Are you overwhelmed with juggling your daily #momlife to-do list AND your baby’s activities? Grab my FREE Mommy & Me Mini Planner and take control of your day!

Inside: Find out how to make a baby routine in 4 easy steps to strengthen connection and care for your baby in the best and easiest way possible.

Every single morning I zombie walk to the bathroom after waking up and slowly transform into a functioning human after brushing my teeth, washing my face, getting dressed, etc…

…and then after my first cup of hot, steamy coffee, I’m like a racehorse out of its gates—ready for the day!

These little steps are a part of my routine. And no matter what you’re morning consist of, you automatically follow a routine that flows throughout your day.

The same is with little ones.

They thrive on a routine because it gives them the structure they need to know what is next. And routines also help you know what your baby needs next, giving you confidence that you can offer what they need and when.

A routine is simply a set of predictable patterns that will help your baby grow and develop.

Here’s a super simple breakdown of how to make a baby routine in 4 easy steps:

1. Understand your baby’s cues
2. Create sleep and feeding routines for full feedings and distinguish day and night
3. Use wake windows
4. Be as consistent as possible

Let’s dive into each step!

How to Make a Baby Routine

1. Learn Your Baby’s Cues

Even though your baby can’t talk yet, they are constantly communicating with you. From cries and coos to wails and even silence, these are little ways that your baby is talking to you!

The most important step in creating a baby routine is knowing YOUR baby’s cues. By knowing these cues, you are able to know what they need and how you can offer it to them.

A flexible baby routine is simply following your baby’s cues. You’re creating a routine made just for your baby to meet them where they are developmentally.

By knowing your baby’s cues, you are able to know what they need and even predict what they will need next, ultimately caring for them in the easiest way possible Minus all of the tears and meltdowns!

2. Create sleep routines and feeding routines

Just like your baby tells you cues, you can signal cues to your little one to help them know what is next. Routines can help signal these cues to your little one in an easy and efficient way.

The most important routines to begin with your baby are sleep routines and feeding routines.

What are baby sleep routines?

Baby sleep routines are routines that help signal cues to your baby, preparing them for sleep. This helps your baby know that it is time for sleep.

There are 2 baby sleep routines: Nap routine and bedtime routine.

Nap routines help signal and prepare your baby for daytime sleep. As your baby grows, naps will decrease and wake time will increase. But when it’s time for nap, creating an environment conducive to sleep will help them wind down easier.

Nap routine can consist of closing black out curtains, turning on sound machine, cuddling for a few minutes, placing in swaddle/sleep sack, turning off lights.

Bedtime routines help your baby prepare for nighttime sleep- a long stretch of sleep. Bedtime routines consist of possibly bath time, lotion, bedtime feeding, book and song. Your bedtime routine is just a longer version of a nap routine, as you want to signal to your baby that bedtime is for nights.

 (These routines can also help your baby understand the difference between day and night.)

You can read all about nap routines here and bedtime routines here!

What are feeding routines?

A baby feeding routine is simply a series of steps or patterns before a feeding paired with feeding your baby every 2-3 hours. Maybe it’s putting baby in a boppy and setting up to breastfeed. Or maybe it’s shaking a formula bottle and putting on baby’s bib. These little patterns send a signal to your baby that it’s feeding time.

Have you ever taken out a bottle and your baby starts to root or lick their lips? It’s because you sent them a signal that it’s time to eat.

Most importantly, it’s essential to feed your baby every 2.5-3 hours- especially when they are showing hunger cues. Even if it’s not exactly “feeding time”, if your baby is starting to show you hunger cues, then it’s time to eat.

It’s also crucial for your baby to have a complete or full feeding every time they eat. This will prevent “snacking” throughout the day and help your baby stay fuller longer.

You can read all about Knowing Your Baby’s Full Feeding Schedule.

3. Follow Wake Windows

Wake windows are super simple…

Wake windows are the amount of time your baby is up- when they wake up from a nap to when they go back to sleep for the next nap.

That frame of time in between naps– when they are awake– is called a wake window.

There are certain lengths of time that your baby’s wake window should be based on your baby’s age.

For example, a newborn is usually up 20-30 minutes in between naps. While a 1 year old wake window can last 2-3 hours.

As wake windows shorten, naps will decrease. The longer the wake window, the less naps your baby will have.

Following these wake windows are important because it offers your baby the developmentally appropriate time they can comfortably be awake without getting over tired or under tired. An under tired baby will not sleep good because they aren’t tired.

An overtired baby will not sleep well because they are overstimulated. But if you follow your baby’s tired cues, you will see your baby’s appropriate wake window and offer your baby a nap when they need it most. Thus, finding a routine that works just for your little one!

Important tip- Wake window charts are suggestions. They don’t have to be followed minute for minute. It’s more important to follow your baby’s tired cues to understand when your baby is tired, what time you should offer a nap – in doing this, you are figuring out how long your baby can be awake before the next nap.

4. Be Consistent

Can I be cliché for a moment? Consistency is the most important step in life. From working out to eating well to making goals—being consistent is the gamechanger.

Caring for your little one is no different!

If you want to truly meet your baby where he/she is and care for them in the best way possible, it’s imperative to be consistent. Consistency will help them feel secure in their daily routine, knowing their needs are being met and the predictability can help you parent with even more confidence!

Starting a new nap routine? Stay consistent.

Need to revamp wake windows? Stay consistent.

Trying to accomplish full feedings? Stay consistent

Whenever you feel that something isn’t working, it’s okay to pivot and change the routine to help your baby thrive. In the midst of changing the routine, when you find something that works, remain as consistent as possible and you will see a true difference!

Free Mommy & Me Planner

Download a free Mommy & Me Planner filled with a daily routine template and baby tracker so you can create your own routine in the easiest way possible!

Plan and track YOUR day and your baby’s routine in ONE place so you can get more done in less time.

Get the free instant download now!

Successful Baby Routine Recap

There you have it, how to make a baby routine in 4 easy steps! Remember, a successful baby routine is based on your baby’s individual cues- meeting your child where they are developmentally.

Be mindful of:

1. Cues
2. Sleep and feeding times
3. Wake windows
4. Consistency

No matter what a “schedule” or chart tells you, always follow your baby’s sleep, hunger, and wake cues so you can care for them in the way they need it most all day long.

YOU are the best parent for your baby!

You got this mama 🙂

Related Reading:

4 Baby Routine Essentials

0-12 Month Sample Baby Routine Schedules

1-4 Month Baby Schedule Routine

Easy 5-8 Month Baby Routine

Bottle Feeding Tips to Prevent Gas

15 Easy Newborn Tips

Why a Steam Bath for Baby is a Miracle When Sick

Inside: A gentle & flexible 5-8 month baby routine that grows communication and connection- including a nap, feeding & activity schedule!

Cooing and ooing quickly turned to mama and dada…your infant is not-so-tiny anymore…hello the 5-8 month old stage!

(cue the mama sobs!)

If you’re trying to navigate the new territory of your 5-8 month old, you’re in the right spot…

I’ll teach you a simple and flexible 5-8 month baby routine to help you communicate and flourish your connection with your little one while promoting developmental growth.

With this 5-8 month baby routine, you’ll learn:

• what wake windows look like at this age
• a practical and easy nap routine
• stress-free activities to keep baby learning
• feeding advice that make mealtime smooth

Let’s dive in!

3 Main Principles of a 5-8 Month Baby Routine

A thriving baby routine consists of meeting your baby where they are developmentally and having flexible variables that shift as your baby continues to develop.

Every month that your baby grows they are meeting new developmental milestones. Because of this, their routine is ever-changing and adapting to meet their needs.

There are 3 important, unchanging components that your baby’s routine will consist of: wake windows, activity time, and feedings

 1. Wake windows

Wake windows are the length of time that your baby is awake between each nap. It is counted from the minute they wake up to the minute they go back to sleep.

Wake windows will lengthen as your baby gets older. That’s why a newborn can only stay up for 30 minutes but a 10 month old will stay awake for 2-3 hours at a time.

Your baby’s wake window is a key foundation of their overall daily routine. The wake window will change as they grow but your little one will always have a wake window until they drop their last nap.

5-8 month old baby wake window is 2-2.5 hours.

I’ve noticed over the years that the first wake window is shorter, can even be 1.5hours to 2 hours. But as the day progresses, the wake windows lengthen a bit.

2. Activity time

You can do activity time anytime during your baby’s wake window. This activity time helps keep your baby stimulated and reaching new milestones!

If you’re stumped with what activities you can do with your baby, check out my Tiny One’s Boredom Buster Activity Toolkit.

3. Feedings

At the 5-8 month old stage, babies usually eat 4-5 times throughout the day. Whether it be all formula/breastmilk or a combo of milk and solids.

In my 5-8  month baby routines, you’ll see how I feed my daughter throughout the day and how I structure her feedings.

The main key is to feed your baby every 2.5-3 hours.

You can read more about wake windows, tired cues, activity time, and hunger cues here!

Let’s jump into the sample schedule (what my day looks like with my 5-8 month old!)

Sample 5-8 Month Baby Schedule

Remember this sample routine will change based on the time your baby wakes up that day. Your schedule will be determined by YOUR baby’s time frame.

You can keep with the overall structure of the day, but the schedule will shift based on your baby’s wake times, nap lengths, and feeding times.

Be sure to download the 5-8 month baby Routine Guide so you have this sample schedule saved right to your device and have it at your fingertips when you need it!

The 5-8 month Routine Guide also comes with 2 sample schedules AND an instant download/printable template to help you make your own routine/schedule!

Use this schedule as a sample pattern for your own routine 🙂

7:30am Wake

I like to go into my baby’s room when she is stirring but not yet crying. I go into the room, turn off the sound machine, sing our good morning song and open the curtains. Next is changing diaper.

7:35am Feeding

She usually drinks about 4-5 ounces every morning when she wakes up. Sometimes she will drink 4 ounces and then drink the other ounce over the next half hour.

8:00am Breakfast

I make breakfast for my toddler at this time and give my 5-8 month old her “breakfast”. At 5-6 months old she won’t eat solids at this time but from 7-8 months old she’ll have some age-appropriate cereal pieces.

8:30am Connection Activity

After breakfast is our first activity time! This activity time is all about connection and bonding.

Below under the Connection Activities section, I share all of the different easy activities that I rotate each week.

We’ll play together for about an hour (my toddler too!) and then I’ll watch for her tired cues to start our nap routine.

7:30-9:00am Wake window

This wake window is usually about 1.5 hours. As she approaches 9 months, she may be awake for 2-3 hours depending on how she adjusts to wake lengths.

Remember, flexibility is key when reading your baby’s cues!

9:00am Nap #1 (Ends 10:40)

We start a nap routine about 10 minutes before her nap time. Always follow your baby’s tired cues. She will usually sleep for about 1.5 to 2 hours this nap.

(If your baby is not sleeping this long for this first nap, that’s okay! Remember every baby is different and a lot of factors go into sleep- swaddles, feedings, sleep associations etc.)

10:45am Feeding & Mid-morning snack

When she wakes from her nap I usually give her another 4-ounce bottle. Remember, we feed our baby every 2.5-3 hours depending on their hunger cues. This amount increased as she reached 7-8 months old.

I’ll give her a puree of some sort with the rest of her milk. She likes the combination of milk and solids at this age.

If you’d like to see my homemade baby applesauce recipe, follow me on Instagram and check out my highlights!

11:00am Activity (outside/errands)

This activity time is usually an outside activity. If the weather permits, I like to get outside at least once a day. If it’s raining or we’re unable to go out, I like to encourage some independent playtime.

This is the wake window that I usually go out if I need to run an errand or drive somewhere. It’s a good amount of time to be out and a good time to be out with kids (less traffic, less people out, etc.)

