Babybliss Routines

In this section you will find ideal 24 hour routines for your baby from Newborn to Twelve months of age. These routines are meant as a guideline only but can help give you a plan to follow and an idea about sleeping, feeding and activity for your baby.

Sleep Needs Guide for Infants 0 to 12 Months:

Your baby will communicate his need for sleep through TIRED SIGNS.

These include:

Grizzling or crying
Jerky movements
Clenched fists
Facial contortions e.g. Grimacing
Yawning
Rubbing eyes

Infant Age	Approx Up Time	Approx Down Time	Average Sleeps
0-6 weeks	1h	2-3 hrs	5-6 sleeps per 24h
6w-3mths	1-1½h	2½-3h	4-5 sleeps per 24h
3-4½mths	1½-2h	2-2½h	3 day sleeps
4½-6mths	2-2½h	2-2½h	2-3 day sleeps
6-9mths	2½-3h	1½-2h	2 day sleeps + 10-12 hours per night
9-12mnths	3-4h	1-2h	2 day sleeps + 10-12 hours per night

Children need routines as it is really very important for them to have structure in their days. Structure and routine make children less anxious because, if they know what to expect then they become more cooperative as they feel they have some control over situations.

Routine and ritual means that something, like an act, is repeated and reinforced. Routines structure the way we handle the things in a child’s life like waking, eating, bath time, bedtime etc.

We do a lot of these rituals unconsciously, like the way we kiss our child goodbye, give them a morning hug or a wave bye-bye. These rituals enable a child to understand what’s coming next, what they can expect and what is expected of them. It helps them make better sense of the world around them.

It is never too early to start a routine and I believe the earlier the better. Routines help babies learn to self-settle and how to be great sleepers. It also helps children deal with separation from their parents and allows them to feel secure and safe.

If your child has not learnt to self-settle, please see the Sleep Programs section or contact me for more information about this.

Download your free Baby Sleep Routines:

Newborn – 6 Weeks
This routine is more about each feed, activity, sleep cycle and these cycles happen ever three to four hours.

6 Weeks – 3 Months
You will feel more in control and your baby will start to develop more of a pattern with their sleeping and feeding.

3 Months – 6 Months
Babies can get into a nice routine. Remember that babies have short sleep cycles that last about 40 to 45 minutes.

6 Months – 9 months
Babies should ideally be sleeping 10 to 12 hours a night and be reducing daytime sleeps to two sleeps a day for about one and a half to two hours each.