remember that as your newborn baby grows, their routine will change. They will be able to stay awake and manage longer stretches between feeds. They will also open up to new playtime ideas as they develop, meaning that the newborn routine is only temporary.

Feeding your newborn

A newborn baby's feeding routine is likely to consist of a feeding session every 1 to 3 hours, broken up by naps. Newborn babies have small tummies and therefore need to be fed frequently. A full tummy will help your baby fall asleep and sleep for longer.

Newborns need to be fed on demand whenever they show hunger cues which can result in needing to nurse around 8 to 12 times a day. There are plenty of signs to observe if you are unsure that your baby is receiving enough breast milk, but hunger cues are the most reliable means.

Breastfeeding is recommended exclusively for the first 6 months of a baby's life, with solid foods being introduced at this time and breastfeeding continuing up to 2 years of age or beyond. This means breastfeeding whenever your baby shows hunger cues.

Common hunger cue signs for newborns include:

●      Crying

●      Moving their head restlessly

●      Opening their mouths and/or sticking out their tongues

●      Nuzzling against chests

●      Move their lips in a sucking motion

●      Placing their hands to their mouth

Bear in mind that babies will sometimes go through a growth spurt and require more frequent or longer feeds. This is called cluster feeding.

You may find that on these cluster fedding days, short naps are required for your newborn between feeds. This can make you feel like you have no routine at all!

Cluster feeding requires self-care. Look after yourself. Make sure you drink water while you are feeding. Try to get a good night's sleep or take a nap during the day so you do not become sleep-deprived. You may find the 'sleep when they sleep' and 'wake when they wake' mantra helpful.

If you feel overwhelmed by this increase in feeding contact your GP, family child or Well Child nurse for support and advice.

Play routine for newborns

Even at the newborn stage, play is vital for a newborn's overall development. Through interacting with you and the world around them, babies learn to communicate, move their bodies, socialise, and explore their surroundings.

In the first few months, playtime might only come in the form of cuddle time or tummy time when they wake. For most newborns, a routine of 10 to 20 minutes of play is enough before sleeping again. This is formulated from following a 'feed-play' routine, which means they would have been feeding before they play as part of their daytime routine.

After the first few months, as they get older and stronger, expect long stretches of awake time. You may notice playtime becomes easier as they are more mobile. For now, however, you can play with your newborn through:

●      Soft and/or textured toys

●      Musical objects

●      Making faces or funny sounds

●      Talking and reading to them

●      Singing

●      Holding them to cuddle, rock, or pat

●      Massages

There are plenty more games out there for you to explore. Find something your baby enjoys most and include it in your daily routine.

Newborn sleep routine

During the first few weeks to months, your baby will be sleeping and feeding whenever they need to. This means there is no set sleep or feeding schedule to follow beyond paying attention to their tired cues.

Over time, a natural rhythm will form into a newborn sleep routine . However, for now, their sleep behaviour will revolve around getting 14 to 17 hours each day. This is both overnight sleep and daytime naps, although it may take some time before your baby can differentiate between the two. Eventually, however, they will begin to develop a circadian rhythm to follow.

Circadian rhythm is the body’s biological clock that regulates the physical, mental, and behavioral changes we experience over a 24 hour period. Lightness and darkness have the biggest influence on circadian rhythms, so it is very important to establish the difference between day and night. Your newborn baby’s circadian rhythm is not fully developed until around four to six months of age.

For now, it is best to recognise your little one's sleep cues to know when a nap is coming. Some of the common newborn sleep cues include:

●      Fussing

●      Jerking their arms

●      Eye rubbing

●      Staring into the distance

●      Crying.

If your baby is ready to fall asleep, let your baby sleep, even if the time does not align with their usual sleep time. If you wait too long to settle your baby, they will become overtired, and it will be harder to get them back to sleep.

Finding the sweet spot between an alert and overtired baby can be tricky, but you will learn their cues soon enough. You may also begin to predict when they will wake once their pattern is established.

What does a newborn routine look like?

Learning how other parents settle their little one or navigate major developmental milestones can guide you towards creating a routine that best suits you and your baby.

For those looking for a routine foundation to draw inspiration from, the feed-play-sleep method is one of the more prevalent ones. It is flexible enough to be adapted for most babies.

You can build a feed-play-sleep routine based on the following advice:

●      When your baby wakes, feed them. You can change your baby's nappy at the beginning, middle or end of their feed. Whatever you feel works best for you and your baby.

●      After a full feed and burping, you can have playtime with your baby. If you notice your baby is ready for sleep, consider a shorter playtime or put them to bed. Longer stretches of play will happen as your baby grows.

●      When you start to see your baby's sleep cues, put them back to bed as per their sleep schedule.

Flexibility is crucial. Sometimes your baby may need longer periods of sleep, which should be encouraged due to its benefits in baby growth. Alternatively, they may need a feed after playtime as the effort makes them hungry again.

These kinds of changes are to be expected and are not a cause for concern. Simply make adjustments according to your baby's needs. Then, pick up where you left off in your sleep-feed-play schedule for the rest of the day.

Routines take time

Routines can be helpful for some parents but not all. The important part is that you and your baby are happy. By focusing on nourishing and nurturing them, you will have a much-loved and cared-for baby!

Should you have any concerns about your baby's routine, or if it is a real challenge getting them into a predictable pattern, consult your GP, family health or Well Child nurse or a healthcare professional for advice.

We’re here to help

Our team of nutritionists, dietitians and midwives at Careline are healthcare professionals with big hearts. Specialising in infant and child health, they offer parents and carers, free nutrition, feeding and product advice and lots of moral support. Contact the Careline on 1800 842 098, LiveChat or email.

Every feeding journey is unique

As a signatory to the MAIF* Agreement – a voluntary industry code – we believe parents should have all the necessary information to make informed decisions on their child’s nutrition. This breastfeeding information is not intended to judge or alarm you. We simply hope to provide you with peace of mind in all your feeding choices.

Not every parent can produce breast milk. No matter what choice you make, we will support your unique feeding journey.

If you can breastfeed, exclusive breastfeeding is recommended for the first six months. Breast milk helps improve a child’s immunity and supports a healthy weight for mum. Eating a healthy, nutritionally balanced diet during pregnancy and breastfeeding is also important for mums.

If breast milk is not available, infant formula is the most suitable alternative. Consult your healthcare professional before you start formula to ensure you have the right one for the age and needs of your baby. It is important to read the instructions on the tin and carefully prepare the formula exactly as the label recommends, any change in preparation could lead to health hazards.

Please note, partial bottle feeding can be tricky, it may interfere with breast milk supply and can be difficult to reverse. One last thing, babies will need to be fed infant formula until they are 12 months old, so the social and financial implications need to be considered.

*Marketing in Australia of Infant Formulas