12:30pm Nap #2 (Ends 2:00)

This nap can be longer if your baby slept shorter in the morning or it has the ability to be shorter if the morning nap was longer. Don’t stress!

2:00pm Feeding

The last feeding was around 10:45, which is now 3 hours ago. Some babies may wake up early from this nap due to hunger. If you notice this happening, you can feed your baby before the nap so they are going to sleep full. As your baby gets older each week/month, that feeding will drop and stretch to when they wake up.

2:30pm Activity

After baby is all energetic from her nap and full from her feeding, activity time again! I like this activity time to be a combination of independent playtime and chore time. I’ll get some chores done in the same room that Baby R is playing in.

4:00pm Feeding

This milk feeding fades away as your baby grows between 9-12 months but I wanted to keep it in this schedule just in case it helps you better see the overall feeding routine we had. At this time Baby R would drink 4 ounces and mostly eat solids as she turned 1.

4:00pm Nap #3 (Ends 5:00)

It’s time for the final nap of the day! This nap will eventually be the next to drop so sometimes it can get shorter as your baby approaches 9 months. Sometimes this nap is just 35-45 minutes, that’s okay!

Just remember to follow those tired cues and hunger cues.

This nap can be a real struggle around 6/7 months. But because it’s not quite time to drop it, it’s okay to let your baby sleep during this nap in the best way that would make them comfortable. Maybe that means baby wearing or holding to sleep or even an on-the-go nap in the stroller.

But your baby still needs that 3^rd nap to make it to bedtime without getting super overtired so get it in however you can!

5:00pm Feeding/Dinner

We always include the baby in our dinnertime. We pull up the highchair and eat as a family! If your baby isn’t eating solids yet, we still include her in our family meal time. When it’s time for solid, we would give her different amounts of food based on her food intake from the day and how hungry she seems.

5:30pm Activity

We have our family time in the early evening after dinner. We’ll clean up, play around the house and let them move around before we start our bedtime routine.

6:30pm Bath/Bedtime Routine

A consistent bedtime routine is the golden nugget of great nighttime sleep. We start out our bedtime routine with a:

• Bath time (you can read my bath routine here)
• Pajamas
• 10-minute connection playtime
• Last feeding
• Close curtains / make room dark
• Turn on sound machine
• Lay baby down
• Sing a song
• Parent leaves room

Having a bedtime routine helps your baby understand that it is time for nighttime sleep. It creates an atmosphere of calmness and signals your baby it’s time for sleep. You can read all about the amazing benefits of a bedtime routine here!

7:15pm Feeding

This is the last feeding of the day. It’s uncommon for your baby to drink more ounces at this feeding than the rest of the day. We usually snuggle up, feed baby R and then get ready for bed—we’re almost done for the day!

7:30pm Nighttime Sleep

After baby finishes their feeding, gets changed and is all comfy, it’s time for sleep- woohoo!

Remember to download the FREE 5-8 Month Routine Guide to instantly download a sample daily schedule, nap schedule, and full feeding schedule!

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Related Reading:

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5-8 Month Baby Routine Key Principles-

Within this sample schedule here are 3 constant keys:

• 2-2.5 hour wake windows
• 5 feedings (combination of milk and solids)
• 4 activity times

Let’s jump into the different activities you can do with your 5-8 month old during the day…

5-8 Month Activity Routine

Don’t become overwhelmed with prepping “activities” for your baby. An activity can be anything from a stroll around the block to a planned or playing with spoons. There’s a lot of room for interpretation about what you can do with your baby at this age.

I find that a lot of moms become completely overwhelmed with how to entertain their little one because they feel they “aren’t doing enough”.

It’s very frustrating to feel like you have to get a mile-long chore list done every day AND plan super fun, educational 3 hour activities for your baby.

But you don’t have to!

Check out this Activity Toolkit filled with things you can do with your baby that takes less than 10 minutes to prep and uses things you probably already have in your home 🙂

5-8 Month Sleep Schedule

As you can see in this daily routine, Baby R naps twice a day with 2-3 hours of daytime sleep and sleeps 11-12 hours each night.

Nap #1 : 9:00-10:40am

Nap #2 :12:30-2:00pm

Nap #3 : 4:00-5:00pm

Bedtime: (fall asleep) 7:30/7:45

Your baby’s nap times and nap lengths will begin to shift in between the 3 months of when they are 5-8 months. That’s why knowing your baby’s tired cues are super important.

Some tired cues include:

• Rubbing eyes
• Playing with ears
• Red eyebrows
• Gazing off
• Slow blinking
• Yawning

5-8 Month Old Nap Schedule

At this age, babies are usually having 3 naps a day.

The third nap of the day is usually a “cat nap” ranging from 30-45 minutes, but it can sometimes last for an hour as well. This nap helps get your baby to bedtime, so bedtime isn’t really early, making baby an early riser.

Bedtime might have to be pushed up or back some days depending on when your baby wakes up from this nap.

As your baby’s wake windows lengthen, this nap will be dropped and bedtime will stay the same.

This nap is dropped somewhere between 7-9 months. The “sleep needs” for every baby is different so if your little one is still cat napping for the third nap and nighttime sleep is not affected, go for it.

If your little one is still too young to drop this nap but you begin to see the third nap is a struggle, try to get creative with helping your little one fall asleep for this nap so you can hold on to it a little longer. Most babies who are too little for only 2 naps a day can’t make it the 3-4 hour wake window until bedtime.

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Related Reading: How to start a nap schedule with your baby

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5-8 Month Feeding Schedule

At 5-8 months old, your baby is eating a combination of milk (breastmilk/formula) and solids. My daughter eats every 2.5-3 hours, whether it’s a mix of milk and solids, just solids, or just milk.

Remember to continue to complete full feedings!

My pediatrician recommended I begin to introduce solids to her at around 5.5 months. I would give one type of puree vegetable per week and offer it to her once a day.

Follow your pediatrician’s guide on what your baby should be eating and follow your baby’s hunger cues.

Recap time!

There you have it

You learned my step-by-step easy and flexible 5-8 month baby routine, including nap, feeding, and activity schedule, to help your baby thrive!

This 5-8 month baby routine was created to flourish communication & connection with your baby without feeling overwhelmed with questioning yourself if you are “doing the right thing” for your baby all day.

YOU know your baby best! Follow your instincts and follow your baby’s cues—they will never fail you <3

Don’t forget to download the 5-8 Month Routine Guide equipped with schedules and templates to help you create your own routine based on your baby’s cues!

You got this, mama!

Read more routine / baby schedule posts!

Sample 0-12 Month Old Sample Routine

Newborn 0-4 weeks old newborn routine

1-4 Month Baby Schedule Routine

9-12 Month Baby Routine

12-18 Month Baby Schedule

Why a schedule for your baby is so important

Inside: Learn the 4 key baby routine essentials that makes up a perfect foundation for an easy, effective, flexible routine that will grow with your baby from infant to toddlerhood.

Whether you wake up and zombie walk your way to the kitchen for a steamy cup of coffee or your race to the bathroom to begin your morning self-care, every day begins with some sort of routine.

The same is for babies!

Don’t let the word “routine” scare you away…

A baby routine is simply a set of predictable patterns that your baby does each day including sleeping, waking, eating, and playing.

A routine is NOT a minute-by-minute schedule that makes you feel chained to the clock.

I can teach you a super simple, effective, and efficient baby routine that can grow with your baby all the way into toddlerhood!

Here’s the gist…

There are 4 important, unchanging essentials that your baby’s routine will consist of:

1. wake windows,
2. sleep
3. feedings
4. activity time

You will navigate your baby’s day using these 3 routine essentials by following your baby’s cues.

We’ll use the 3 C’s for the foundation of all baby routines: Connection, Communication, and Confidence.

You’ll deepen your connection with your little one, which helps you further understand their communication with you, which ultimately gives you the confidence to care for them!

Let’s jump in!

How to start a baby routine

First things first, how do you even start a routine with your baby?

The answer is simple- cues!

Your baby is constantly communicating with you, even though they cannot talk yet. Their screams, cries, and coos all mean something that they are trying to tell you. As your baby grows week by week and your bond deepens, you will begin to understand your baby’s cues and communication.

Cues are the only way a baby can communicate with you. When you follow your baby’s cues, you are offering them what they need, when they need it in order to thrive.

Follow your baby’s cues…it’s their way of communicating with you and telling you what they need.

We’ll talk more about tired cues, hunger cues, and playtime cues in this post too!

Are you overwhelmed with juggling your daily #momlife to-do list AND your baby’s activities? Grab my FREE Mommy & Me Mini Planner and take control of your day!

4 Baby Routine Essentials

These 3 baby routine essentials will help you create your own flexible baby routine completely tailored to YOUR little one.

No time to read this now? That’s ok! Save it to your Pinterest Board to read later

1. Wake windows- What is a “wake window”?

A wake window is simply how long your baby is up between each nap. It is counted from the length of that that they wake up from one nap until thy go back to sleep for the next nap.

That stretch of awake time is called a “wake window”.

These wake windows will stretch as your baby continues to grow and get older. 

Wake windows will lengthen as your baby gets older. That’s why a 2 week old can only stay up for 30 minutes but a 1 year old will stay awake for 3-4 hours at a time.

Your baby’s wake window is the foundation for their general daily routine. Even though the wake windows change and lengthen, they will always have one until they are no longer napping (well into toddlerhood).

Mom Tip: In my experience, I’ve noticed over the years that the first wake window tends to be shorter. But as the day progresses, the wake windows lengthen a bit.

If your little one is starting to show tired cues and it’s 15-20 minutes before their wake window should end, don’t be afraid to begin the nap routine.

You should pay super close attention to keeping your baby up for the full wake window when they are showing signs of going through a transition- such as dropping a nap, early wakings, night wakings, etc.

Tired Cues

Let’s talk about tired cues—because these are the cues you are going to follow that will show you the optimum time your baby is ready for sleep. That way you’re not wrestling your baby to sleep when they aren’t tired or dealing with red-faced screaming because they are overtired.

As the end of the wake window approaches, ask yourself, “Are they showing your sleepy cues?”

Tired cues include:

• Rubbing eyes,
• staring off into space,
• red eyebrows,
• slow blinking
• staring off into space
• & general fussiness with these other cues.

The main goal is to offer your child the nap to prevent overtiredness- which can lead to extreme fussiness, over hyper activity, and refusing to sleep.

Sometimes my baby can make it a full 2-hour wake window in the morning but sometimes she starts showing those tired cues early and I follow what she needs.

Utilizing an easy nap routine can help signal to your baby that a nap will soon follow those tired cues.

Did your baby wake early and is showing tired cue signs but it’s not nap time yet? Has your baby been up way too long and they are starting to get fussy?

Use your discretion and information from other parts of the day to figure out what those cues are telling you.

That’s the advantage of a flexible routine- it’s about YOUR BABY. Not a schedule designed for another child.

You can read more about sleep cues on Taking Cara Babies (I’ve used these courses when I first started my motherhood journey- and I am NOT an affiliate, just really enjoyed the information)

What do I do during a wake window?

When you’re baby is awake, you’re not simply just staring into space- your baby is very active!

Wake windows are filled with feedings, usually followed by playtime or activities. We’ll talk more about the easy activities you can do to fill these wake windows.

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Related Reading: Complete Sample Routine for 0-12 Months

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2. Sleep

Naturally, the next baby routine essential is sleep. Of course, sleep is an essential part of life but especially for your baby!

After you know your baby’s wake window, next is to observe their sleep patterns and length.

Another key to better, longer sleep is a nap routine and a bedtime routine. These routines will help signal your baby that it’s time for sleep.

