Baby Tips

There is nothing worse than a sick baby!

When your little one’s nose is stuffy, eyes are puffy, and has a cough, then it’s time to jump into overdrive and try to do everything we can to make our baby feel better.

One of the BEST things to help my daughter feel better quicker is a steam bath. Trust me, a steam bath for baby is like a miracle!

A steam bath for baby is one of the best ways to help your baby get better from a cold and cough because it can:

• loosen up all of the “stuffed” mucus
• provide relief from clogged passages
• help them breathe easier
• and ultimately shortens the length of their cold and cough!

A win-win-win-win!

What is a steam bath?

A steam bath is when you make your bathroom nice and steamy so you can sit with your baby in the steam and let the steam loosen the clogged passageways.

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How to make a steam bath

You make a steam bath for baby (or any child!) by turning your shower on super-hot and let your bathroom steam up like a steam room. You sit with your baby in the steamed bathroom for 15-20 minutes with the door closed, and your baby’s cough and clogged nose will begin to loosen up! Let your baby breathe in the warm, saturated air. It’s so easy!

You do NOT touch the shower or the hot water. Do NOT put your baby in scalding hot water. You’re just using the hot water to create steam.

Pro Tip: I even started purchasing these essential oils and dropping them in the shower as the steam is going because it further opens up clogged passages!

To help you track your baby’s symptoms and progress, download my FREE Mommy & Me planner and baby tracker combo! Plan your tasks plus track your baby’s activities in ONE place!

Benefits of a steam bath for baby

Loosen up phlegm

One of the major contributors to a child’s cough and cold is phlegm.

Babies don’t know how to blow their noses or intentionally cough up excess phlegm as adults can do. Because of this, they just continue to suck in and all of that nasty mucus gets caught in their throat and chest.

The best way to loosen up and get rid of this trapped mucus is a steam bath for baby. The steam from the shower will begin to loosen the mucus and it will slowly drain from your child’s nose- riding it from their throat and chest!

Relieve the sinus pressure

A cold can bring about some crazy sinus pressure, especially when you have a sinus cold!

It feels like you have a heavyweight glued to your forehead and all the pressure builds up in your nose area.

When a baby feels this way, they tend to get very frustrated and agitated because they cannot relieve the pressure. A steam bath for baby helps relieves this sinus pressure because as the steam loosens the mucus it helps relieve the intense pressure that your child may be feeling!

BONUS: Don’t forget to grab the FREE Mommy & Me Planner to help you plan & track you and your baby’s day! CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD NOW!

Open clogged passages

As I mentioned, a steam bath for baby can loosen the mucus and phlegm that is stuck in your baby’s nose, throat, and chest. Because the mucus is being relived and is now draining because of the steam, it is opening the clogged passages that are making your baby “stuffy”.

A steam bath will reduce the stuffy nose and open up their passages to breathe easier! No more clogged and stuffy nose when your baby is eating! AND the steam works immediately so your baby’s next feeding should go so much smoother because your little one can breathe better!

Prevent further build-up

One of the reasons a baby is sick so long is because they cannot voluntarily get rid of mucus in their nose or cough out built up phlegm. Because a steam bath loosens all the mucus, relieves the sinus pressure and opens the clogged passages, it prevents further mucus build up.

So instead of having the music build up for days and days and wait for it to drain, you can sit with your baby in the steamy bathroom every night for 20 minutes and it can prevent any more mucus build-up!

Shorten the length of coughs and cold

I love the steam bath because it not only works immediately but it also essentially shortens the length of my baby’s cough and cold!

Because all of the mucus and pressure are being released and my baby;’ passages are being opened, it helps my daughter get over a cold in about 3-4 days, instead of 7-10 days!

Pro Tip: Once the bathroom is nice and steamy and the bathroom door is closed to keep the steam in, you can run your baby a bath with this awesome soothing, essential oil Epsom salt and have your baby sit in a warm bath with the surrounding steam! It works wonders!

Download the FREE Mommy & Me Planner & Baby Tracker

The easiest way to keep track of your baby’s symptoms and medications/ homeopathic remedies is to actually write them down!

To help you easily track your baby’s symptoms I created an awesome Baby Illness Tracker you can print and use every time your little one is sick!

It’s also a mommy planner/baby tracker combo that you can use every day to help make your day go as smoothly as possible.

Download the FREE Mommy & Me mini Planner Now!

