Your child accomplishes so much in the first year. Expect changes during growth spurts and milestones But it's best to keep your baby's schedule as consistent as possible while they're getting used to it. Once you establish a pattern for your baby's sleeping, awake, and feeding times, changing things for an afternoon isn't likely to undo their habits. Avoid deviating from the routine with vacations, meals on the go, or outings that push naptime back. If you're encouraging your baby to follow a schedule or observing their patterns to figure out a routine that works, make this process a top priority for at least the first couple of weeks. When starting out, put your baby's schedule first And if you log your baby's naps, feedings, and active times, you can use this record to come up with a timetable for doing things. But you'll see patterns emerge over time. Learning what your baby needs when takes time and patience. But your child is the most important guide and will tell you what they need – if you learn to read their cues. Websites, books, your baby's doctor, and other parents can all help as you figure out an appropriate schedule for your baby. Helping your baby learn to tell day from night is a key first step to getting into a workable routine.

Many babies mix up their days and nights until about 3 to 4 months, sleeping long stretches during the day only to perk up once the sun goes down.

Teach your baby the difference between night and day For more helpful information on establishing a bedtime routine, as well as other sleep tips, check out Baby Sleep 101 Opens a new window, our premium class led by a pediatric sleep doctor from Bab圜enter Courses. It's fine if feeding lulls your baby to sleep in the early months, but by 3 or 4 months you may want to try putting them down awake so they'll learn to fall asleep on their own. Keep the routine simple – for example, a warm bath, jammies, a feeding, then lights-out. The easiest way to develop a regular bedtime is to create a bedtime routine that you and your baby can depend on night after night. While you can't force babies to be predictable in the first few months, you can develop a consistent routine that's in sync with your baby's natural rhythms. Get your baby used to a bedtime routine early onīabies don't have regular sleep cycles until around 6 months old, according to the AAP. But how to start? Below, find some helpful guidelines for establishing a routine that works. Getting into a regular schedule for sleep, feeding, and activities can make life easier for you and your baby.

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