Overview
It is common for young babies to not have routines or patterns of feeding, playing and sleeping. Time doesn’t have the same meaning for babies as it does for adults.
Young babies' needs and wants come from how they are feeling in the moment, and they are still learning to connect what they are feeling or doing with what might happen next.
By around four to six months of age, you may notice some patterns for feeding, play and sleep start to appear. Baby’s patterns or routines may change every six to twelve weeks. This is because a baby’s brain and body are growing, developing and changing quickly in the first year of life.
Being 'tuned in', or responsive to your baby, can help develop a 'routine'. By responding to your baby’s cues, predictably and consistently, you can help your child make connections between what is happening now and what will happen next.
Every home is unique, which means there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to making routines happen. Think about what’s right for the age of your child and what works best in your home.
At Karitane we promote being consistent in the ways you respond to the needs and cues of your baby.
How babies communicate - reading their cues
Have you noticed all the ways that your baby tries to send a message to you about what they need?
The different sounds they make, such as a coo, a sigh, grizzle, a squeal or cry for example, is a cue your baby is giving to you, these cues can help you know what they need.
They also use body movement and facial expression to try and talk to you.
All these behaviours are 'cues' you can look for as you tune in to your baby. It makes a difference when parents or caregivers can respond in a similar way such as with warmth, care and kindness each time.
Healthy babies that receive more consistent, kind care, develop calmer, predictable patterns more easily.
These early months are preparation for helping your baby find their own routine or pattern for their day and night activities.
You might like to watch a set of 5 videos called Baby Cues and Body Language from our friends at Raising Children here.
Benefits of Routine
Routines give babies and their parents or caregivers some structure for the day. It helps baby and their parent or caregiver predict what is coming next. Knowing what is coming next, is linked to feeling more secure and confident.
When things are unpredictable, it can be tiring and stressful. Tiredness and stress can make it harder for babies to feed, sleep, play and enjoy their day.
Creating a Routine That Works for Your Family
Following a routine may help your family’s day run smoothly while meeting the unique needs of your baby.
- Take time to think about what the priorities are for all family members: the priorities might include appointments, commitments, like day care or planned activities for other children, or family members.
Consider when your child usually feeds and sleeps as a guide to planning your day. Remember that times may vary slightly, depending on your baby’s needs that day. - Make a written or mental list: once you have prioritised the activities for your day, some planning and preparation the day before, can help your day to run smoother. Some parents try and organise things the night before, such as:
- getting clothes ready for everyone,
- lunches, school bags and baby bags packed.
- Think about how your family can work together as a team to do this.
- Balance Activity and Rest: Babies do well when they have both active play and quiet rest. Plan more active play, like floor play, for times when they’re most alert. This is usually not long after a sleep and they are not hungry.
As they start to become tired, they will want some quiet activity. Look for tired cues as they are most common during this quiet time. - Adapt to Your Child’s Needs: Every child is unique, so observe when your baby is showing they are tired, hungry, or want to play.
No matter where you are (home or out and about), following your baby’s cues helps to meet your baby’s needs, creating consistency in their day. - Be Flexible: While it is helpful to have routines, sometimes life can be unpredictable. Being flexible during those times allows us to adapt to change, while meeting the needs of our baby.
- Create Calming Transitions: Sometimes, moving from one activity to the next can be tricky for babies. Using soft music, dim lighting, or a familiar song might help to support the move from play time to sleep.
Every family is different, with patience, you’ll find what your baby’s patterns are. Some parents have found trying a Feed-Play-Sleep pattern a helpful guide to follow.
You might like to use the following as a guide only.