So, there you have it! I absolutely love steam baths and every time my daughter has a cough or cold the steam baths immediately start to make her feel better! So if your baby is starting to get a little cough or stuffy nose know that a steam bath will help loosen their phlegm, relieve sinus pressure, open clogged passages, and shorten your baby’s cold!

Related articles to help your little one get better faster:

• How to Care For Your Sick Baby
• How to Keep Your Baby Healthy & Prevent Colds

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Please know that I am not a doctor or physician and I am not medically trained. All tips and advice given is based on my own experience and given to me by my own pediatrician. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact your doctor. This post is solely to offer encouragement from my experience and not designed to offer medical advice or treatment.

There is nothing worse than when your baby is sick. I mean, my heart melts at the very sound of my baby’s first faint cough and nose sniffle. While I love the Fall and Winter seasons, I also dread them because I know it’s prime “sick time”. And I absolutely hate when my little one has a baby cold. But I have found some REALLY awesome tips to keep your baby healthy during this cold and flu season. Hopefully, after this post, you’ll be prepared to face this season with the tools you need to keep your baby cold free and healthy!

The not-so-secret, super important keys to preventing a baby cold and keeping your baby healthy this season is to reduce the spread of germs and to give your baby immune boosting foods! I know, it sounds really cliché but ever since I started really focusing on reducing the spread of germs and keeping my daughter away from germs, I found that when other babies were getting sick, my daughter wasn’t.

I don’t want to overcomplicate this, so I’ll leave it at this: there are 2 keys to preventing your little one from getting a baby cold: 1) sanitize, sanitize, sanitize and 2) make sure that your baby is healthy- meaning, eating healthy and immune boosting foods.

I also created FREE Cold & Flu Prevention Ultimate Cheatsheets to help to keep your baby and family sick-free! The cheatsheets include a sample toddler meal plan to help you incorporate healthy, immune boosting foods in your baby’s diet, a BUNCH of tips to keep your house germ free, and a checklist of everyday essentials needed for a healthy environment! Download the Free Cold & Flu Prevention Cheatsheets now!

Trust me it works!! I have experienced it first-hand too! I have always prided myself on being able to keep my daughter healthy and reduce the risk of her getting sick. Of course, there are times when you can’t totally prevent your baby from getting sick because getting sick is normal and a part of life. But I have tried certain tips and tricks since my daughter was first born and I am relieved to admit that she has only caught a baby cold twice and has never had the flu.

I’m looking forward to continuing to use these tips for this upcoming cold and flu season and would love to share my tips with you!

Tips to Prevent a Baby Cold and Keep Your Baby Healthy this Season

This post contains affiliate links. Any purchases you make through these links, I will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you! Mastering Mom life is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. 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! 

As I mentioned before, the 2 key ways to preventing your little one from getting a baby cold are to sanitize and make sure your baby is eating healthy immune boosting foods. I have several tips to help you accomplish these keys so I wanted to easily list them below!

1. Sanitize:

I can’t stress enough how keeping things clean and sanitized can really help prevent sickness. I know some mothers who either think it’s too much work to clean things constantly, or that take sanitizing to another level and never let their baby touch anything. I don’t really believe in these 2 extremes and fall somewhere in the middle. I believe in keeping my baby’s environment as clean as possible, meaning I did everything I could to wipes down certain areas and clean toys that will be going in her mouth.

I obviously cannot clean EVERYTHING, but I feel better when I know I took certain precautions to make my baby’s environment clean and sanitized. It’s only logical for me to wipe down a chair that I just saw someone sneeze on- I mean who wouldn’t! So just trust your mom instincts and find a balance of cleanliness that works for you.

Here are the tips that I use on a regular basis to help me keep my baby healthy!

When you are out and about:

• Make sure your diaper bag is stocked with disinfectant (I always carry these Lysol Disinfecting On the Go Travel Wipes, and a Lysol Disinfectant Travel Spray)
• Clean down the changing area in public bathrooms with disinfectant wipes or spray
• Disinfect that changing pad after you use it and before you put it back in your diaper bag
• Keep an eye out for people with a cold and make sure to steer clear of them
• Wipe down all surfaces that your baby will be coming into continual contact with (such as tables, high chair, and shopping carts)
• Carry hand sanitizer for people who want to touch or pick up your baby
• Wash your hand whenever you get a chance and often
• Consistently clean your baby’s hands and face with a wipe
• Use your instincts!