A naptime routine will signal that it’s time for daytime sleep and a bedtime routine will signal that it’s time for nighttime sleep, a much longer stretch of sleep.

Just as wake windows will lengthen, daytime sleep will shorten. As your baby grows and develops, they will begin to stay up longer during the day, therefore sleeping less and having fewer naps.

It’s important to know those wake windows, number of naps and nap lengths because that will give your baby the optimum opportunity to receive all of their needed sleep time.

Here is an overview of the number of naps and nap lengths by age:

1-4 Months Old: 4 naps

5-8 Month Old: 3 Naps

9-12 Months Old: 2 Naps

14-18 Months Old: 1 Nap

Not ALL days your baby will sleep the same exact way. Don’t be alarmed when your baby’s sleep shifts from day to day or week to week. That’s why we put routines in place, to send your baby those signals without feeling like you aren’t meeting their needs.

Sleep can change due to transitions, teething, sickness, etc.

Your job is to simply offer your baby a nap. It is up to them to take it!

3. Feedings

It’s no secret that babies love to eat! They actually eat allll dayyy loonnggg. My toddler still loves to snack 50 times a day 🙂

Babies usually eat 4-5 times throughout the day and just like with sleep, their full feeding routine will change as they continue to grow.

An infant may cluster feed every hour for the first few weeks of life. But as they develop, those feeding begin to consolidate and they are eating more quantity of food less quantity of time. As your baby grows, these feedings will be a mixture of liquids and solids, with your baby’s milk (breastmilk/formula) decreasing as solids increase.

A 3 year old won’t have 4 milk bottles a day like a 9 month old would…but you also don’t jump to those transitions abruptly. They change and stretch over time. That’s why feeding is one of the baby routine essentials. It’s one of the fundamental things your baby will do from birth and beyond.

Sample Feeding Amounts

The main key is to feed your baby every 2.5-3 hours. (Whether that’s fully breastmilk/formula or a mixture of solids and milk or just solids.)

0-6 months old– feed breastmilk/formula every 2.5-3 hours (no including cluster feeding sessions)

6-9 months old– feed a mixture of breastmilk/formula every 2.5/3 hours with adding a “meal” with solids (puree or baby led weaning)

9-12 months old– feed a mixture of breastmilk/formula every 2.5/3 hours with adding 2 “meals” with solids

12-18 months old– (can begin drinking cow milk and reduce milk feedings based on pediatrician guidelines) baby will eat about 3 solid meals a day with milk feedings being decreased as you see fit

18-24 months old– As baby grows and develops, they will drop “milk” feedings and begin to follow a toddler feeding schedule

These feeding amounts are purely for an overview of what a feeding routine will look like. But feeding is based on your baby’s hunger cues.

Always check with your child’s pediatrician/dietician/lactation consultant before making changes to feedings.

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Related Reading:

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Hunger Cues

Your baby will send you “signals” when they are hungry, just like they do when they are tired. These hunger cues will tell you when your baby is ready to eat and help you create a personalized feeding routine just for YOUR baby.

That’s why “sample” feeding schedules are hard to follow. Every baby is different. It’s important to follow your own little one’s hunger cues.

Hunger cues include:

• Mouth opening (as if to suck)
• Irritability after 2.5-3 hours from the last feeding
• Puts hands to mouth
• Licking lip or puckering/smacking lips

4. Activity Time

Last but not least, the final baby routine essential foundation is activity time. This time is also called playtime!

Playtime gives your baby the ability to reach new milestones and strengthen and practice existing skills. It overall allows your baby to “get the wiggles out” and fill that wake window before their next nap.

This is a great time to practice those skills such as tummy time, strengthening the neck, learning to sit up, cruising/crawling, etc.

Fill this activity time with a combination of:

• Independent playtime– activities your baby can do by themselves in a safe, supervised location
• Connection playtime– activities you and your baby do together to strengthen your connection and deeper your bond
• Reading time– reading to your baby and allowing them to follow along/flip pages
• Exploration– allowing your baby to explore new textures, areas, and sensory items
• Imaginative play– giving your baby objects to help them grow and enhance their imagination

Activities can be used to reach new milestones, practice existing skills and strengthen/support developmental growth.

Tiny One’s Boredom Buster Activity Toolkit

Say goodbye to taking 45 minutes to prep a super complicated activity that your baby is going to play with for only 5 minutes…

Here’s a whole goldmine of fun, easy, affordable activities that will take you less than 10 minutes to prep AND that your little one will have a blast doing!

Make baby and toddler activities easy with the Tiny One’s Boredom Buster Activity Toolkit!

With over 35 activities for babies and toddlers from 2 months old to 3 years old, and over 10 templates to help you create an easy playtime activity routine that works for YOUR family, this activity toolkit is your life raft back to sanity!

Find out more about the Tiny One’s Boredom Buster Activity Toolkit here!

Practical Baby Routine Essentials

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please view Mastering Mom Life’s Terms, Disclosure & Disclaimer Policy and Privacy Policy. I wholeheartedly believe in all of the products I recommend and use them all! 

If you truly want to support every aspect of your baby’s daily routine, here are some home essentials that I use every single day that makes my routine run smoothly:

• Blackout Curtains
• Sound machine
• Boon Bottle Drying Station
• Swaddle
• Sleep Sack
• Hatch

Successful Baby Routine Recap

Remember, there are 4 foundational, essential components of your baby’s day that will be unchanging as they grow:

1. Wake windows

2. Sleep

3. Feedings

3. Activity time

These baby routine essentials will help you create a daily routine that is tailored right to your baby that also meets them where they are developmentally!

Keep the routines simple, efficient, effective, and working for YOUR family.

Don’t be afraid of the word “routine”….just think of it as the sweet creamer being added to your must-have cup of coffee every morning 🙂

You got this, mama

Related Reading:

Bottle-Feeding Tips to Reduce Gas

How to Create an Easy Baby Routine in 4 Steps

How to Get Your Baby to Sleep In a Crib

Inside: The perfect step-by-step 1-4 month old baby schedule complete with an easy, flexible routine for feedings, naps, and activities to help baby thrive and make mom life easier!

I heard a screech coming from my baby’s bassinet and frantically checked the time- it was 3:30am…feeding hour.

If I didn’t know my sweet new baby’s routine, I would have panicked and thought something was wrong. But as my little one was growing and learning this brand new world, I was learning her.

Her cues, her cries, her needs.

The 1-4 month period IS exhausting. You’re still recovering from pregnancy and delivery, you’re getting to know this brand new little person, caring for their every need all while juggling what is left of your normal life.

But do not fret, routines are here to the rescue!

I’ll show you a 1-4 month old baby schedule and flexible routine that will flourish your connection with your baby, help you understand their cues and care for your baby in the best and easiest way possible.

By creating a flexible routine for your baby, you will begin to understand how your baby is communicating with you and what they actually need, all while gaining the confidence you need to care for them without feeling overwhelmed (or unqualified!)

You’ll have a better understanding of your baby’s wake windows, full feedings, and naps/sleep.

I’ll share with you 2 different sample routines to help guide you through the 1-2 month stage and 3-4 month stage so you never feel confused during any step of the way!

If you want to download the sample 1-4 month old baby schedule now, click the button below to get it sent straight to your email along with all of the baby routine tips and tricks in this post! Instantly download the routine to have it at your fingertips throughout the day to help you stay confident and prevent stress.

3 Keys to a Successful 1-4 Old Month Baby Schedule

Before we dive into the actual routine, it’s important to know *what* will actually be in your routine. After all, babies are new to this world and they don’t have many activities they can do.

There are 3 main keys that will make up your baby’s routine:

1. Wake window
2. Full feedings
3. Sleep

Your 1-4 month old baby schedule will be formed around your baby’s cues. Their tired cues and hunger cues.

No time to read this now? That’s ok! Save this to your favorite Pinterest board for later!

1. Wake Windows:

The term wake window is just a fancy term for the amount of time your baby is from one nap tot the next.

You can count your wake window starting from when your baby wakes up from their last nap to the minute they are placed back in their bed for the next nap. All of that time in between is counted as a wake window.

The wake window for a 1-2 month old is usually around 30-45 minutes. But as your baby grows each month the wake window will begin to stretch.

Such as a wake window for a 3-4 month old can be anywhere between 60-90 minutes. But if your baby is still only reaching a 45-minute wake window before becoming overtired, that’s perfectly fine.

Two main events that take place in that wake window are feedings and activities.

Since your baby is still an infant, those wake windows will be short and usually only accounts for a feeding and a few extra minutes of awake time.

These wake windows will help fill your baby’s tired cup- enabling them to get tired enough to have a successful nap/sleep time.

The key is to watch for your baby’s tired cues and offer a nap when they are becoming tired.

Your 1-4 month old baby nap schedule will be formed around your baby’s tired cues.

These tired cues include:

• Rubbing eyes
• Glazed & staring eyes
• Red eyebrows
• Yawning
• Fussiness

You’ll begin to notice these tired cues around the same times throughout the day. This is your baby communicating with you they are tired.

These tired cues will show you when your baby needs to nap and these times will begin to create your nap schedule.

2. Full Feedings:

The next essential key to a successful 1-4 month baby schedule and flexible routine is accomplishing full feedings.

The term “full feeding” is just a fancy way of making sure your baby is completely full after a feeding. When your baby is full after having a feeding, they are more likely to go 2.5-3 hour stretches between feedings- which can help your baby sleep better too.

Achieving full feedings can also prevent your baby from “snacking”- wanting to constantly eat every 30minutes-1 hour. Snacking can inhibit a successful daily routine because you’re little one is always eating and never fully satisfied or full.

To learn how to easily accomplish full feedings or how to make sure your baby is feeding to get full, read all about full feeding in my post here.

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Related Reading:

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3. 1-4 Month Baby Sleep:

Let’s face it, a large portion of your baby’s day is sleeping. At this age, your baby’s wake window is a minimum of 30 minutes or if your baby is closer to the 4-month stage, the wake window can even be as long as 90 minutes.

That means your baby is sleeping every hour (between 1-2 months old) or every hour and a half (3-4 months old).

Naps at this age can last anywhere from 20 minutes to 2 hours, depending on the time of day or how your baby is feeling at a particular time.

If you are struggling with short naps, you can read my Troubleshooting Baby Naps guide.

To set your baby up for successful naps you’ll want to:

1. Make sure your baby is staying awake for those wake windows (to fill their “tired cup”)

2. Accomplish full feedings (ensuring your baby isn’t prematurely waking up from hunger)

Okay, now that we’ve gone over all of the essentials of a successful 1-4 month baby schedule, let’s jump into some sample routines!

1-4 Month Baby Schedule and Routine

For the purpose of this post, I will be stating times but you do not have to follow this routine based on what time the clock says.

A flexible routine is just a series of patterns throughout the day to help structure your day and offer your little one support.

Use this routine as a guide based on when YOUR baby wakes up and starts their day. If your baby wakes at 6, then follow the routine steps from that time. If your baby wakes at 8, then follow the routine steps based on that time.

The goal of this routine is not for you to be worried about “time”. It is just to get familiar with the overall activities your baby does throughout the day.

1-2 Month Old Baby Routine

7:00am Feeding

7:20-8:00am Wake time

8:00-9:30am Nap #1 (First nap was short, tried to put baby back to sleep but no-go)

9:30am Feeding

10:00-10:30am Wake time (baby started showing tired cues at 10:15, did nap routine and baby was already sleeping at 10:30am)

10:30-11:30am Nap #2

11:30-12:00pm Wake time (Baby’s didn’t eat right after wake, didn’t show hunger cues until 12)

12:00pm Feeding

12:30-2:30pm Nap #3 (Baby woke after 45 minutes so you placed baby in a carrier and fell back asleep as you sat with them on your chest)

2:30pm Feeding

3:00-3:30pm Wake time

3:30-4:30pm Nap #4

5:00pm Feeding

5:30-6:30pm Nap #5 (cat nap in the baby swing while you get some chores done)

6:30-7:30pm Wake time (bath, etc.)

