The Power of a Daily Routine for Baby
Edition 6: Happy baby. Happy parents. Everyone wins.
Bringing up baby is no easy feat. But there’s one thing that’ll make the process much smoother: a routine.
A routine for baby is simple in theory. Baby eats. Baby has an activity. Baby sleeps. Repeat until bedtime when baby sleeps through the night.
This simplicity brings predictability to baby’s life and yours. And that’s a key benefit of a routine. Baby knows what’s coming up next, and so do you.
Babies thrive on routines. When Hayden wakes up from his nap, he knows it’s meal time. Because he doesn’t have to fret about his basic needs, he can focus on other things like crawling.
I benefit, too.
I know when he naps during the day, goes to sleep at night, and wakes up in the morning. The predictability of a routine allows me to plan what I can realistically get done during the day. This prevents over planning and false expectations. As a result, I’m a much calmer and less-stressed mama!
Getting Hayden on an eat, activity, sleep routine early on was also the reason why he began sleeping through the night at 2.5 months. After a day filled with plenty of calories, activities, and naps he was ready for a good night’s sleep.
Wouldn’t you?!
I know that I sleep well at night if I eat properly and get some physical and mental activity during the day.
Routines are part of our lives as adults. Just think of your routine pre-baby. You probably ate your meals around the same time each day and went to sleep around the same time each day.
I certainly did. I even exercised, showered, read, and even checked my email around the same time each day. I’ve since updated my routine to accommodate Hayden’s. I know he’ll wake up at 6am. So I get up at 5am to get something done.
As adults, we like the predictability and familiarity a routine brings. A baby is no different. “Children feel more confident and secure when their daily activities are predictable and familiar,” according to HEAD START.
There are many routines for baby to choose from. I personally like Tracy Hogg’s E.A.S.Y (eat, activity, sleep, you) method, which she details in her book, The Baby Whisperer Solves All Your Problems. Her routine has been a natural fit for Hayden. He wakes up. He eats. We play or do an activity together. Then, he’s ready for his nap, during which I have some time to myself.
Despite the routine you choose, there’s one key for success: consistency. A routine benefits everyone -- baby and parents -- when you’re consistent.
“There are places in the heart you don’t even know exist until you love a child.”
—Anne Lamott
Thank you for reading! Feel free to reply to this email and let me know what you think.
-Amy