Experienced newborn parents know the unpredictability of infants, especially relating to sleep in the first couple of months. Many parents also understand the importance of establishing a foundational routine in the first few months.
The foundational routine lays the groundwork for future predictability and involves feedings, naps, and nighttime rituals. From baby products and packages, like the Wellements newborn bundle, new families invest time and money into developing essential routines to create healthy habits.
However, while nutritional supplements can support new routines, parents still need to understand how to implement them. Routines rely on consistency and predictability. If you are unwavering in your commitment to a set schedule, your child will adapt and eventually adopt it. Still, the process will take time and patience.
Make a Set Feeding Time
Setting up a feeding schedule is one of the best ways to ensure your baby remains satisfied throughout the day. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends feeding infants once every two to three hours; this schedule tends to mimic when babies naturally display signs of hunger.
As your little one progresses, you can space meals out. Eventually, around 10 to 12 months, your baby will start on solid foods, eating around three meals per day with supplemental bottle-feedings.
Parents might want to consider probiotics for infants to help with digestion. In the early stages of development, it is common for babies to experience gassiness and indigestion. Probiotics help populate the gut microbiome and aid in digestion. However, talk to your child’s pediatrician before starting any dietary supplements.
Consistency Is Key
Establishing any routine — sleeping or feeding — requires consistency. Babies are relatively incredible timers. When you get your little one used to eating or sleeping at specific times, they come to expect the pattern. Disruptions to their pattern will cause discomfort or fussiness.
When teaching your little one a new routine, repetition and diligence are essential. A baby will not immediately understand bedtime, but when they experience a quiet, tranquil environment night after night, they will begin to make a connection to sleep.
Whatever you are trying to teach your child, whether a sleep routine or getting rid of pacifier, repetition and commitment to the process are crucial. Babies can be stubborn, and because parents don’t like to hear their little ones cry, routines often get thrown by the wayside. Stay strong and commit to healthy habits; it is all for the benefit of your child and family.
The first few weeks with a newborn are challenging. New parents often deal with sleep deprivation and feelings of frustration, even desperation. However, with patience and commitment to healthy foundational routines, things will get better.
Babies experience a drastic change as they enter this world; removed from the warmth and security of their mother’s womb, they must adapt. With your care, they will experience a loving and embracing world and feel safe.
You must look at a child’s first few months of life as a period of acclimation. Routines will take time to become habit. If at any time you feel overwhelmed or need help, reach out to your doctor or your child’s pediatrician.