7:30pm Feeding & Bedtime

8:00-10:00pm Sleep (use bedtime routine)

10:30pm Dream Feed

Baby then sleeps as long as possible before next feeding

“Master” 3-4 Month Old Baby Routine

7:00am Feeding

8:30-10:00am Nap #1

10:00am Feeding

10:30-11:00am Wake time

11:30-1:00pm Nap #2 (Baby woke at 12:00pm but you rocked back to sleep and placed in carrier/sling)

1:00pm Feeding (Baby took a while to have a full feeding and showed tired cues at 2:00)

1:30-2:00pm Wake time

2:00-4:00pm Nap #3 (Baby slept almost 2 hours because last nap was shorter)

4:00pm Feeding (baby took an hour to have a full feeding, was distracted)

5:00-5:30pm Wake time

5:30-6:00pm Cat Nap (Baby slept in safe swing while mom cleaned)

6:00-7:00pm Bath & Wake time

7:00pm Feeding (Last “daytime” feeding before nighttime sleep)

7:30pm Bedtime (bed time routine)

10:30pm Dream Feed (woke baby to offer a feeding so they can sleep 3-4 hours until next feeding)

This routine has a combination of shorter and longer naps throughout the day as we as 2.5 hour and 3 hours between feedings.

It also shows a combination of different sleep locations and methods. Sometimes baby falls back asleep on mama’s chest, sometimes in the car, etc.

A flexible routine will help your baby know what is next and will help you know what your baby needs next.

Follow your own baby’s wake windows, hunger cues, tired cues, etc!

In a perfect world, your baby would sleep every hour for 2 hours and eat every 3 hours, making your mom life complete clockwork and a piece of cake. But babies are unpredictable and getting used to this world! So, you’ll want to go with the flow of your little one’s cues and offer them what they want as needed.

Don’t forget to grab my 1-4 Month Baby Routine Guide will 2 different sample schedules and baby routines that show different wake windows, nap lengths, and feeding times that accounts for the unpredictability of your day!

You may find one of these routines is more of a fit for your family 🙂

How Long Should Naps Be?

The key to setting up good daytime sleep is a consistent nap routine. You can read all about my successful, super easy nap routine that helped my babies have better and longer naps!

A newborn nap can be anywhere from 20 minutes to 2 hours. So, if your baby went to nap at 8:00am and only sleeps 30 minutes, you don’t follow the “sample schedule” and wait until 10am to put them back down for a nap.

Remember, at this age, their wake window is short. You’ll want to follow the wake window time and offer your baby a nap 30-45 minutes from when they woke up.

That’s why this routine is FLEXIBLE. You’re not following the clock for when to do something. You’re using your baby’s cues alongside the timing of when your baby should be napping or eating to create a routine that helps them thrive.

Be sure to download my 1-4 Month Baby Routine Guide to see 4 different sample schedules in action including a schedule with short naps, long naps, short wake windows, and long wake windows!

Fill out the form below to get the Routine Guide sent straight to your email!

How Long Should My Baby Be Sleeping at Night?

At this age, it is still possible your baby is still waking up every 3-4 hours during the night for feedings and maybe even cluster feeding some nights.

I like to follow a simple “guide” for baby nighttime sleep. For every week of my baby’s life, it’s possible my baby can sleep the same number of hours at night.

For example, at 4 weeks old, it’s possible for my baby to sleep 4 hour stretches at night. At 5 weeks old, it’s possible to sleep 5-hour stretches…and so on until they reach 8-9 hours at nighttime sleep.

But if your baby isn’t- don’t worry! You aren’t doing anything wrong.

By 3-4 months (12-16 weeks), it’s possible for your baby is to sleep 8-9 hours with the option of a dream feed 3 hours after their last feeding before bed. The dream feed stretches your little one’s sleep so they don’t wake in the middle of the night.

Not every night will be the same amount of sleep. And not every night will be identical.

This is not a hard and fast rule and if your little one isn’t sleeping “straight” hours just yet, that’s perfectly fine. All babies are different. All parents are different. Every family is different.

Whether you are nursing, bottle feeding, pumping, formula feedings, or any combination- YOU know your baby best.

If your baby is breastfeeding, feed your baby on demand, trying to accomplish those full feedings.

If your baby is still having multiple night wakings, that’s perfectly fine! As long as YOU are happy with your baby’s growth and your baby is happy, developing, and meeting new milestones, I wouldn’t stress about nighttime sleep unless you are ready to focus on nighttime sleep.

As long as you are watching those wake windows and full feedings, you are on the right track!

The 4 Month Sleep Regression / Progression

Babies experience the dreaded “4-month sleep regression”, but it’s more like a sleep progression.

At 4-5 months your baby’s sleep cycle shifts and can cause sleep disruptions for a few nights because your baby is now experiencing multiple stages of sleep- including light sleep, REM, and deep sleep.

As your baby goes between these stages of sleep, it’s possible for them to wake up because they are learning and adjusting to this new sleep pattern.

If your “my baby sleep all night” baby is now waking up and they are 4 months, this could be the reason.

A word about baby sleep…

There is a lot of chatter in the mommy blog world about sleep training, what is right, what is wrong, teaching your baby to sleep independently…and so on.

It can be VERY overwhelming.

If you are perfectly fine with your baby’s sleep patterns, that’s wonderful. If you are continuing to struggle with each month as they get older, reach out for support.

When it comes to baby sleep, just remember- if it feels wrong to you and your baby, then it’s probably wrong for your family.

There is no ONE way to deal with baby sleep struggles. And sometimes, what may *feel* like is wrong, is sometimes perfectly right! Such as your baby sleeping short naps or waking up at night.

Your child is a baby- they will naturally fall into a groove of sleeping as they get older.

Don’t stress, mama!

What Do I Do With my Baby When He / She’s Awake?

If you’re struggling with what to actually do during your baby’s wake window, check out the Tiny One’s Boredom Buster Activity Toolkit!

It’s jam-packed will easy, fun, cheap, & educational activities for babies 2 months-2 years old. This resource will grow with your child and help them reach new milestones while practicing existing skills!

A 2-month baby won’t “play” as a 12-month baby would, but you can still do fun little connection activities with your baby that will keep them engaged, show them new things and strengthen your bond. 🙂

Learn more about the activity toolkit here!

Free 1-4 Month Baby Routine Guide

Don’t forget to download your free routine guide so these sample routines and schedules can get sent straight to your inbox!

The Routine Guide includes:

• 1-2 month routine sample
• 3-4 month routine sample
• Daily routine “create your own” template
• Baby daily tracker (to track naps, activities, diaper changes, moods, and feedings all in ONE place!)

Recap:

Remember, don’t compare your baby’s journey to another.

Your little one is still just that- a baby! Enjoy the snuggle as they fall asleep on your chest, savor their little breath hitting your neck and cherish every cuddle as their little body fits so perfectly onto yours.

This 1-4 month old baby schedule and flexible routine will flourish your connection with your baby, help you understand their cues, and care for your baby in the best and easiest way possible.

I hope you found the information you need to feel confident caring for your little one in the best way possible and assurance to know that you are doing great!

Remember to follow those wake windows, tired cues, and hunger cues.

YOU know your little one best!

You got this, mama!

Related Reading:

• What My Baby’s Daily Schedule Looks Like
• Easy Newborn Routine to Survive the First 4 Weeks
• 6 Reasons Your Baby Needs A Successful Routine to Thrive

Inside: Learn step by step a gentle & flexible 9-12 month baby routine to communicate & connect with your baby to help them thrive- including a nap, feeding & activity schedule!

As I tried to wrestle my daughter into my favorite pink pastel footie a thought hit me like an oncoming train—my little girl is no longer as little as she once was.

Clearly too big for this adorable little outfit, it was time to wrap my head around the cold hard facts—my baby is growing and will soon be a year old.

(cue the sobs!)

But with the new journey ahead of us comes waving goodbye to late-night feedings, midnight wakings, and the unfamiliar territory of getting to know your newborn.

Now we’re onto climbing & cruising and walking & expressions…yay!

If you’re trying to navigate the new terrain of your 9-12 month old, fear not…

I’ll show you a simple and flexible 9-12 month baby routine to help you find simple ways to communicate and flourish your connection with your little one while removing those stressful stumbling blocks that make you question your #momlife confidence.

With this 9-12 month baby routine, you’ll learn:

• what to do with wake windows
• a useful & easy nap routine
• simple activities to keep baby busy & learning
• feeding tips to make mealtimes a joy

Let’s dive in!

3 Components of a 9-12 Month Baby Routine

A thriving baby routine consists of meeting your baby where they are developmentally and having flexible components that shift as your baby continues to grow and develop.

Your 9-12 month old baby is now physically exploring the world. Whether they are crawling, cruising, or walking, developmental strides such as these are the difference between a newborn and a one year old.

Your baby is experiencing the world in a whole new way.

So naturally, a 3-month baby routine will look very different from a 12 month old baby routine. But there are key foundations that will remain the same. These key principles are the foundation for every baby routine- whether 1 week old or 1 year old.

There are 3 key foundations that make up your baby routine that will never change: wake windows, activity time, and feedings.

These 3 key principles will be in every daily routine, no matter their age, but will shift as they grow and develop.

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All tips and advice given are based on my own experience and given to me by my own pediatrician. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact your doctor. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please view Mastering Mom Life’s Terms, Disclosure & Disclaimer Policy and Privacy Policy.

1. Wake windows

Wake windows are the length of time that your baby is awake between each nap. It is counted from the minute they wake up to the minute they go back to sleep.

That stretch of time is called a wake window.

Wake windows will lengthen as your baby gets older. That’s why a newborn can only stay up for 30 minutes but a 10-month-old will stay awake for 2-3 hours at a time.

Your baby’s wake window is a key foundation of their overall daily routine. The wake window will change as they grow but your little one will always have a wake window until they drop their last nap.

The average 9-12 month old baby wake window is 2-3 hours.

I’ve noticed over the years that the first wake window is shorter, can even be 1.5hours to 2 hours. But as the day progresses, the wake windows lengthen a bit.

Tired Cues

This is where it’s imperative to know your baby’s cues. Are they showing your sleepy cues?

• Rubbing eyes,
• Staring off into space,
• Red eyebrows,
• Fussy.

Sometimes my baby can make it a full 2hour wake window in the morning but sometimes she starts showing those tired cues early and I follow what she needs.

That’s the beauty of a flexible routine- it’s based on YOUR BABY. Not a minute-for-minute schedule that was designed for another child.

Follow your baby’s cues…it’s their way of communicating with you and telling you what they need.

2. Activity time

Activities are a HUGE part of the day. It’s what keeps your baby “busy” when they aren’t sleeping or eating. You don’t have to spend hourrsss every week planning super complicated activities that you found on Pinterest. Activities can be as simple as a walk around the block or a peek-a-boo book.

Keep it simple and attainable so you don’t overwhelm yourself. I’ll show you the 3 main activities I do with my baby- keep reeding!

3. Feedings

At the 9-12 month old stage, babies usually eat 4-5 times throughout the day. Whether it be all formula/breastmilk or a combo of milk and solids.

The main key is to feed your baby every 2.5-3 hours.

In my 9-12 month baby routine, you’ll see how I feed my daughter throughout the day and how I structure her feedings.