For the Home:

• Clean down your baby’s toys at least once a week (I disinfect Baby L’s toys twice a week the Seventh Generation Disinfectant Spray because is it all natural and contains no bleach.)
• Change your baby’s sheets once a week
• Have everyone who comes in contact with your baby wash their hands when they enter your house
• Use Lysol Laundry Sanitizer once a week when you wash clothes
• Clean doorknobs throughout the house on a regular basis, especially when company is over

2. Eat Healthy, Immune Boosting Foods:

Another way to prevent a baby cold is to keep your baby healthy! I have to admit before I was a parent I thought that those moms who feed their baby specific foods were crazy. But man was I wrong! I didn’t realize how important it was to eat properly not because of weight gain, but because you want your body to be functioning at its best. And if I want that for myself, then I sure as heck want it even 100 times more for my baby!

So needless to say, if you’re feeding your baby vitamin-rich foods and keeping their immune system nice and strong then when sickness comes around the chances are that your baby may not even get sick or he will only get sick for a short amount of time. So here are the different immune boosting foods that can keep your baby healthy this season!

Prebiotics:

Prebiotics boost the useful bacteria in your baby’s body that defends the immune system from harmful bacteria. Foods with prebiotics naturally boost your baby’s immune system! Here are some foods with prebiotics that you can add to your toddler’s everyday meals:

• Bananas
• Tomatoes
• Asparagus

Iron:

Iron helps form hemoglobin, which is the protein in red blood cells that carry oxygen around the body. A lack of iron in babies can sometimes lead to an ineffective immune system. When your baby gets iron on a regular basis, you are helping them reduce immune infection! Here is some everyday food with iron:

• Whole grains
• Leafy, dark vegetables (spinach)
• Dried Fruit

Vitamin C:

Everyone knows about Vitamin C! Vitamin C helps white blood cells fight infection. It also protects cells and can keep your baby healthy, longer. Help boost your baby’s immune system by feeding them Vitamin C on a regular basis! Some popular food with Vitamin C is:

• Broccoli
• Sweet Potatoes
• Oranges
• Citrus fruit
• Kiwi
• Grapefruit

Vitamin A:

Vitamin A helps the antibodies and the purpose of the immune cells. High functioning immune cells help your baby stay healthy! Here are some foods with Vitamin A:

• Cheese
• Eggs
• Yogurt
• Carrots

Free Cold & Flu Prevention Ultimate Cheatsheets

Don’t forget to download your copy of the FREE Cold & Flu Prevention Ultimate Cheatsheets to help you prepare for this sick season! The Cheatsheets will help you add healthy, immune boosting foods in your baby’s everyday meals, give you tips and tricks to keep your baby and family sick-free this season, and I even include an essentials checklist! The Cold & Flu Prevention Cheatsheets is a 3 page printable that can be used for all families! Keep your family healthy with these super awesome tips and tricks! Download the Free Ultimate Cheatsheets now!

IF your baby gets sick….

As much as we can try to avoid our children getting a baby cold, it’s ultimately inevitable! If your little one does come down with a baby cold, I wrote all about the awesome tips that can help your baby shorten the length of the cold and recover faster! Be sure to check out my post Tips For Caring for Your Sick Baby.

You can also click the image below to read the post!

And there you have it! Remember, there are 2 keys to preventing your little one from getting a baby cold: 1) sanitize, sanitize, sanitize and 2) make sure that your baby is physically healthy- and eating healthy and immune boosting foods.

No one likes when their little one is sick with a baby cold. I hate to see my daughter sick and helpless so I always vow to prevent sickness from her as much as I can. I know it sounds crazy to always be cleaning and disinfecting everything, but trust me- you will be thanking yourself when everyone around you is sick except for your baby!

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Inside: Wondering what your 12-18 month old baby schedule should look like? Don’t worry! Read on to find out all of the 12-18 month old transitions and milestones!

In the blink of an eye, my little squirt went from crawling around the house to sprinting up and down my hallways, wreaking havoc on anything that got in her way. I chaotically entered the 12-18 month stage!

Is your sweet baby 12-18 months old already? So exciting! You may have noticed how much your little one has grown and changed over the past year. Watching your baby grow from a newborn to the beginning toddler stages is so precious.

It’s important to know as your baby continues to grow, their everyday schedule will begin to shift and change.

Having a sample 12-18 month old baby schedule can help you follow a schedule that not only works for you but is tailored to your baby’s growth and enhances their milestones and transitions.

