Hey girl, today let's chat about how to best get a newborn routine started.
Are you due soon or just had a baby and are wondering how you can get a newborn routine started? Well, mama, you have come to the right place.
As a mom of 4, and a home daycare provider, I have a ton of experience setting up a newborn routine. I love routine and you will find out that kids thrive on them too!
You are going to learn all about a newborn routine as your baby grows, some newborn must-haves, tips just for you, and so much more.
After learning how to set up a great newborn routine, your days will have better ease and flow with your new baby.
Let's jump into the best newborn routine every parent should know about.
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Best Newborn Routine
Congratulations, Mama! I am so proud of you.
If you are a first-time mom, are you ready to have your world rocked? It is going to be a crazy, fun, and sometimes frustrating ride but I know you are up for it.
If you have had a baby before, get ready to be more tired for a bit than you have ever been in your life.
That was so hard for me when I had my 3 boys! I don’t do well when I am lacking huge amounts of sleep.
I am going to rip those rose-colored sunglasses right off for you, you will not have all the time in the world to get everything done that you think you will get done on maternity leave.
Taking care of your newborn and getting her on a routine is hard work! But if you work hard at staying consistent with her routine, it will come together in no time at all.
Consistency is key.
I am not going to describe a specific daily newborn routine like at 7 a.m. your baby should eat every day because it won't work for you like that. Follow the demands of your newborn and base the routine off that.
You can do this Mama!
Newborn Routine Week 1
During the first week of your newborn's life, you will be tired from that marathon you didn't train for but just completed – you know labor and delivery. Your baby is also going to be tired from being brought into the world.
You will have visitors for what will seem like daily, I am hoping those visitors stock up your refrigerator
.
And this first week will go by in a blur.
So, don’t even think that you and your baby will be on any kind of schedule. You know what though, it will all work out!
Follow your baby’s lead and feed her when she is hungry, change her when she is messy, and get some sleep yourself when she is sleeping.
As much as you may want to hold on to her, make sure to put your baby down in her bed when she is sleeping so she gets used to where she is supposed to sleep.
And don’t forget to take a ton of pictures!
During the 1st week, plan on giving your newborn 1 bath, unless poop explosions happen.
This tip is just for you, mama.
Get outside every day that you can, even if it is for a short time. Sit in your yard or walk to the end of your block.
You will be surprised how much good it will do for your mood.
Try to continue outside time for you and your baby forever. I know forever seems so dramatic but it is true. That fresh air and sunshine have many great benefits for you.
Newborn Must-Haves
Make sure you have a good stock of diapers you can depend on.
Your newborn is going to be flying through them.
After changing diapers for the last 11 years between my kids and daycare kids, Huggies are the diapers that held in the most!
And don’t forget the wipes either.
I have tried multiple kinds of wipes and always went back to Huggies wipes.
They are a one-and-done (for the most part) wipe.
I felt like I got the most bang for my buck with them.
Another must-have item to help you right from the start is a sleep sack.
Your newborn is so used to being snuggled up inside you, so keep them snuggled mama!
Babies look so cute all wrapped up like a burrito, don't you think?
And finally, invest in this sound machine.
Your baby is used to hearing all the noises you make, even if it is just you breathing. This sound machine will be comforting for her.
It will also be amazing for you since it helps to block out sounds you make when your baby is sleeping.
Can I get an "oh yeah" for not having to tiptoe around your house?
She will sleep better, which means you will sleep better.
Newborn Routine Week 2 and 3
Even though your baby is still new, things will calm down a bit for you.
You won’t have as many visitors that you will feel like you have to entertain and you can start truly recovering from giving birth.
Your schedule will still consist of following your baby’s demands for feeding but you can start adding in things like working on short bursts of tummy time, playtime, and reading books to her.
I was not a big reader before I had my first baby and felt weird reading out loud to her but I quickly found out that it was calming for her to hear my voice.
All of my kids are huge readers since my husband and I read to them from birth.
For feeding your baby will want to eat about every 2 to 3 hours, and this is around the clock. Babies have small stomachs so they need to eat often.
Every time you feed your baby, make sure to check her diaper.
Your baby will probably sleep, even if it is for a short bit, in between every feeding. Babies get tired easily because they are working so hard.
Could you imagine doing all the exercises they are doing with their arm movements and holding their legs in the air? I wouldn’t last a fraction of the time they do it.
Plan on giving your newborn 2 baths this week, unless there is an emergency. If you bathe your newborn too often, their fresh skin will dry out.
I used this baby bath soap with all 4 of my kids and loved it.
Get the one with the pump.
You will quickly find out that you only have 1 hand free during bath time.
Newborn Routine 1 Month
Around the 1-month mark, your baby should still be eating every 2 – 3 hours during the day but should sleep for a little longer at night. She is still going to have to eat 1 – 2 times during the night.
Yass, Mama, a little more sleep for you!
You can also look forward to your baby taking 3 naps throughout the day. 1 in the morning, 1 in the afternoon, and a shorter one in the early evening.
Don’t let that last one get too late or it will mess up her sleep for the night.
She will be more awake and alert when it isn’t close to nap time, so make sure to interact with her!
That means to get down to her level and play, read, and help her with tummy time!
Tummy time is so important for building muscles so make sure to not skip it, even if she isn’t having the best time.
You will be able to stick with that twice-a-week bath schedule for a long time now unless she really needs one.
Newborn Routine 3 Months
By the 3-month mark, you should be able to have your baby on a rock star routine.
She should be able to sleep through the night, and I am talking like 6 to 7 hours. This means you should be feeling more refreshed these days too.
If this isn’t the case, you should talk to your baby’s pediatrician and see if they have some insight.
She should also be able to eat every 3 to 4 hours throughout the day. This will change from time to time as your baby goes through growth spurts.
You will also notice that your baby will only need 2 decent naps a day. 1 in the morning and 1 in the afternoon.
You can expect this nap schedule to be consistent until your baby turns about 1 and then she will switch to 1 longer afternoon nap. Trust me when I say, this will be amazing for you!!!
Since your baby will be napping less and staying awake for longer periods, make sure to keep interacting with her by reading, playing, and giving toys that interest her.
Once again, I am so happy for you and this new adventure you are on.
I know you are going to be a smashing success as a mom!
This post was all about the best newborn routine.
Let me know if you have any questions about your newborn. I love helping and can always use another mama friend.
I look forward to hearing from you and thanks for stopping by!