Hunger Cues

It’s best not to follow a minute-by-minute feeding schedule and to follow your baby’s hunger cues.

Some hunger cues include:

• Putting hand to mouth (sign language)
• Staring at you if youre eating
• Moving lips
• Crawling/walking to kitchen when food is
• Irritibility after about 2.5 hours of eating

Let’s jump into the sample schedule (what my day looks like almost hour for hour with my 9-12 month old!)

Sample 9-12 Month Baby Routine: Step by Step Schedule

Remember this sample schedule will shift based on the time your baby wakes up that day. You do not have to follow this schedule minute for minute because it will be determined by YOUR baby’s time frame.

You can keep with the overall structure of the day, but the schedule will shift based on your baby’s wake times, nap lengths, and feeding times.

Be sure to download the 9-12 month baby Routine Guide so you have this sample schedule saved right to your device and have it at your fingertips when you need it!

The 9-12 month Routine Guide also comes with 2 sample schedules AND an instant download/printable template to help you make your own routine/schedule!

Complete the form below to get it sent straight to your inbox!

Use this schedule as a sample pattern for your own routine 🙂

7:30 am Wake

After I hear her stirring, I go into her room, turn off her sound machine, open up the curtains, sing her a good morning song and change her diaper.

7:35 am Feeding

She usually drinks about 6 ounces every morning when she wakes up. Sometimes she will drink 4 ounces and then drink the other 2 ounces over the next 30 minutes.

8:00 am Breakfast

I make breakfast for my toddler at this time and give my 9-12 month old her “breakfast”. Usually, this is something small like a couple of avocado slices or boiled pears in her high chair.

8:30 am Connection Activity

After breakfast is our first activity time! This activity time is all about connection and bonding.

Below under the Connection Activities section, I share all of the different easy activities that I rotate each week.

We’ll play together for about an hour (my toddler too!) and then I’ll watch for her tired cues to start our nap routine.

7:30-9:30 am Wake window

This wake window is usually about 2 hours but some days it’s 1.5 hours. As she approaches 12 months, she may be awake for 3 hours and need her second feeding before her first nap.

Remember, flexibility is key when reading your baby’s cues!

9:30 am Nap

I start her nap routine about 10 minutes before she goes down and she will sleep for 1-1.5 hours.

Don’t forget the nap routine!

10:30 am Feeding

When she wakes from her nap I usually give her another 6 ounce bottle. Remember, we feed our children every 2.5-3 hours depending on their hunger cues.

11:00 am Mid-morning snack

My daughter will usually eat 4 ounces straight at a time and then likes to eat some sort of solid food with the rest of her 2 ounces. This is why I have a feeding at 10:30 and a “snack” at 11. This snack is just a continuation of her feeding at this time.

I’ll give her a puree of some sort with the rest of her milk. At this time, she usually likes pears or apple sauce and I’ll give her a string cheese or some puffs.

If you’d like to see my homemade baby applesauce recipe, follow me on Instagram and check out my highlights!

11:30 am Activity (outside/errands)

This activity time is usually an outside activity. If the weather permits, I like to get outside at least once a day. If it’s raining or we’re unable to go out, I like to encourage some independent playtime.

This is the wake window that I usually go out if I need to run an errand or drive somewhere. It’s a good amount of time to be out and a good time to be out with kids (less traffic, fewer people out, etc.)

1:00 pm Feeding

Because the wake window is 3 hours and the feeding window is 3 hours, I feed her another milk feeding before she goes down for her nap.

Baby R was waking up after 45 minutes during this nap and I realized it was because she was hungry! So I started feeding her before the nap and she goes 2 hours now. Helps with her overall mood and her nighttime sleep.

1:30 pm Nap

It’s naptime again! This is the last nap of the day. As your baby grows between those 9-12 months, this time with shift and the nap length will shift. Just follow your baby’s hunger and tired cues!

3:00 pm Activity

After a nice long nap, it’s activity time again! I like this activity time to be a combination of independent playtime and chore time. I’ll get some chores done in the same room that Baby R is playing in.

4:00 pm Feeding

This milk feeding fades away as your baby grows between 9-12 months but I wanted to keep it in this schedule just in case it helps you better see the overall feeding routine we had. At this time Baby R would drink 4 ounces and mostly eat solids as she turned 1.

4:30/5:00 pm Dinner

We always include the baby in our dinnertime. My toddler pulls up the high chair for baby R and we eat as a family! I give her different amounts of food based on if she had milk at 4:00 or not.

If she didn’t then we would give her a variety of things. If she did, we would give her food that we know she would like to eat.

5:30 pm Activity

This activity is usually family time. We clean up dinner, play around the house and let them get all the wiggles out before we start our bedtime routine.

6:30 pm Bath/Bedtime Routine

A consistent bedtime routine is the golden nugget of great nighttime sleep. We start out bedtime routine with a:

• Bath
• Put on pajamas and lotion
• 10-minute bonding playtime
• Last feeding
• Put on sound machine
• Close curtains/make room dark
• Lay baby down
• Sing a song
• Parent leaves room

Having a bedtime routine helps your baby understand that nighttime sleep is next. It creates an atmosphere of calm and tranquility and signals your baby it’s time for sleep. You can read all about the amazing benefits of a bedtime routine here!

7:00 pm Feeding

This is the last feeding of the day. It’s uncommon for your baby to drink more ounces at this feeding than the rest of the day. We usually snuggle up, feed baby R and then get ready for bed—we’re almost done for the day!

7:30 pm Nighttime Sleep

After baby finishes their feeding, gets changed and all comfy, it’s time for sleep- woohoo!

Remember to download the FREE 9-12 Month Routine Guide to instantly download 2 different daily sample schedules!

Key Principles-

Within this sample schedule here are 3 constant keys:

• 2-3 hour wake windows
• 5 feedings (combination of milk and solids)
• 4 activity times

Let’s jump into the different activities you can do with your 9-12 month old during the day…

9-12 Month Activity Routine

The word “activities” is such a broad term.

To me, an activity can mean a walk to the park or a huge activity that took 3 hours to prep. There’s a lot of room for interpretation.

And because of that, I find that a lot of moms become completely overwhelmed with how to entertain their little ones because they feel they “aren’t doing enough”.

It’s very frustrating to feel like you have to get a mile-long chore list done every day AND plan super fun, educational 3-hour activities for your baby.

But you don’t have to!

I like to sort activities into 3 categories:

• Connection activities
• Independent activities
• Outdoor activities

Connection Activities

Connection activities are activities that promote parent/child bonding. There are activities that you and your child are doing together. You’re playing with them, teaching them something new, and actively being a part of their playtime.

Here are some examples of connection activities:

• Reading (with books that have sound is so fun!)
• Simple art & craft
• Playing with educational toys

You can also use connection activities to transition into independent activities. Connection activities can easily become independent activities because after you use your connection time to teach your child to do something, they can then practice it and do it themselves during independent playtime.

Independent Activities

Independent activities are things that your child can do on their own. These are supervised activities that your baby can try and accomplish without your immediate help such as trying to play with a puzzle, building blocks and tearing them down, sorting shapes, etc.

Independent activities are great for helping your child meet new milestones and developmental growth!

Independent time is great because it also teaches your child how to play without you right beside them. It gives them the room and space to figure things out for themselves and learn how to do things on their own.

Ever saw your baby figure out how to fit a square block into a square hole? It’s victorious! Their little brains are constantly learning, shaping and growing, and giving them this time is important to their growth.

It doesn’t mean you just leave your baby in the living room and walk away- please no. It just means your baby is playing on the floor of your bedroom while you fold clothes, make the bed, and do things you need to get done in that area.

Activities include:

• Duplo blocks
• Sensory mat
• Safe sensory bin toys

Outdoor Activities

Outdoor activities are pretty self-explanatory– anything you do outside with your child. This could be walking around the block, playing in the park, roaming around the backyard or even running errands to Target!

I like to add an outside activity every day or every other day, weather permitting. Getting out of the house helps with “cabin fever” and is even good for your mental health as a mom.

Easily Plan Activities with the Tiny One’s Boredom Buster Activity Toolkit!

If you’re stuck on pause because you have no idea what to do with your baby during these different activity times, the Tiny One’s Boredom Buster Activity Toolkit will be a lifesaver!

The Tiny One’s Boredom Buster Activity Toolkit helps busy moms create a simple activity & play routine for their little one without the stress of spending hours on preparation.

Learn how to take the overwhelm OUT of planning fun, educational & affordable activities for your children while encouraging independent play AND parent bonding.

This toolkit is specifically designed to keep your baby or toddler busy, stimulated, and having fun all while helping your baby/toddler meet new milestones and practice existing skills!

It includes over 35 activity guides for babies and toddlers from 2 months old to 3 years old, over 10 templates to help you plan an easy playtime activity routine that works for YOUR family, and over 15 printable activities pages that you can whip out when you’re in a pinch.

Learn more about the Activity Toolkit Here!

9-12 Month Sleep Schedule

As you can see in this daily routine, Baby R naps twice a day with 2-3 hours of daytime sleep and sleeps 11-12 hours each night.

Your baby’s nap times and nap lengths will begin to shift in between the 3 months of when they are 9-12 months. That’s why knowing your baby’s tired cues are super important.

Some tired cues include:

• Rubbing eyes
• Playing with ears
• Red eyebrows
• Gazing off
• Slow blinking
• Yawning

It’s also really helpful to have a naptime routine that promotes great daytime sleep and a bedtime routine that promotes restful nighttime sleep.

Food Schedule

At this age, your baby is eating a combination of milk (breastmilk/formula) and solids. My daughter eats every 2.5-3 hours, whether it’s a mix of milk and solids, just solids, or just milk.

Remember to focus on full feedings!

Follow your pediatrician’s guide on what your baby should be eating and follow your baby’s hunger cues.

Recap time!

There you have it!

You learned my step-by-step gentle and flexible 9-12 month baby routine, including nap, feeding, and activity schedule, to help your baby thrive!

This 9-12 month baby routine was created to flourish communication & connection with your baby without feeling overwhelmed with questioning yourself if you are “doing the right thing” for your baby all day.

YOU know your baby best! Follow your instincts and follow your baby’s cues—they will never fail you <3

Don’t forget to download the 9-12 Month Routine Guide equipped with 2 sample schedules and templates to help you create your own routine based on your baby’s cues!

You got this, mama!

Related Reading:

• 6 Amazing Benefits of a Nap Routine
• The Importance of a Bedtime Routine
• How to Know Your Baby’s Full Feeding Schedule
• Why a Flexible Schedule for Your Baby is So Important

Inside: Find out all the signs you need to know when it’s time to change bottle nipple size! Read how to switch, increase or change your baby’s bottle nipple tear-free.

I gazed down at my daughter’s sweet little apple-red cheeks as she was struggling to drink her bottle.

After every 5 seconds, she would sway her head and push the nipple from her mouth…

Why wasn’t she drinking??

Then a thought hit me like a ton of bricks—maybe she was frustrated with the nipple!

Thankfully I had the next size bottle nipple stored away in my kitchen cabinet. I popped it on the bottle and voila…she drank the whole bottle fuss-free.

There are many signals your baby can begin to show you when it’s time to size up on their bottle nipple. I’ll show you all of the different tips, tricks, and signs you should know when it’s time to change your bottle nipple size.

If your baby is starting to struggle when drinking the bottle and she was normally doing great, here’s everything you need to know!

When to change bottle nipple size

Is your little one suddenly refusing the bottle or becoming fussy during a feeding?

I’ve noticed over the years that sometimes what “seems” like bottle refusal can really just be your baby telling you that the nipple flow is too slow.