Your baby’s schedule will go through several changes as your baby completes different transitions. There are 2 pertinent transitions:

• feeding transitions: when your baby eats more or less of a type of food or liquids
• nap transitions: when your baby starts to sleep longer during certain naps and begins to drop another nap

This sample 12-18 month old baby schedule has tremendously helped me when my daughter was in transition stages because it allowed me to see what stage of growth she was in so I could assist her and make those transitions easier for her.

Having this schedule also helped me track her milestones because as the schedule slightly changed, I was able to see her growth based on the changes she made in her daily schedule.

(If you are thinking to yourself, “why does my baby even need a schedule?” then be sure to check out this post that will explain the importance and benefits of a schedule for your baby: “Why a Schedule For Your Baby Is So Important”).

Okay so let’s get down to the 12-18 month old baby schedule!

12-18 Month Old Baby Schedule

Please know that I am not a doctor or physician and I am not medically trained. All tips and advice given is based on my own experience and given to me by my own pediatrician. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact your doctor. This post is solely to offer encouragement from my experience and not designed to offer medical advice or treatment. You can read Mastering Mom Life’s full disclosure, disclaimer, and terms here. 

7:15-8:00 am Wake

• Your day will start at the time your baby normally wakes. My daughter sleeps 11-12 hours through the night depending on the day so this is around the time that she normally wakes up.
• As soon as she wakes up I sing her a little good morning song to get her smiling and then change her diaper.

7:45-8:15 am First Feeding

• At the one year mark, your baby can start drinking cow’s milk (see your pediatrician before making the switch) so at 12 months old we began to introduce cow’s milk. We started in increments and began with 25% cow’s milk/75% formula then 50%/50%.
• At 13 months she drank a 6-ounce bottle with 75% cow’s milk/25% formula and by the end of 13 months, she was fully on cow’s milk.
• At 15 months this first feeding was considered Baby L’s breakfast. I would feed her a bowl of plain Cheerios with a side of fruit. Then she would have a 4-ounce bottle. (After 18 months she should be weaned from this morning bottle)

I know some parents have their baby completely weaned from the bottle by 12 months. This is personally not my approach and taking the bottle away from my daughter that soon was not something that worked well.

Be sure to do what works best for YOU and YOUR BABY! Work on weaning as it flows best for you and remember to talk to your pediatrician if you are unsure of what to do or when.

8:45-11:00 am Playtime

• At 12 months old after breakfast, I began to sit with Baby L and read her 2 books. I would read with her every morning before she turned 1 but as she is getting older she is getting more involved with reading my turning pages and running her finger along with words and pictures. I continue to read with her every morning. I usually read from 9-9:30 am.

• At 13 months old I began to teach her “blanket time”. This is where I sit down on the floor with her on a blanket and we play together. This is teaching her to stay on the blanket as she plays so eventually I can teach her to independently play while she is on the blanket and I know she won’t run and get into something she isn’t supposed to.

“Blanket time” comes in handy when you need to do the dishes or fold clothes and you know your baby will be playing on his/her blanket.

• At 15 months old she was successfully playing at “blanket time” by herself and would stay on her blanket for about 15 minutes!

• At 16 months old Baby L would play with me, then independently, then in the living, then in her room. By 18 months she was fully playing with blocks, books, building boxes and so much more! Having this playtime really allowed her to grow and teach herself new things!

10:00 am Morning Nap

• At 13 months old, Baby L transitioned out of her morning nap. When she did take this nap, she did not have any food before she went down to nap and slept for about 45 minutes.

• If your baby is still showing tired cues at morning playtime then your baby may still be taking the morning nap. That is perfectly fine!

• Some signs to look for that your baby is transitioning out of this nap: sleeping longer in the night and waking up a little later, starts crying when you put them down and they did not do this before, they do not show tired cues.

Don’t forget your nap routine! If you want to read more on the awesome benefits of a nap routine, read my post “The Importance of a Nap Routine.”

11:00 am Second Feeding

• At 12 months old I made “breakfast” foods at this time for Baby L since she was eating only her milk at the first feeding. I would make a meal schedule at the beginning of the week and just follow the plan. It was easier for me to make a meal plan so every day I didn’t have to think “umm what should she eat today?”.

Organizing her meals made life easier for me! Some foods she ate included: eggs, pancakes, oatmeal, French toast, peanut butter toast, etc.

