If a routine feels unrealistic now, a rhythm to your day might be better

Before your baby arrived, you probably had some sort of routine in place, perhaps a jog before work in the morning or doing the food shop on the same day every week. When you welcome your new baby, it might feel that any thoughts of routine go out of the window. We have some ideas to help! 

Think about a rhythm to your day, rather than a routine

The thought of a routine might feel impossible now, and in some ways that’s true: newborn babies need the adults looking after them to respond to them. 

But thinking about having a rhythm to your day can give you some structure while keeping the flexibility your baby needs.

Ideas for establishing your rhythm

There are a few ways that you can start to think about establishing a rhythm to your days (when you are ready), and it doesn’t have to feel regimented or planned down to the exact minute! 

You could start by simply thinking about the order you do things in; so maybe the first feed of the morning is followed by getting up and a nappy change. Or, after a nappy change, you have a chat and cuddle before you do the next thing. 

You might decide to go for a walk each morning and slot this in after you dress your baby. You could start an evening routine of wash, story and feed, even if your baby doesn’t go to bed after that feed. 

Starting a sequence of things you do at ‘bedtime’ can help your baby to make associations with these and sleep, as their sleep patterns develop (which can take a long time for some babies!).