If your baby is suddenly refusing the bottle or showing one of these signs then it’s time to increase the nipple size:

• Taking longer to finish a bottle
• Becomes irritated or fussy while eating (when baby was normally acting like himself/herself)
• Falls asleep toward the beginning of a feeding without eating much

No time to read this now? That’s okay! Save it to your favorite Pinterest board for later

How do nipple sizes affect bottle refusal?

Bottle refusal is a very real thing. And many factors can be the cause of bottle refusal. Some reasons include:

• Taste of milk
• Need to change formula (digestive issues, etc.)
• Baby wanting to return back to nursing
• Sickness
• Time to change nipple size

(Always talk to your pediatrician if you are experiencing sudden bottle refusal.)

If you can rule out all of the other bottle refusal signs, then it’s most likely time to change the nipple size. Some babies will refuse the bottle when the flow is too slow. And some babies will refuse the bottle when the flow is too fast and they need a smaller nipple size.

Here are some signs when to know the flow is too fast and it’s time to decrease the nipple size…

5 signs when it’s time to decrease nipple size

If baby is consistently:

• Coughing/choking with milk
• Guzzling too hard
• Milk is pooling out of mouth during swallows
• Hard gulping with head movements

…then try to go back to using a slower nipple flow (smaller nipple size) to see if you see any feeding improvements.

If at any point you see your baby struggling to eat because the flow is too fast, don’t be afraid to change the nipple size back to a smaller one immediately. Even if that means mid-feeding.

(As always, talk to your pediatrician about your feeding concerns!)

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Related Reading:

Is your little one gassy? Find out the best bottle feeding tip and learn how to easily prevent and reduce gas here!

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What is the difference between nipple flows?

In a nutshell, a smaller size nipple is a slower flow and a larger size nipple is a faster flow.

Nipple flows are based on baby’s age for most baby bottles.

Here is a sample breakdown for Dr.Brown’s bottle nipple sizes:

• Level 1- 0+ months
• Level 2- 3+ months
• Level 3- 6+ months
• Level 4- 9+ months

How to Change Bottle Nipple Size

Now that you *what to do*, it’s time to jump into *how*!

1. The first step to changing the bottle nipple size is to have the different nipple sizes on hand.

I always like to be prepared and have an extra nipple in the next size up on hand. This prevents the hassle of needing to scurry to the store in a pinch when my baby is struggling to eat.

2. The second step is choosing the easiest feeding of the day to make the transition.

For my oldest, the easiest bottle of the day was the morning feeding right after she woke up. For my youngest, her best feeding was right before bed.

3. If you are increasing your nipple size, you can begin feeding with the smaller nipple to see if the feeding struggles continue.

After 1-2 minutes, switch to the larger nipple size.

4. Place the bottle horizontal to the floor, with milk inside of the nipple tip but not completely filling the nipple.

This should help you regulate the flow of the milk and help your little one adjust to the faster flow without having too much milk pool in their mouth.

You should see an improvement in his/her feeding.

5. If you are decreasing your nipple size, you can switch to the smaller nipple first and see if the feeding improves.

You’ll want to make sure your baby is no longer coughing/pooling milk in their mouth for the whole feeding.

Bottle Nipple Differences

Not all bottle nipples are created equal. Some nipples are narrow and long, some are wide and short and some nipples are created to replicate breastfeeding.

If you find that changing the bottle nipple size is not helping the feeding issues then perhaps it’s time to try a different bottle and bottle nipple.

My daughter adamantly refused Tommee Tippee bottle nipples. And I have no idea why!

After troubleshooting nipples sizes, I found it was time to switch bottles altogether- and it worked!

Changing bottle styles might be the trick if you find yourself stuck in a bottle pickle. If you are sensing that there is another cause of your baby’s feeding issues, do not hesitate to contact your baby’s pediatrician.

Do I have to change bottle nipple sizes based on the chart?

No 2 babies are the same!

There is no “perfect age” to switch your baby’s nipple size so it’s always best to follow your baby’s feeding cues. Look for the signs that he/she would show when it’s time for a faster nipple flow and meet your baby’s needs accordingly.

My daughter didn’t move to a level 3 nipple until she was almost 8 months old. If I were to follow the chart I would have automatically sized up her nipple when she turned 6 months. But if I would have done that then the faster nipple would have disrupted her feedings and maybe even her whole day!

Always follow YOUR baby’s cues. Watch for their signs- you know your little one best!

On the other hand, if your baby is younger than the recommended age for a certain nipple level but your baby is showing signs that he/she needs a faster flow, feel free to try it! After a feeding or 2 then you will know if the nipple is just right or too fast.

Some babies are slow eaters and some babies are aggressive eaters. How your baby normally eats will directly affect their nipple size. Remember, you know your baby best!

Download a FREE Baby Feeding Tracker!

The best way to know when your baby is acting differently during a feeding is to consistently track their feedings! By tracking your baby’s feedings, you can easily see a pattern and notice their feeding cues.

Knowing your baby’s feeding cues can help you anticipate their needs and solve any feedings that may arise in the future.

Download a Baby Feeding Tracker inside my FREE Baby Schedule Collection.

Receive 3 instant downloads including a weekly feeding tracker, daily baby schedule, and overall baby tracker!

Use the form below to have the trackers sent straight to your email!

Recap: When to change bottle nipple size

Bottle feeding can seem overwhelming at times but remember, hope is not lost!

By following your baby’s cues, you can meet them where they are developmentally and anticipate their needs.

Here are some signs when it’s time to change bottle nipple size to a faster flow:

• Takes longer to finish a bottle
• Becoming irritated or fussy while eating (when baby was normally acting like himself/herself)
• Falling asleep toward the beginning of a feeding without eating much

Here are the signs when it’s time to change bottle nipple size to a slower flow:

• Coughing
• Choking with milk
• Milk is pooling out of mouth during swallows
• Hard gulping with head movements

Remember to follow your baby’s feeding cues (don’t forget to download the Free Baby Feeding Tracker inside my Baby Schedule Collection!)

You know your little one best!

Read more tips for baby feedings!

• Best Bottle Feeding Tips to Prevent Gas
• How to Know Your Baby is Full: Accomplish a Full Feeding

Inside: Learn how to create a flexible, easy 3 month baby schedule that will encourage healthy growth and development by following your baby’s cues.

You’ve officially hit the 3 month milestone- congratulations!

Your little one is leaving the “squishy, wrinkly newborn” phase and quickly entering the “chubby cheek, I want to smile all the time” baby phase—my favorite one 🙂

The 3 month milestone is a big one, as your baby is beginning to learn different routines and becoming acquainted with the stead patterns of feedings and naps.

Your little “I want to sleep all day newborn” is learning the world more and more each day and going through developmental spurts- which means their habits will start to shift.

Some 3 month old changes include:

• Longer wake times
• Increased feedings
• Different nap lengths
• Playtime alertness
• Routine awareness

But don’t let these changes overwhelm you!

By following your baby’s cues I’ll teach you how to create a flexible 3 month baby schedule that will healthily encourage your baby’s growth & development AND that will help you feel confident caring for your little one.

FREE Instant Download: Easy 3-4 Month Baby Schedule Guide

No time to read this now? That’s okay!

Instantly download the FREE 3 Month Baby Schedule Guide to get these sample schedules and golden nuggets of baby schedule tips sent straight to your inbox!

How to Create an Easy 3 Month Baby Schedule

As a new mom, I was super intimidated by the term “baby schedule”.

Did that mean if my baby ate 20 minute after her “schedule time” it would ruin the day?

Did I have to follow a schedule down to the very minute?

The thought of a schedule seemed super stressful and I wanted a more laid back, go with the flow approach to parenting… (while still keeping some sort of structure).

Here’s the good news- you can create your own baby schedule that is flexible and that works for YOU and your baby.

Some families have other siblings that need to be dropped off at school at 7am, so a 8am baby wake time won’t work for them. Some parents need to work at night so a 9pm baby bedtime won’t work.

By creating a schedule that is flexible to your family’s needs but that is also meeting your baby where he/she is developmentally will help you care for your little one in the best and easiest easy possible.

Here are the 3 components of a baby schedule you absolutely need:

• Feedings
• Sleep
• Wake time

3 Steps to Create Your Own Baby Schedule

1. Track your baby’s daily actions and mood for 3 days.

Set aside 3 days to track your baby’s actions. When does he eat? When does she start getting tired? How long does he sleep? How long does she play?

By tracking these actions for 3 days you’ll be able to see an overall routine that your baby is doing.

2. Use that pattern to create a schedule

Babies naturally fall into a routine (just like adults!). We eat, sleep, and live our daily life within the same structure from day to day.

By seeing their sleep, wake, and eat patterns, you can create a schedule that will help them limit their fussy times.

By using this method, you’re not forcing your child on a schedule that doesn’t work for them. You’re leaning into the turn of their natural body clock.

Use this FREE Baby Daily Tracker to help you complete these steps stress-free. Track your child’s naps, feedings, moods, and activities all in one place. Then you can easily start to see their routine so you can know without a doubt their golden wake window 🙂

Get the FREE Tracker in the 3 Month Baby Schedule Guide now!

Sample Easy 3 Month Baby Schedule: Overall Daily Schedule

Example 1
7:00am Wake & Feeding
7:00am – 8:30 Wake Time
8:30 – 10:00am Nap #1
10:00am Feeding
10:00am-12:30pm Wake Time
12:30pm-1:30pm Nap #2
1:00pm Feeding
1:00-3:00 Wake Time
12:30pm-1:30pm Nap #2
3:00-4:00pm Nap #3
4:00-5:45 Wake Time
4:00pm Feeding
5:00-5:45 Nap #4
6:30 Bath
7:00pm Feeding
7:30 Bedtime

Example 2
6:15am Wake & Feeding
6:15am – 7:20 Wake Time
7:20 – 9:20am Nap #1
9:30am Feeding
9:20am-10:45am Wake Time
10:45pm-11:45pm Nap #2
12:00pm Feeding
11:45-1:45pm Wake Time
1:45-2:20pm Nap #3
2:20-4:00 Wake Time
2:30pm Feeding
4:00-5:00 Nap #4
5:00-6:30pm Wake Time
5:00 Feeding
6:00 Bath
6:30pm Feeding
7:00 Bedtime

(Notice how each schedule is flexible – feeding times relatively stay around 2.5 to 3 hours but some naps are shorter than others and the rest of the day is slightly altered. This is OKAY!)

Based on the time your baby wakes up, use my personal sample schedules (the ones above!) as an outline for the day.

You can create your own easy 3 month baby schedule by using these sample schedule as a framework and plugging in your own times for feedings and naps.

Download the FREE Easy 3-4 Month Baby Schedule Guide to:

• instantly download these sample schedules
• AND receive a blank schedule template for you to create your own baby schedule

How to understand a 3 month baby schedule

Beginning at the 3-4 month mark, your baby will begin to understand patterns and habits- in a nutshell, they’ll begin to anticipate routines.

Routines help let your baby know what’s next AND helps you understand what your baby needs next.

When you follow your baby’s cues you’ll begin to see when he/she is tired, hungry, playful, etc. Then you use these cues to establish an overall routine.

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RELATED READING

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Here are the 4 main factors to understand in your 3 month old baby schedule:

1. Longer Wake Times

Wake time consists of a feeding and activity time. Keeping your baby stimulated during this time can help ensure they have a restful sleep the next time they nap.

As your baby grows, her/his wake time will start to get longer. As each wake time gets longer, naps will eventually be dropped because your baby is staying awake for a longer period between each nap.

During the 3-4 month phase, your baby will be in between the 3-4 naps, where the 4^th nap gets dropped around 5-6 months.

2. Increased Feedings

Around this time is where babies usually begin to increase the amount they are eating each feeding. Accomplishing a full feeding is not only important for your baby’s growth but can also help your baby achieve better sleep.