• At 15 months old when she started eating food for her first feeding, this feeding was heartier and was more of a Brunch than just a straight up lunch. I always started this feeding with fruit, usually bananas, strawberries, blueberries, or cantaloupe.

Related Reading

If you’re having trouble knowing if your baby is full be sure to check out my post “Feeding to Get Your Baby Full” so you can know your baby’s hunger cues. A full feeding is vital for a good nap!

11:30 am/12:00 pm Nap

• At 12 months old, Baby L was drinking a 6-ounce bottle with her second feeding before this nap.
• At 13 months old, this nap became her only nap of the “morning”. I call it morning because it’s easy to get confused if you call it afternoon if your baby is still taking an afternoon nap.
• When Baby L was taking an early morning nap at 10am this nap started at 12:30/1:00pm and was not too long (maybe 1 hour).
• After about 14 months old, if your baby has dropped the 10am nap then this nap will get longer and your baby will sleep for about 1.5-2 hours.
• Around 16 months old is when I started to wean and begin to drop this 4-ounce bottle.
• Remember to do your nap routine for each nap that your baby has!

BONUS: Download the FREE 12-18 Month Old Baby Schedule so you follow the perfect schedule and create your own awesome baby schedule! Click here to get it now!

2:30 pm Third Feeding

• At 12 months old, your baby will wake up from the nap and want to eat. Baby L would normally eat a 4-ounce bottle at this time.
• At 13 months old, when your baby is drinking a full bottle in the first feeding and the second feeding is breakfast, then this feeding is lunch.
• At 14/15 months old when your baby has transitioned out of the full morning bottle and is eating solids for the first and second feedings, then this feeding becomes a snack.
• After 15 months old this feeding is just a snack, like fruit, yogurt, oatmeal, etc.

3:30-5:00 pm Playtime

• This is more downtime and activity time for your baby to be developing their senses and activities! Sometimes I take a long walk to get Baby L outside.

Or if you have a yard then you can play outside. Or if you have to run an errand you can take your baby out for a drive. The sky is the limit for things to do with your baby!

The beauty about knowing your baby’s schedule is that you can anticipate what they need and when so if you have a few hours that you know your baby is content, fed and well rested then use those hours and do something that YOU need or want to do!

After all, it’s so important to still focus on yourself as a mom!

5:30 pm Fourth Feeding

• At 12/13 months old this feeding is a light dinner.
• After about 14 months old and your baby is eating a full breakfast, lunch, with a snack in the afternoon, this meal becomes full dinner!

6:00 pm Cat Nap

• At 12 months old, your baby may still be taking the late afternoon/early evening nap. Depending on what time your baby’s bedtime is, this nap will be very short.

But some babies still need this nap because it would be 4 hours after they woke up from their last nap. One of my baby schedule principles was for my baby to be up for no longer than 4 hours at a time.

But now that your baby is getting older, they will be up for longer stretches of time but also sleep for a longer amount of time.

• Around 15 months old, Baby L started dropping this nap. This nap was the last to be dropped, followed by the first morning nap. After this nap is dropped, your baby will only be napping that once after the second feeding.

• Even at 18 months old, if your baby had a long, busy day your baby may need a nap around this time! Just because a nap may be “dropped doesn’t mean that it’s impossible for your baby to take this nap every once in a blue moon.

Be sure to look for tired cues and follow your baby’s lead!

7:30-8:30 pm Bedtime/Last Feeding

• Remember to have your bedtime routine before every nighttime sleep!

• If your baby is still taking that last cat nap then your baby’s bedtime will be more towards 8:30ish. At 12 months, I started Baby L’s bedtime routine around 7:45pm and she had her last 8-ounce bottle at 8:30pm.

• If your baby had dropped that last nap then your baby will be ready for bed around 7:30pm. At 16 months when that last nap was dropped, I started Baby L’s nap routine around 6:45 and she had her last 8-ounce bottle at 7:30pm.

• Baby L started to sleep 7-8 hours through the night at 8 weeks old! This was made possible because started her on a daily schedule at 6 weeks and began a nap routine and bedtime routine at 6 weeks as well.

By 6 months Baby L was sleeping about 10-11 hours through the night!

Tip About Night Time Sleep

Remember, the length of time your baby sleeps at night will be affected by how long their naps are and the overall daily schedule they have. To ensure the best long lasting sleep effects, be sure to have your baby on a daily schedule that is working for you and your baby, and that they are accomplishing full feedings and full naps.

