How to Establish a Routine for Baby

Establishing a routine with your newest addition from the get-go is essential to her health and happiness. It's also essential to yours. As is the case with any new parent, you're destined to have sleepless nights and groggy mornings. However, by creating a routine of eating, playing and sleeping, you'll create a sense of normalcy. "It also sets the stage for baby to get used to structure and routine later on, such as when the child enters school," noted Lauren Urban-Colacicco, licensed medical social worker and owner and therapist at Psychobabble in Brooklyn, New York.

Creating a routine helps take the guesswork out of what your baby wants. "Especially in the early days of infancy, it is difficult to know exactly what a baby needs," explained Urban-Colacicco. "Having a fairly stable routine can help the parent anticipate why baby is crying." It also helps the baby feel safe and assured when caregivers respond quickly and accurately to his needs.

Observe your child's natural tendencies for several weeks and as patterns emerge, create a schedule. "The routine established should follow your child's natural rhythms and schedules," noted Urban-Colacicco. For example, if your newborn takes naps three times a day around the same time, make sure you're home at those times so your child can sleep well in his crib.

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Your baby will experience illness, teething, growth spurts and developmental changes. "Keep trying to hold to the routine, but allow for a bit of chaos," advised Urban-Colacicco. "It's frustrating, but when the period of change seems to be over, go back to the routine you'd established and keep to it as consistently as possible."

As your baby gets older, routines should grow and change, as well. For example, Urban-Colacicco explains that naps may get longer or shorter and meal times will change with the adjustment from liquids to solids. Adjust to coordinate with your baby's internal schedule.

To help you better understand the ever changing developmental stages of your child, read books, visit websites and talk to those with experience. Knowing what to expect at each developmental stage can help you "stay a step ahead of the changes which can/will occur in your child's routine," said Urban-Colacicco.

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Establishing a schedule takes time — at any age. Just think about how long it took you to get the hang of a new work schedule. The idea of a baby's routine is similar. "If you understand that your child will need to get used to her routine and continue doing the same steps at the same — or similar — times, it will make the transition much smoother," explained Urban-Colacicco. "Don't give up after a day or two because baby doesn't seem to be 'getting it.' "

Whether you're planning a vacation or are expecting guests, there are times when keeping a schedule just isn't going to happen. Do your best to maintain a normal routine, but make due when necessary. So if you're traveling with your baby during meal time, bring food and eat in the car. If that afternoon nap just isn't going to happen, bring a comforting object or toy to keep your baby happy.

Bedtime is one of the most difficult parts of a schedule to plan. Sometimes your baby will fight sleep when it's time for bed. How you react in these cases depends on your preferred parenting practices. Some parents allow their baby to stay up later than normal without pushing bedtime too much, while others let their baby cry it out and fall asleep on his own.

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