Read this article here all about how to accomplish full feeding and create an easy full feeding schedule that follows your baby’s hunger cues!

3. Different Nap Lengths

It’s important to offer your baby a nap 60-90 minutes from the last time they woke from their prior nap.

Between 3-4 months, some babies can even begin to reach 90-120 minute wake windows.

That’s why it’s important to know your baby’s sleep cues. By catching your baby before they reach the “full-on baby down” tired stage, you can prevent your little one from getting overtired and disoriented, which hinders naps.

Some tired baby cues are:

• Staring off into space
• Rubbing eyes
• Yawning
• Red eyebrows

4. Playtime Alertness

At this stage, your baby is becoming more aware of his surroundings. Your baby isn’t too small to play!

Use wake time to play:

• In front of the mirror
• With finger puppets
• Splash toes in water

If you’re struggling with what to do when your baby is awake, check out my Tiny One’s Boredom Buster Activity Toolkit.

It’s filled with activity guides for babies 3 months to 3 years old- so this guide can GROW with your little one!

I created it to help parents plan easy, cheap, educational activities that promote developmental growth and independent play as well as parent bonding.

Learn more about the Boredom Buster Activity Toolkit HERE!

FAQ’s

What is a sample 3 Month Old Bottle Schedule?

At this age, your baby should be eating every 2.5 to 3 hours.

If you are struggling with feedings, be sure to talk to your child’s pediatrician about any concerns that you have (such as the baby not going longer than 2 hours between feedings)

Sometimes feedings can take longer than others so don’t worry too much about how long it takes for your baby to eat at this age. Your baby is still learning!

My first child drank her bottle within 30 minutes. My second took about an hour nursing every feeding.

Just be sure to watch your child’s wake window and offer a nap every 60-90 minutes to prevent your baby from getting overtired and cranky.

(The key is to make sure your baby is accomplishing full feedings. Read all about how to make sure your baby is feeding to get full here!)

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RELATED READING

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Here is a sample 3 month old feeding schedule:

7:00am- 4-5 oz

10:00am- 4 oz

12:30pm-4-5 oz

3:00pm- 4 oz

6:00pm- 4 oz

8:30- 5 oz

(dream feed if needed at 10:00)

*Then you feed your baby as needed if they wake for night feedings

(Notice how some feedings were 3 hours between and some were 2.5 hours between. Count the next 3 hour window from when your child begins eating the last feeding)

At this age my children were beginning to go from 9:00pm to 5:00am without a feeding but every child is different so be sure to meet your baby where he/she is!

Should I Follow “Eat, Wake, Sleep”?

In my personal experience of parenthood, my children never truly followed an eat, wake, sleep schedule.

As long as you are following your own daily routine of feedings, naps and wake time your child should be falling into their own groove of a natural “eat, wake, sleep” cycle.

Let me explain…

Let’s say you fed your child at 10:00am and then put him down for a nap at 11:00am. He slept for 50 minutes. Now it’s 11:50am and you know your baby won’t start to show hunger cues until about 12:45ish. You have a whole hour of wake time with your baby BEFORE they are eating. Which mean that when they eat, they’re wake window will be ending and they will go to sleep right after eating.

In this scenario, you followed a “sleep, *wake*, eat” cycle.

For the rest of the day your schedule might look like a “eat, sleep, wake” cycle.

And that’s okay!

As your baby continues to grow there won’t be a strict schedule that you need to follow. So don’t worry yourself too much about following schedules like this just yet.

For a 3 month old, as long as you are following an overall healthy routine of feedings every 3 hours and naps every 60-90 minutes, your child will fall into a schedule naturally.

Don’t Forget- Download the FREE 3-4 Month Baby Schedule Guide!

Get instant access to the FREE Easy 3-4 Month Baby Schedule Guide.

Instantly download this 6 page guide that includes:

• these sample 3 month schedules
• a baby tracker to help you track your baby’s activtyes and cues
• a schedule template to help you create your own flexible baby schdudle

Get the FREE GUIDE HERE!

Recap:

As you enter the 3-4 month stage of your little one’s sweet life, don’t fret about all of the changes going on.

By using these simple foundations in your baby’s schedule, you will be more prepared for all of the developmental milestones your baby is reaching.

Remember, by following your baby’s cues you can create a flexible 3 month baby schedule that will healthily encourage your baby’s growth & development AND that will help you feel confident caring for your little one.

Be sure to take one day at a time and know that you’re doing a great job!

…Excuse me while I run and hide away from the 4 month sleep regression….

You got this mama!

Check Out These Other Posts About Baby Schedules!

Inside: Learn the 4 simple steps you can take to create an easy baby schedule that is flexible and encourages developmental growth!

Let’s talk about the dreaded S word

— Schedules.

Specifically, baby schedules.

A baby schedule doesn’t have to be a harsh, rigid schedule dictated by the ticking hands of the clock.

It can be as simple and as flexible as you like while meeting your baby right where they are developmentally.

Here are the 4 key principles for every baby schedule foundation we’ll be diving into:

1. Wake windows
2. Full feedings
3. Restful sleep
4. Stimulating activities

By using these 4 key pillars you’ll be able to create your own easy, flexible baby schedule that fits YOUR family!

From sleep training to baby-led weaning to toddler discipline, there IS a way to confidently communicate with your child and have your child communicate with you in a way that is positive, encouraging, and simple.

It all begins with a baby schedule!

Not a restricting schedule- but a flexible, positive routine that helps your baby reach new milestones and thrive.

To create your own flexible baby schedule, you’ll want to make sure you follow these 4 key principles throughout the day.

Get this FREE 15 page Mommy & Me Planner/Baby Tracker to help you create an easy baby schedule, stay organized AND save your sanity! (Plus receive weekly emails with more baby & mom life freebies!)

Why is a baby schedule important?

Having a schedule for your baby comforts them by giving them something they can expect daily- this in turn will benefit both you and your baby greatly!

When a baby is fed, bathed, plays, and sleeps around the same time every day it gives them a pattern. This pattern will then help you teach them fundamentals- such as eating, sitting up, self-soothing, etc.

When your baby knows what’s going to happen next it becomes a part of them and then begins to flow naturally as they grow.

In short, babies thrive on schedules.

You can read all about the 7 key benefits of having a baby schedule here!

How to create a baby schedule?

If you’re having trouble knowing what your child’s existing schedule is, then follow these simple steps to help you!

1. Track your baby’s daily actions and mood for 3 days.

Set aside 3 days to track your baby’s actions. When does he eat? When does she start getting tired? How long does he sleep? How long does she play?

By tracking these actions for 3 days you’ll be able to see an overall routine that your baby is doing.

2. Use that pattern to create a schedule

Babies naturally fall into a routine (just like adults!). We eat, sleep, and live our daily life within the same structure from day to day.

By seeing their sleep, wake, and eat patterns, you can create a schedule that will help them limit their fussy times.

By using this method, you’re not forcing your child on a schedule that doesn’t work for them. You’re leaning into the turn of their natural body clock.

Use the FREE Baby Daily Tracker to help you complete these steps stress-free. Track your child’s naps, feedings, moods, and activities all in one place. Then you can easily start to see their routine so you can know without a doubt their golden wake window 😊

Get the FREE Tracker by clicking the button below!

You simply want to reiterate a “structure” to your baby’s day that will help your little one understand what is going to happen next- this brings your baby great comfort when they have a stable routine for their day.

Learning your baby’s cues

By creating a flexible schedule you’ll also begin to understand your baby’s cues better.

Have you ever asked yourself is my crying because something is bothering her or is it hunger?

When you have an overall routine for your day you’ll start to know your baby’s cues and this will help you understand your baby better.

Your baby’s cues are the way they communicate with you!

When you are able to understand the cues, you are communicating with your little one 🙂

4 Keys to Create an Easy Baby Schedule

Baby schedules do not have to be rocket science. You simply follow your baby’s cues for the 3 main behaviors of the day- sleep, feedings, and activities. These 3 behaviors are going to be the premise of your baby’s whole day.

 Here are the 4 easiest steps you can take to create your own flexible routine:

1. Watch your baby’s wake windows

(This applies to any child that is still taking naps– from 3 weeks old to 3 years old).

Your baby has a certain amount of time they should be awake before going back to sleep. These times will change as your baby grows. You want to ensure your child is staying awake long enough to fill their “tired cup” but not reach a point where they are overtired.

Creating a schedule that is within the healthy boundaries of your baby’s wake windows will build the overall frame for your day.

What is a wake window?

A wake window or wake time is the amount of time your child is up from their last sleep to the time they go back to sleep.

This wake time is used to help you understand the maximum amount of time your child can be up without being overtired and fussy—and ultimate missing the time they were supposed to nap.

Wake Hours per Month

Here’s an example of Baby L’s wake time windows as she’s grown:

Birth-3 months: 1- 1.5 hours awake

4-6 months: 1.5-2 hours awake

7-9 months: 2-2.5 hours awake

10-14 months: 3-4 hours awake

15-24 months: 4.5-5 hours awake

24-36 months: so far, it’s remained at 5 hours of wake time

Feel free to use this as a guide for your baby’s wake times!

2. Accomplish Full Feedings

Ever asked yourself “is my baby done eating?” and then 30 minutes later you have a full-blown baby meltdown only to realize that your child was still hungry?

This has happened to me countless times!

In order for your baby to thrive, they need to complete full feedings.

This will not only help them grow but also help them accomplish better sleep and stimulated awake time.

It’s important to know that the goal of every feeding is to have a full feeding- this will allow your baby to stay fuller longer and create a feeding pattern for them that works.

When your child is hungry or has trouble with feedings, it can throw off the whole day because they’re not experiencing healthy feedings. When your child has a full feeding, they are content, satisfied and will last until their next feeding.

Full feedings are an important building block in your overall baby schedule.

(If you are struggling with feedings and are noticing that the rest of your day is also being affected, talk to your doctor.)

Full belly = Happy baby

If you want to learn how to accomplish full feedings, read this post to learn the signs of incomplete feedings, how to reach full feedings, and how to create a healthy full feeding schedule!

3. Encourage Restful Sleep

The next step to create an easy baby schedule is to focus on restful sleep- usually made up of a couple of naps and a long nighttime stretch of sleep.

(Depending on how old your little one is will determine how many times they nap and for how long.)

For example, a 4-month-old will nap 3-4 times a day for 45 minutes- 2 hours and have a long nighttime stretch between 8-11 hours. But a 2-year-old will probably nap once for 2-3 hours and have a long nighttime stretch for 10-12 hours.

Both of these different scenarios meet the recommended amount of sleep a child needs within a day.

You’ll want to create a sleep environment conducive to a good sleep, including:

• a swaddle or sleep sack (if applicable),
• a dark room,
• sound machine
• keeping the room a cool temperature.

Learn all about the importance of a nap routine and how it can promote better, restful sleep for your baby by reading this article here!

4. Fill wake time with activities

Now that your little one is eating well, sleeping, and is up for an appropriate amount of time, it’s time to fill that wake time with stimulating activities that encourage developmental growth!

From tummy time to sensory bins, you can add fun activities that are age-appropriate for your little one to keep them busy, stimulated, and reaching new milestones.

You don’t have to go crazy creating hard-to-set up and expensive activities. Simple things like mirror play and finger puppets can go a long way.

If you’re struggling with how to keep your little ones entertained while they are awake, check out my Tiny One’s Boredom Buster Activity Toolkit.

This toolkit is filled with 30+ easy, affordable activities for all age ranges that will help you take the overwhelm OUT of planning fun, educational and affordable activities for your child while encouraging independent play and parent bonding!