These factors will greatly increase the consistency of your baby’s nighttime sleep!

And there you have it! This is a sample 12-18 month baby schedule!

Free 12-18 Month Old Baby Schedule

I created this Ultimate 12-18 Month Sample Schedule in an accessible format for you to print out and follow daily!

This Ultimate Schedule has extra details about when to start nap transitioning and bottle weaning in these 6 months as well. Instead of worrying about all the different schedules, transitions and weaning’s, spend more time focusing on playing with your baby because you have this master schedule!

As a bonus for downloading the ultimate schedule, you also get a free Create Your Own Daily Schedule Template.

That way, you can “follow” the sample schedule but also have somewhere to track your baby’s individual, unique schedule that will be specifically for your baby! After all, that’s what you REALLY want to accomplish- creating a schedule with and for your baby that works best for them and enhances their growth.

You won’t want to miss these 2 awesome resources!

Get Your Free Ultimate 12-18 Month Baby Schedule and Schedule Template Now!

Remember, having a schedule for your baby doesn’t mean that you are confined in every minute of the day. Having a schedule allows you to anticipate your baby’s needs and know what they need and when!

Don’t let a schedule box you in and make you feel like you have to be at home all day. As long as your baby is getting full feedings, is napping well and is playing productively that you are going to have a good day!

I hope I was able to help you see the stages of growth and transitions that your baby will be experiencing in this new stage of life by showing you my sample 12-18 month old baby schedule.

Don’t chaotically enter the 12-18 month stage– embrace this new season with expectation knowing that you prepared!

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Related Reading

Does your baby just cry during naps?? Don’t worry! Keep reading to find out the easy steps you can do to prevent your baby from crying so they can have an amazing nap!

It took me a while to finally master putting my baby down for naps. Make sure you don’t make the same mistakes I did! I’d love to share with you my tips and tricks to help your baby accomplish a successful nap.

Since this post is about what to do when your baby just cries during naps, I recommend you read “How to Start a Nap Schedule with Your Baby” first.

This way, you can get accustomed to the nap schedule that I am talking about in this post. If you have already read that post, great! Let’s talk about what to do when your baby just cries during naps.

If you’re baby just cries during naps don’t worry because there are things that you can do to help figure out why this is happening, how you can prevent it, and how to help your baby nap better. We’ll talk about all of these things!

To better help you if your baby just cries during naps, we’re going to discuss the following topics in my step by step guide:

• How to Put Your Baby Down for A Nap
• What to Do if Your Baby Just Cries During Naps
• How to Figure Out Why your Baby is Just Crying
• How to Prevent Your Baby from Just Crying During Naps

The Step by Step Guide to for What to Do When Your Baby Just Cries During Naps:

Step 1: Start a Nap Routine

How to Put your Baby Down for a Nap

Before we can access why your baby just cries during naps, its best to go over the routine to put your baby down for a nap. Most times, a baby is crying during naps because they either were not ready to sleep, they are used to falling asleep doing something else, or they are uncomfortable. (We’ll get more into how to prevent crying during naps in a minute.)

I find that most parents’ issue is resolved when they start an effective nap routine with their baby. This routine is done every time your baby goes down for a nap. In your nap schedule, you will be adding this routine before each nap. This nap routine can be used for babies of all ages (just tweaked a bit to accommodate their age).

So what does that routine look like?

Get My FREE Sample Nap Routine so you can start a nap routine that actually works!

This sample is a solid nap routine. Not only does this nap routine help my baby take a successful nap, but it also helped my baby start sleeping 8 hours through the night at 8 weeks old!

Keep in mind that it does NOT happen overnight, but it takes time for your routine to be established. That is why I recommend following a nap schedule so within that schedule at every nap time you are doing your same routine. After a week or so- you should see the benefits of the routine and your baby sleeping during naps consistently.

Step 2: Choose What to do When your baby is crying

It is VERY possible that after you complete this routine and put your baby down that they can begin to cry. Here are a couple of options that you have and techniques that I have personally used.

• Option 1: Soothing Technique

If your baby starts to cry, offer them a soothing technique such as a pacifier or their favorite blanket. (Do not worry about them getting attached to something right away. Your goal at this point is to accomplish a nap- your next goal can be weaning them off of soothing technique when they are ready.)

