Getting your newborn baby into a routine

During your pregnancy your baby will have awake and asleep times. Pay attention to these moments, make a mental note of them. It will help when your baby is born. For example if you're baby is often awake at 3pm in the afternoon, chances are this will be an awake time for them when they're born.

Here is a simple feeding chart that outlines how to interact with your newborn baby so as not to excite or wake them up at times you want them (and yourself) to relax and fall back to sleep.

FEEDING TIMES:

Early Morning:                       1. Feeding and diaper change.

5-6am                                      2. Wake time: rock your baby and sing; place your baby on

their back in crib to watch a mobile.

3. Put baby down for a nap.

Midmorning:                          1. Feeding and diaper change.

8-9am                                      2. Wake time: take a walk with baby, run errands or visit

neighbours.

3. Put baby down for a nap.

Afternoon:                              1. Feeding and diaper change.

11-12pm                                  2. Wake time: bath baby and place baby in infant seat                                                         (rocker) near window.

                                                3. Put baby down for a nap.

Midafternoon:                        1. Feeding and diaper change.

2-3pm                                      2. Wake time: play with baby, have baby by your side as

you read or sew.

3. Put baby down for a nap.

Later Afternoon:                     1. Feeding and diaper change.

5-6pm                                      2. Wake time: family time.

                                                3. Put baby down for a nap.

Early Evening:                        1. Feeding, diaper change (maybe wake time), put baby

8-9pm                                      down for a nap.

Late Evening:                         1. Feeding and diaper change (NO wake time), put baby

11-12am                                  down for sleep.

Any questions?  Leave a comment below.