Top 5 Tips to Establishing a Routine for Your Baby

Motherhood is one of the greatest blessings in life. Those sweet newborn snuggles are so intoxicating. Now let's add in those sleepless nights and life gets a little challenging. I reached out to Katy, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Certified Sleep Coach, and Breastfeeding Counselor, for her professional advice on sleep. Katy has a phenomenal Instagram so be sure to check it out. This blog post is written by her below.

Eat, Play, Sleep

The newborn days are hazy! It can be challenging to navigate any sense of routine with a baby that eats and sleeps around the clock!

Your newborn will be especially sleepy in the first 2-3 weeks. Your baby will have very brief periods of awake time throughout the day! By the time you feed your baby, change the diaper, and talk/play with them for a few minutes they will be ready for the next nap again!

Babies thrive on routines and it's never too early to start!

I recommend following an eat, play, sleep routine from the get go.

Newborn baby boy laying on hunter green backdrop wrapped in matching fabric during newborn photography session with newborn photographer Dreamworks Photography

My top 5 tips for Following this Type of Routine:

1. Feed your baby upon waking when your baby is in a quiet and alert state as opposed to crying! Your baby is much more likely to take a full feed this way!

2. Follow feeding with awake time! This will eventually turn into play time. Your newborn will start to have more purposeful awake time at 2-3 weeks!

3. Newborn wake windows are SHORT and include feeding time! Anywhere from 30-60 minutes before they need another nap!

4. Your newborn may sleep up to 4 hours at a time. BUT, you want this "long" stretch to be overnight. Wake your newborn up during the day if they have been sleeping for 2 hours to feed!

5. Establish a bedtime routine. Even though your newborn is still going to be awake every few hours overnight! This will help your baby extend their nighttime sleep in the upcoming months and give their brain the cue that sleep is coming!

Newborn baby boy sleeping on his side in angel pose on tan background during his newborn photoshoot with newborn photography Dreamworks Photography in Kansas City photography studio

Written by:

Katy Bourzikas, MSN APRN

https://www.wellrestedweeones.com

https://www.instagram.com/wellrestedweeones/

katy@wellresstedweeones.com

Newborn baby boy sleeping in bum up pose on green backdrop during newborn photo session with newborn photographer Dreamworks Photography in Kansas City newborn photography studio

Close up newborn photo of baby boy sleeping peacefully with praying hands under his cheek during newborn photography session with Kansas City newborn photography Dreamworks Photography

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