A soothing technique is just to soothe them- it is NOT a sleeping prop. A sleep-prop is something that the baby cannot sleep without. There are some soothing techniques that can turn into a sleep prop- such as your baby will refuse to fall asleep without a pacifier.

At this point, if your baby is still young and a newborn, do not worry about your pacifier turning into a sleep prop. Take things one step at a time.

If you’re worried about sleep props, try to avoid your baby only napping in things that auto vibrate or auto swing. If your baby falls asleep in one that’s fine- but do not make it a part of their specific nap routine.

• Option 2: Stay in the Baby’s Room but out of sight and sing or shush

I have done this a NUMBER of times. As soon as I put my daughter down to nap and she began to cry I would stay in the room out of sight and begin to sing softly. Sometimes I would sing and sometimes I would just do a soft shushing sound.

Your baby may just be so used to being with you that when they get put down to nap they instantly miss you being there and the comfort you bring. If they can hear your soft and quiet voice then it can calm them down and allow them to drift into sleep. You may have to do this a couple of times. (See bullet point below about how long to do the soothing technique.)

• Combination of 1 and 2

You can certainly combine both options. If your baby begins to cry you can offer her a soothing technique and then remain in the room out of sight. If your baby continues to cry then offer him a soothing technique again. If your baby is still crying, then remain out of sight and start to quietly sing or shush.

Now, they should have their pacifier (or other soothing technique you choose) and will be hearing your voice. This should help them feel comforted enough to go to sleep.

Like I mentioned in Option 2, this may take a couple of cycles before your baby actually falls asleep. That’s ok, just remember it will get better after you begin to consistently implement the routine. Eventually, your baby will fall asleep and settle themselves.

If your baby is still starting to cry a couple of minutes after you leave, I suggest adding another minute to your waiting after each time you go in to soothe her. This way, your baby isn’t getting used to you going in there every 5 seconds.

• Option 3: Figure Out What Is Wrong

After you have tried options 1 and 2 with no improvement, then it’s time to figure out exactly what is wrong and why your baby is just crying during naps. I would recommend trying soothing options first and if there is no improvement then it’s time to access a little further why this is happening.

Most of the time parents immediately jump to “Oh my gosh what is wrong with my baby?!” instead of giving the nap routine and the soothing options any time for there to be an improvement. But what we DON’T want is for your baby just to perpetually cry.

Unless you prefer the “cry it out method”, I would recommend trying to figure out what is preventing your baby from napping. This is Step 3.

• How long do you let your baby cry until you do the soothing technique?

If my baby started to cry as soon as I put my daughter down to nap I would wait about 30 seconds to see if she settled herself. If she continued to cry, then I would use the soothing technique.

If she settled down and then started to cry again, I would wait another minute and then go in again to offer her the pacifier. If she started to cry again then I would wait 2 minutes until I went in. if she cried again then I would wait 4 minutes.

After every time, I would add 2 minutes of waiting so I could give her time to settle herself. You may have to do this a couple of times until your baby finally goes to sleep. That is the nature of the nap routine- it will get better with time.

The key is consistency! Also, do not soothe right away in a way that your baby now expects you to run to him every time he cries. The goal is for him to go to sleep, not expect you to come every time he cries.

Step 3: Figure out Why Your Baby Just Cries During Naps

Remember, if your baby is fully fed, has had activity time, is up to their nap in their daily schedule and is showing tired cues then your baby should be going to sleep.

If you already did steps 1 and 2 thoroughly then it’s time to start figuring out why your baby just cries during naps. Here are a few reasons why this could be happening. (Be sure to read them carefully and honestly access which reasons could be happening.)

• Baby is used to being held or rocked to sleep in arms:

One main reason your baby is crying can be that they want to be picked up. I know this sounds super obvious but if your baby is used to be being picked up and being held to sleep then he isn’t going to be happy about the fact that he now has to sleep in his crib.

If you find yourself always rocking your baby to sleep then it could be a major contributing factor as to why she isn’t sleeping. She may be tired but can’t sleep without you holding her because that’s what she is USED to. Remember, babies thrive on schedules and routines so if this was part of their sleep routine then this is what they are used to.

• Baby is used to being rocked to sleep:

Being rocked to sleep is different than being held and rocked to sleep. Some babies are used to being specifically in a rocker. Rockers can definitely turn into a sleep prop. Don’t get me wrong, I really loved our rocker. It was a safe place to put Baby L when she was a newborn and I had to get things done around the house or even just jump into the shower. Rockers can be great!

