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Routines for daytime and bedtime
Having a routine takes time. Don't expect your baby to follow one quickly. Help them by responding consistently throughout the day.
Work towards a pattern of feeding, playing, and sleeping. This makes it easier to know what your baby needs. It also helps your baby behave in a more expected way.
Over time your baby will develop a daily routine. But any routine must be flexible as things change. For example, a hot day can mean your baby will need an extra feed to deal with fluid loss from the heat.
A newborn is awake for about one hour for feeding and playtime. You should then notice your baby is getting tired and showing common tired signs such as annoyed movements and little sighs. Watch for these signs to start the bedtime routine.
Babies slowly start to stay awake longer to eat and play. They sleep less during day naps. Day naps are usually 1 hour or more.
Four things that are important for having a good bedtime routine
- Check and change a dirty nappy – and clean up any vomit around their neck. Giving them a bath in the evening before bedtime can help them sleep longer.
- Give them food before bedtime – try not to let your baby fall asleep while feeding. Feeding your baby to sleep can become a bad habit as they get older.
- Talking, quiet singing, reading a story and calming your baby with kind words. Darken the room and play relaxing music or white noise can help too.
- Affection using gentle touch to soothe and comfort your baby before sleep. Infant massage can be done from birth.
Tips to help babies rest and sleep
- If you are using a baby wrap, do that before placing them in their bed.
- Put your baby in their cot or bed. Make sure it is safe.
- If you are using a sheet, tuck them in.
- If they are not crying, move away from their bed but stay close to see how they are settling themselves.
- It is common for babies to wiggle and make little noises as part of getting comfortable for sleep.
- Try using gentle words to reassure them, such as, “Shush, shush, it’s ok, time for sleep”.
- If they are unhappy, offer a reassuring touch, such as a hand on their stomach, or slow downward stroking of the arm or body.
- If touch annoys them, try patting the mattress slowly.
- If they get more upset, you can also add very gentle rocking of the body or cot.
- If they are not calming with all your efforts in the cot, pick them up and calm them with soothing words and very gentle rocking in your arms, then try to put them back in the cot.
- Once calm for a few minutes in the cot, you can move away again.
- If you need to, pick them up and calm them in your arms. Once they are calm for a few minutes, place them back in their cot. You may need to gently stroke or pat them as soon as you put them in their cot to re-calm them.
Settling your baby
Video by Karitane. https://karitane.com.au/page/other-topics/sleep-and-settling
For more information on helping your baby sleep, review our useful contact list on the home page or talk to your child and family health nurse.