The Tiny One’s Boredom Buster Activity Toolkit is a flexible step-by-step activity system where you can easily plan your own weekly activities by plugging them into YOUR daily routine based on the provided activity worksheets and templates!

Learn more about this sanity saving activity toolkit here!

Don’t forget to download the Mommy & Me Mini Planner!

Sometimes words are useless if you don’t have the tools you need to back them up!

To help you easily create your own flexible baby I created this FREE mommy & me mini planner/tracker to help you track your baby’s daily actions and create a thriving routine for your little one!

It includes different baby tracker sheets to track naps, feedings, and diapers as well as planning templates for YOU to help you get more done in less time while taking care of your little!

The Wrap Up

These 4 keys will help you create an easy baby schedule that is rockin’, flexible, effortless, and works best for your family.

Remember to always:

1. Watch wake windows
2. Try to accomplish full feedings
3. Create a restful sleep environment
4. Fill wake time with stimulating (& easy!) activities

Your baby schedule can be as simple and as flexible as you like while meeting your baby right where he/she is developmentally.

You got this, mama!

Check out these other posts all about easy baby routines!

How to Easily Start a Baby Nap Schedule to Make Naps Better!

What My Baby Schedule Looks Like

Ultimate Step by Step Guide to Help Your Baby Nap

Inside: Wondering what your baby will *actually* need? Find out the 10 best newborn baby essentials to make the first 3 months easy so you can stress less and just enjoy the cuddles!

I stepped out the car with my newborn baby in my arms and stood in front of my door.

“Can I actually care for this sweet, little baby all on my own??”

Nothing can quite prepare you for caring for a newborn but with the right essentials, you’ll feel like you got it all under control!

Without the proper newborn baby essentials, it can feel like climbing Mount Everest without any climbing gear- impossible.

I’ll share with you the best newborn baby essentials to help you feel confident that you’re caring for your baby in the best and easiest way possible.

…while staying on budget!

Being a parent is expensive. (Super understatement…) It’s important not to waste your precious money on items you don’t need so you can just focus on the essentials that are actually worth it.

Here is a list of newborn baby essentials you will actually need and use on a daily basis for the first 3 months to make your mom life easier.

What are Newborn Baby Essentials?

Newborn essentials are all of the items that your newborn is going to need to use every day. These items are going to be the things you use day in and day out to care for your baby in the best way possible.

…And also make your mom life easier!

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Where to Buy Newborn Essentials?

Finding newborn essentials these days is really easy. From your local Dollar Tree to Walmart or Target, you can find baby items almost anywhere.

But baby items can be really expensive. The little costs really add up and before you know it, the 10 items in your cart ring up to $200. Not fun.

The key to finding newborn baby essentials is to *know where to look*.

In this post, next to each newborn baby essential, I’ll link to where you can find that item for cheap.

An Amazon Prime account also really comes in handy for baby essentials. They have an Amazon Family Program where you subscribe monthly for the items and it gets automatically shipped directly to you every month for 5-10% off the regular price.

Those savings really add up!

And it saves you a trip to the store so you don’t have to take your little one out on those last-minute errands when you run out of an essential.

When to Buy Baby Essentials?

Before your baby arrives, you’ll want to add most of the newborn baby essentials to your baby registry. Even if it’s your second, third, or tenth child- I truly believe in baby registries because every mom should receive all of the extra help they can get!

For my first child, I created a registry at Target, Buy Buy Baby, and Amazon.

I was pregnant with my second child during the “stay at home order” in 2020 and since most people were quarantined and stores shut down, I only created an Join Amazon Family 30-Day Free Trial” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener nofollow”>Amazon Family Program– it comes right to my door.

Talk about stress-free!

The Best Newborn Baby Essentials You Need for the First 3 Months

Those first months at home with your baby can seem really overwhelming. Between feedings, naps, a million burp cloths, different cries, and sleep deprivation- things can go from sane to chaotic reaallyyy fast.

But having these essentials on hand can help you care for your baby in the easiest way possible so you can stress less and just enjoy on the cuddles.

What Essentials Does a Newborn Need?

1. A Way to Feed

The most important newborn baby essential you are going to need is a way to feed your baby. Whether you are breastfeeding or formula feeding, you need to have all of the necessities for feeding your baby through whatever decision you choose.

In the past I have breastfed, pumped, bottle-fed, and formula-fed so I can speak from experience on most of the feeding options!

Here’s a quick list of essentials for each way of baby feeding—

Breastfeeding:

• Support pillow
• Burp cloths
• Breastfeeding basket with a water bottle, charger, snacks, etc.

Pumping:

• Breast pump
• Pumping bra
• Extra pump parts
• Bottles
• Breastmilk storage bags

Bottle Feeding:

• Bottles
• Nipples
• Nipple rings
• Storage caps

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RELATED READING: How to Prevent & Reduce Baby Gas while Feeding

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2. Diapers

The next newborn baby essential you’ll need for the first 3 months (and far, far beyond…) is diapers.

This is probably an obvious baby necessity but I learned the hard way that it’s important to have different size diapers on hand.

Don’t be afraid to try different kinds of diapers because each diaper is designed a bit differently.

For example, I love the absorption of Pampers Swaddlers but I love the tabs and elasticity of Huggies.

Put a couple of different diapers on your registry to try! Add size newborn to size 3 just so you can ensure you’ll have enough diapers to get you through the first few months.

Here are some other diaper changing essentials you’ll need:

• Changing pad
• Wipes & baby wipe container
• Diaper disposal bags

3. Baby Clothes

The next newborn essential you’ll need is clothes for your baby.

You don’t need a huge wardrobe for your new little one. Although baby clothes are sooo irresistible and cute 😊

Especially if you’re on a budget, you only need these baby clothes essentials:

• 10-15 short sleeve body suits
• 8-10 long sleep and footed body suits
• 5-8 pants
• 10-12 pairs of socks
• 15-20 burp cloths and bibs

The quantity of each clothing item varies because you’ll have a couple of spit up accidents per day (and let’s not forget poop explosions!) so you’ll need more of the same item on hand.

If you have a washer/dryer, you can even have less clothing items and commit to doing a load every day.

4. Diaper cream

I know a lot of parents who don’t use diaper cream on a daily basis but in my personal experience, it’s been a lifesaver.

I’ve used the same diaper cream on each of my babies every day and they NEVER had diaper rash, irritation, or rashes!

I totally attest this to the Baby CeraVe Ointment.

You can even put this ointment on your baby’s body if they have a little scratch or a minor rash (always consult with your pediatrician).

5. Swaddle

The next newborn baby essential for the first 3 months is a swaddle. My first daughter loved her swaddle. My second had to get a bit adjusted to it before we can use it consistently but once she got used to it, it was like magic.

I truly believe the swaddle can be the different between a bad night and a good night sleep. Of course, your baby won’t be sleeping through the night for the first few months, but laying a solid sleep foundation is crucial in those first 3 months of their little life.

Using a swaddle can really help set that sleep foundation.

My daughters would wake themselves up from a deep sleep when they flail their arms and the swaddle completely solved this little issue. By week 8, each of my little ones was sleeping 7-8 hours a night!

You can read my step by step easy and flexible newborn routine that I used here

Here are a couple of different swaddles I have used:

• Halo swaddle
• Swaddle Me
• Swaddle Blankets

6. Bassinet/Crib

Your little one is also going to need a place to sleep, either in a full size crib or a bassinet. The location is totally up to you!

With my first, we set her in her own room in a crib the first night we came home from the hospital.

With my second, we didn’t have an extra bedroom so we purchased a bassinet and placed her in our room behind a partition for the first few months.

As long as your little one is in a safe, sleep approved bed designed for babies, you’re good. If you are co-sleeping, the make bassinets that attach to your bed which is great for those late-night breastfeeding sessions.

I personally always placed my babies in their own sleep bed/space but talk to your pediatrician about what’s best for your family.

Some of my other favorite baby sleep essentials that helped set a solid sleep foundation are:

• Sound machine
• Swaddle
• Cool temperature
• Blackout curtains

7. A way to bathe

You won’t be bathing your baby in a submerged bath until their little umbilical cord falls off, but after those 10-15 days, you are usually free to give your little one a bath.

Which is one of my favorite things to do!

You’ll need a safe way to bathe your baby. There are a ton of options, from small and space-saving all the way to luxury baby baths.

If you don’t have a bath tub, you can even use special foldable sink tubs.

The most important thing is to have a save way to bathe your baby!

8. Car seat

The final newborn baby essential you’ll need for the first 3 months is an infant car seat. Most hospitals won’t even let you discharge your baby from the hospital unless you show them your car seat.

There are a TON of different car seat options but you want to make sure the car seat is approved for infants, especially the first few months.

A lot of car seats come in a convertible format, so they can be for infants, babies, and then even toddlers.

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Related Reading:

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Tips for Newborn Baby Essentials on a Budget

Here are some simple ways to save money on newborn baby essentials:

Use a bag you already have as a diaper bag

Diaper bags are so cool. Some even have built-in changing pads. But you don’t really *need* a diaper bag. And some diaper bags can be really expensive.

All you need is an open tote bag with pockets or a book bag with pockets and a baby changing kit.

Then all you have to do is throw the baby changing kit in your bag along with an extra change of clothes, burp cloths, and a pacifier- then you’re good to go!

Try store brand diapers

Diapers can be really expensive as well. Visit your favorite local stores and try their store brand diapers. Most diapers are made of the same materials and even the same manufacturers, they just have different names!

Keep an eye on any rashes or skin sensitivities you begin to notice on your baby. If you notice anything that would be irritating your baby’s bum, change diapers.

Don’t buy a special diaper disposal can

If you want to save money, don’t spend any money on expensive diaper trash cans. Especially the ones that cost extra for special diaper trash bags.

Yes, baby diapers are smelly and you don’t want that odor lingering in your home all day long. Here’s what you can do:

• Purchase a small diaper pail ( I got mine for $1 at Dollar Tree)
• Use these diaper disposal bags
• Place the dirty diaper in the bag, tie it up & throw in the diaper pail.
• After your next diaper change, open the bag and add the dirty diaper to it
• Add up to 4 diapers to that same disposal bag
• Empty the diaper pail every night and you’re all set!

So a disposal bag that cost you 10 cents just kept your home smelling fresh and poopy free all day 😊

Invest in convertible items

If you’re looking to save money long term, look into buying baby essentials that can grow with your baby. Most baby items are “convertible” and all you need is a couple of extra parts to make them suitable for different stages of your baby’s life.

So instead of buying an infant car seat, a regular car seat, and a toddler booster seat, purchase a convertible car seat that has all 3. It’ll save you three times the money as well!

The same goes for convertible cribs and strollers too.

Download a FREE Newborn Essentials Checklist

Baby shopping can really make your head spin! Download this Free Newborn Essentials Checklist as an easy way to keep track of everything you need and everything you already have so you don’t forget anything in this article.

The checklist also includes an empty checklist template where you can create your own list!

Download the free newborn baby essentials checklist now

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Take the overwhelm out of prepping for your newborn’s arrival! Get the FREE Newborn Essentials Checklist when you join my Mom Life Insider Tribe (+receive weekly freebies and mom life tips!)

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Well there you have it!

I hope this list of newborn baby essentials will help you make the first 3 months at home with your baby as easy as possible….and sanity-saving 😊

With these newborn baby essentials, you’ll feel confident that you’re caring for your baby in the best and easiest way possible!

You got this, mama! ❤️

Read these other posts to help you care for your newborn easily!

Easy Newborn Routine to Accomplish Full Feedings & Healthy Sleep

9 Best Tips to Make Motherhood Easy with a Newborn

Bottle Feeding Tips to Reduce and Prevent Gas