At What Age Did You Start a Routine? « Back to Group Discussions

[Mommel]

My little guy is just three weeks old today... I feel like we've already happily fallen into a routine of waking, morning nap, afternoon nap and bedtime. When did you start getting into a routine with your first LO? How soon is too soon? And is it ever too late?

[NC05]

That is awesome! We have no routine, at least not for the baby (also three weeks). I am jealous!!

[Dlynn918]

Chloe is almost 5 weeks and I think****crossing fingers***** we are entering a routine! Wooo hooo....but I don't want to get too excited in case it changes again! She is sleeping now for longer periods of time now that I am not switching breasts every feeding (more hind milk) and Im seeing the 3 naps a day and a bed time starting to fall into place. :-)

[mamareba]

I have no idea how to establish a routine.  I feel like Im very baby led throughout my day.  I have six weeks left of this luxury but then I have to go back to work, and will definitely need to be in more of a routine by then.  We go to bed at a different time every night and get up at a different time every day... its usually late in the morning by the time we get dressed and are up.  Any suggestions on how to get baby into  routine... or should I just chill with this and let her let me know? 

[time4latte]

This is how we were with our first and given that I am pretty much stay-at-home/work-from-home (hubby also works from home) it's worked for us, but this time around I'm thinking a routine would help the entire family. Seriously - anyone have suggestions on establishing a routine?
 

Originally Posted by mamareba 

I have no idea how to establish a routine.  I feel like Im very baby led throughout my day.  I have six weeks left of this luxury but then I have to go back to work, and will definitely need to be in more of a routine by then.  We go to bed at a different time every night and get up at a different time every day... its usually late in the morning by the time we get dressed and are up.  Any suggestions on how to get baby into  routine... or should I just chill with this and let her let me know? 

[Dlynn918]

Well, its still hit or miss around here. But Im finding the best way to help her establish a routine is to have one myself! Then she can follow. I wear her a lot too so if she isnt feeling cooperative, it settles her down and she naps on me. As much as we would love a schedule, Im not setting my heart on it yet. Im lucky enough that I dont have to work right now so it isnt a major catastrophe if she isnt asleep by nine.

[mamareba]

Because of this thread I started charting c's sleep patterns, naps, nighttime wakings, etc.  Its really interesting to watch... and looking at the night time wakings makes me feel better about how much sleep at night she is giving me :) 

[scottishmommy]

Bub is very consistent at night, but during the day anything goes. She almost seems to be on a 48 hour routine. Everyother day she is awake all day. The others she sleeps all day, except between 7:00-10:00 PM (her three hour milk binge LOL). What gives?