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Newborn Daily Routines

What is a baby sleep routine?

All babies have different needs, routines, and patterns of care. As caregivers, it's important to be sensitive to those needs. By paying attention to your baby's cues, a baby sleep routine can help you form a basic structure to your day.

All babies have varied sleep needs. This information is a guide that you can use and adapt depending on your baby’s personality and your own daily activities.

What to expect from your newborn daily routine?

In the early weeks, you and your baby are getting to know each other through activities such as feeding, sleeping, listening and focusing on each other.

A 1 week old baby routine might include a feed, a short time awake to play, then it will be time to sleep again.

Feeding frequency can vary a lot (anywhere from 2 hours to 5 hours apart) so it's not always possible to get into a routine straight away.

In the first few weeks, your baby won't know the difference between night and day. A daily pattern or routine emerges as they get older. Newborns sleep for short periods known as sleep cycles, which can be between 20 and 50 minutes long.

Once they have learnt the difference between night and day, they're likely to sleep for longer periods.

What do you include in a newborn schedule?

Feeding

Your newborn baby needs approximately 8 - 12 feeds every 24 hours (including overnight feeds).

Whether you are breastfeeding or using infant formula, feeding your baby can help develop that close parent-to-baby bond. It also gives you an opportunity to interact together.

Playing

Playing with your newborn is so important for their development. Some things you can do with your baby include:

Taking them for a walk.
Singing a song.
Talking to each other.
Showing them some toys or a book.

It's ok to do different activities each day as you'll learn what your baby likes and dislikes.

Sleeping

Sleep times can vary with individual babies. Some babies may sleep through a few sleep cycles and learn to sleep for longer periods. Other babies may need help to return to sleep when they wake after a short nap.

While it is ideal that your baby sleeps between each feed, newborns often have long crying periods and may not always sleep at regular times. Read more about how to manage newborn sleep.

An example of a 4 - 6 week old baby routine

This is a guide only and can be adapted to your baby's sleep needs and your own activities. A 6 week old may feed every 2 to 3 hours and have 6 - 8 periods of sleep lasting 2 to 4 hours each. Some babies may join sleep cycles for a longer sleep. Your baby's day-night pattern emerges at around 4 weeks of age.

1

FEED Early morning (after 5am) milk feed. May return to sleep OR get up to start the day.

SLEEP Respond to your baby's tired cues.
2

FEED Mid morning milk feed.

PLAY Average awake time is 1 - 2 hours. This includes the time taken to feed and play.

SLEEP Respond to your baby's tired cues.
3

FEED Lunchtime milk feed.

PLAY Average awake time is 1 - 2 hours. This includes the time taken to feed and play.

SLEEP Repond to your baby's tired cues.
4

FEED Mid afternoon milk feed.

PLAY Average awake time is 1 - 2 hours. This includes the time taken to feed and play.

SLEEP Respond to your baby's tired cues. They may only need a short nap.
5

FEED Evening milk feed.

QUIET TIME Bath, then a cuddle ready for bed.

SLEEP Settle for the night. Your baby will still wake for feeds overnight.

An example of a 7 - 12 week old baby routine

This is a guide only and can be adapted to your baby's sleep needs and your own activities. An older newborn that is closer to 12 weeks may feed every 2 - 4 hours and have 3 - 4 daytime naps of 1 - 3 hours each. Some babies may join sleep cycles for a longer sleep.

1

FEED Early morning (after 5am) milk feed. May return to sleep OR get up to start the day.

SLEEP Respond to your baby's tired cues.
2

FEED Mid morning milk feed.

PLAY Average awake time is 1 - 2.5 hours. This includes the time taken to feed and play.

SLEEP Respond to your baby's tired cues.
3

FEED Lunchtime milk feed.

PLAY Average awake time is 1 - 2.5 hours. This includes the time taken to feed and play.

SLEEP Respond to your baby's tired cues.
4

FEED Mid afternoon milk feed.

PLAY Average awake time is 1 - 2.5 hours. This includes the time taken to feed and play.

SLEEP Respond to your baby's tired cues. They may only need a short nap.
5

FEED Evening milk feed.

QUIET TIME Bath, then a cuddle ready for bed.

SLEEP Settle for the night. Your baby will still wake for feeds overnight.

FAQs about newborn routines

Some days may go smoothly, but other days your baby may need you more and your day doesn't go to plan. Things that might interrupt this pattern include illness, changes in the family environment and overly busy days. If this happens, try to move back into your normal daily activities as soon as you can.

Spending time with your newborn baby helps your bond and helps with their brain development and language skills. In the early days, they love when you talk to them and share eye contact.

Once your baby has had some interaction, they will be getting tired. They might start to look away from you, yawn, clench their fists, rub their eyes and even cry. These are signs they're tired and ready to go back to bed.