Newborn babies: Their routine when it comes to feeding, sleeping, changing, playing & tummy time
Bringing home your newborn baby is a wonderful, yet sometimes overwhelming, experience. Establishing a routine that works for both you and your baby is key to creating a sense of balance. However, newborns often operate on their own schedules, there is no schedule that fits all so flexibility and change is essential. That said, it is helpful to introduce a gentle routine for naps, feeding, changing, playing, and tummy time to help you and your baby feel secure and supported.
Here’s our thoughts on creating a newborn routine, tailored to their developmental needs and helping you navigate those early days.
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1. Feeding & responding to your baby’s cues
For newborns, feeding is the main activity. Whether you choose to breastfeed, formula-feed, or a combination of both, feeding will be an essential part of your baby’s daily routine.
Newborns typically feed every 2-3 hours, which equates to 8-12 feedings in a 24-hour period. Breastfed babies may need to feed more often, as breast milk is digested faster than formula. Some important tips include:
- Watch for hunger cues like lip-smacking, rooting (turning their head toward your chest), and sucking on their fingers. Crying is often a late sign of hunger.
- Keep your baby upright for a few minutes after feeding to reduce the risk of reflux.
- In the early days, expect feeding sessions to take about 20-40 minutes, but this will get faster as your baby grows.
Night Feeding: During the night, newborns will still need to eat every 2-3 hours, so night feedings are essential. In time, as they grow, they’ll be able to go longer stretches without feeding.
2. Naps & understanding sleep patterns
Newborns sleep a lot, typically between 14-17 hours per day, but in very short bursts. These naps generally last anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours, occurring frequently throughout the day and night.
For newborns, sleep patterns are irregular. Rather than expecting a predictable schedule, try following these tips:
- Sleep when your baby sleeps. With frequent wake-ups, taking short naps yourself when the baby sleeps can help you feel more rested.
- Create a calm, sleep-friendly environment. Darken the room, keep noise low, and offer soothing sounds or white noise.
- Swaddle your newborn in a light blanket to give them a sense of security.
As your baby grows, they’ll start developing more consolidated sleep patterns, but early on, focus on their sleep cues, like yawning, rubbing their eyes, or becoming fussier than usual.
3. Nappy changes are frequent but manageable
Newborns need their nappies changed often - typically 10-12 times a day in the first few weeks. It’s essential to check frequently, as they may not always cry when they need a change. Here’s a simple guideline to follow:
- After every feeding. Newborns often have a wet or soiled nappy after being fed.
- During night feedings. Change them in a quiet, low-lit room to avoid waking them up fully.
Keeping an eye on your baby’s nappy rash is important. Regular changes and applying nappy cream can help prevent irritation, keeping their skin soft and healthy.
4. Tummy time & developing strength
Tummy time is crucial for helping your baby build muscle strength in their neck, shoulders, and arms, as well as preventing flat spots from forming on their head. Start tummy time as early as their first week.
While newborns can only handle a few minutes at a time, aim for about 2-3 sessions of tummy time each day, gradually increasing the duration as your baby gets older. Some tips for successful tummy time include:
- Place your baby on their stomach on a soft mat or blanket while they're awake.
- Start with a few minutes right after a nappy change or when your baby is alert.
- Make it fun by getting down to your baby’s level, making eye contact, and talking, singing to them or showing them sensory toys.
Even though tummy time can be challenging for babies at first, it’s an important activity for their development. Over time, they’ll begin to enjoy it more.
5. Play and bonding time to stimulate your newborn’s senses
Although your newborn may spend most of their time eating and sleeping, incorporating play into their day is essential for their cognitive and sensory development. Simple activities for newborn play include:
- Talking, singing, and reading to your baby to stimulate their sense of hearing and language development.
- Using soft toys with contrasting colours (like black, white, and red) to engage their developing eyesight.
- Skin-to-skin contact, which is soothing and bonding, while also stimulating sensory awareness.
Newborns thrive on human interaction, so even a few minutes of play and gentle stimulation during their awake periods can make a big difference to their emotional and cognitive growth.
Sample Daily Routine for Newborns
Here’s a sample newborn routine to include the above elements, but remember - every baby is different, so please only use this as a guide:
Morning:
- 6 AM: Wake up and feeding
- 6:30 AM: Nappy change and brief tummy time
- 7 AM: Morning nap
Mid-morning:
- 9 AM: Feeding, nappy change
- 9:30 AM: Playtime (singing, eye contact)
- 10 AM: Nap
Lunchtime:
- 12 PM: Feeding, nappy change
- 12:30 PM: Tummy time, gentle play (rattles, soft toys)
- 1 PM: Nap
Afternoon:
- 3 PM: Feeding, nappy change
- 3:30 PM: Short walk outside (if weather permits) or cuddles indoors
- 4 PM: Nap
Evening:
- 6 PM: Feeding, nappy change
- 6:30 PM: Bath time and bedtime routine (storytime, soft music)
- 7 PM: Night sleep
Night:
- Throughout the night: Baby will likely wake every 2-3 hours for feeding, changing, and soothing.
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If you're looking for a little helping hand, here are some of our app recommendations:
Baby Connect: Better Care for Your Baby
- Life saver for parents of newborns
- Track your baby’s sleep, feeding, diaper changes and more from any device
- Voted “Best Baby Tracking App in 2024”
- Simplify Health Tracking with Doctor Visit Logs & Medications
- Track Feedings, Sleep & Diapers with Easy-to-Read Patterns
- Capture Milestones & Cherish Every Special Moment
- Personalized Daily Logs with Tips & Development Insights
Need a last-minute nappy change when you least expect it? We’ve all been there – more than once! The NCT free parent-friendly app is genius. It helps parents take the stress out of finding somewhere to change a baby by showing them the way to baby changing facilities nearby. Parents can add new facilities they find and rate them on cleanliness, too.
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Newborns thrive in routines, but it’s important to remember that these schedules will be driven by their needs. In the early days, it's less about strict times and more about responding to their cues while gently shaping their day around feeding, naps, play, and developmentally appropriate activities like tummy time.
As you and your baby adjust to each other, things will become more predictable, helping you feel more confident. It’s perfectly fine if things don’t always go to plan. Flexibility is key when it comes to newborns! And please remember, it's full time and full on so give yourself time and take time for yourself.
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Happy routining!
Little Giggles Co.