Baby Routine by Jo Tantum

Jo Tantum is the UK's No 1 baby sleep expert. Her best-selling book Baby Secrets is available at all good bookstores and also available through Amazon.

Mums think a routine means that they have to stay at home all day and be a slave to the clock - but it doesn’t have to be this way. Remember that a routine is just a guideline and doesn’t have to be rigid. So always be flexible and don’t push your baby into a set routine. For example if your baby is more (or less) hungry on certain days, go with your baby’s needs and not what the routine says.

Start off with a log of your baby’s feeding and sleeping patterns so you can see how your baby is behaving and follow their natural sleeping and feeding patterns. This means your baby will slip into a routine more easily and happily.

Having a routine means that, as your baby is having full regular feeds, they don’t have to wake frequently during the night because they are hungry. They will also sleep longer and go to sleep more quickly. It also means that they have a full feed each time - instead of snacking - which will make daytime naps easier as their tummies are full.

Having a routine means that you are anticipating your baby’s needs before they need to let you know by crying. When you know what times your baby is feeding and sleeping, you know exactly what is happening (and when) so that you can plan your day without worrying about a fretful baby. This gives you confidence as a parent as you can attend to your baby and its needs in a calm, confident manner. 

It is also great for siblings because having a routine means you can have time with them when the baby is having a nap - and they won’t feel left out. It also means you can understand your baby better, if you assume each cry is a hunger cry then you fail to see if it is actually something else. And by knowing what is wrong with your baby and dealing with whatever problem arises, empowers you as a parent as you get to know your baby better.