What is a baby sleep routine?
All babies have different needs, routines, and patterns of care. As caregivers, it's important to be sensitive to those needs. By paying attention to your baby's cues, a baby sleep routine can help you form a basic structure to your day.
All babies have varied sleep needs. This information is a guide that you can use and adapt depending on your baby’s personality and your own daily activities.
What to expect from your newborn daily routine?
In the early weeks, you and your baby are getting to know each other through activities such as feeding, sleeping, listening and focusing on each other.
A 1 week old baby routine might include a feed, a short time awake to play, then it will be time to sleep again.
Feeding frequency can vary a lot (anywhere from 2 hours to 5 hours apart) so it's not always possible to get into a routine straight away.
In the first few weeks, your baby won't know the difference between night and day. A daily pattern or routine emerges as they get older. Newborns sleep for short periods known as sleep cycles, which can be between 20 and 50 minutes long.
Once they have learnt the difference between night and day, they're likely to sleep for longer periods.
What do you include in a newborn schedule?
Feeding
Your newborn baby needs approximately 8 - 12 feeds every 24 hours (including overnight feeds).
Whether you are breastfeeding or using infant formula, feeding your baby can help develop that close parent-to-baby bond. It also gives you an opportunity to interact together.
Playing
Playing with your newborn is so important for their development. Some things you can do with your baby include:
- Taking them for a walk.
- Singing a song.
- Talking to each other.
- Showing them some toys or a book.
It's ok to do different activities each day as you'll learn what your baby likes and dislikes.
Sleeping
Sleep times can vary with individual babies. Some babies may sleep through a few sleep cycles and learn to sleep for longer periods. Other babies may need help to return to sleep when they wake after a short nap.
While it is ideal that your baby sleeps between each feed, newborns often have long crying periods and may not always sleep at regular times. Read more about how to manage newborn sleep.
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