But rockers can also be dangerous. If your baby is just used to being in a rocker then they will have a hard time being in something else. Like anything, an excess of something can be dangerous. If you are only putting your baby in the rocker for everything all day then they will only be used to the rocker, especially when they sleep.

• Baby is used to being in another sleeping area:

Sometimes your baby is used to being in another sleeping area or is not used to their crib. For example, if you have been co-sleeping or if your baby has been sleeping in a nestled bassinet then they might have a hard time transitioning to the spacious crib.

This can just be a transition adjustment. If you strengthen your nap routine and go through the soothing techniques, over time your baby will acclimate to their crib. See the steps above to help the transition go as smooth as possible.

• Baby is still hungry:

As parents, sometimes we can overcomplicate things. If your baby is still just crying during naps then is quite possible that they are still hungry. If you haven’t read my post on “Knowing Your Baby’s Full Feeding Schedule- Accomplishing the Full Feeding” then I really recommend you check it out.

In short, when your baby has not had a full feeding (feeding to be full) it can disrupt their whole schedule including their sleep. I encourage you to read my full feeding post and access if this is what is happening with your baby.

If you find that THIS is the reason why your baby just cries during naps then the solution is easy- increase their feeding by your pediatricians recommended amount. All babies grow and develop at different rates so don’t be discouraged!

• Baby is uncomfortable:

Always check to see if your baby is comfortable. I know it sounds really simple but in reality, it is! Double check your baby’s mattress, clothes, and the area where they are sleeping. Is it too cold? Too hot? Too humid? Too dry? Is your baby congested? DO they have gas? It can be anything! Just like us- we get uncomfortable, and so can your baby!

If your baby’s room is too dry then I would suggest a cool mist humidifier. It can help your baby breathe easier, sleep better, and help with dry skin as well.

If your baby is uncomfortable, try the swaddle! It can work miracles! Babies like to feel nestled and snuggled so this can be a lifesaver for when they sleep.

If your baby has gas, start to track what your baby is eating and figure out if something is making them gassy. If you are breastfeeding you may have to change your diet or eliminate something you are eating.

Make sure your baby is always going to sleep with a clean diaper, clean clothes, and remember to remove any tags and plastic from the clothes. You’d be surprised what can keep a baby up. Especially since they cannot properly communicate what they are feeling!

• Baby has colic:

If you have tried all of these things and still are finding that your baby is crying at the same time every day for a long time then it is time to consider colic. Colic is diagnosed when the baby cries for more than 3 hours, more than 3 days a week, for more than 3 weeks. I know, no one ever wants to hear that their baby has colic!

Start to track when your baby cries and for how long. I recommend tracking everything your baby does the whole day. That way you get a better look at what times the crying begins. You can also track what they are eating and when and see if it has any correlation to the crying. If this is the case, talk to your pediatrician!

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>> There you have it!! The Step by Step Guide to helping your baby if she just cries during naps!

Remember, all of these steps take time and most of all dedication. It will be hard work some days, mostly for you, but keep pressing on and keep to those schedules and routines. After a couple of days and weeks, you WILL see the benefit and the positive results of your hard work.

Be sure to keep track of everything- your baby’s daily schedule, nap times, and feeding times. This will immensely help you! If you want to see what my baby’s daily schedule looks like check out my post “What my Baby’s Daily Schedule Looks Like”.

Keep in mind that the schedule will change as your baby grows!

Just because I am writing this post do not think by any means that I “have it all together”. I have learned these tips from A LOT of hard days and sleepless nights. I have tried a million things in trial and error and these are the things that have helped me get through the rough days and the naps where all Baby L did was cry. Do not lose your faith- do not give up!

Don’t forget to Get Your Free Nap Routine Now!

Have you had any success with these steps? Do you have any tips of your own? Feel free to share in the comments below!

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There’s nothing better than knowing that you can take your newborn baby home after delivery! Sometimes there are complications that arise after your baby is born and jaundice can definitely be one of them. I personally went through my baby showing levels of jaundice the day we were set to go home. So how do you care for your newborn baby discharged with jaundice?

It’s important to ask your doctors for specific instructions for what you have to do, what signs to look for in case things get worse, and what signs to look for that your baby is getting better It’s very important to make sure you feel confident knowing you can take care of your baby.

Please know that I am not a doctor or physician and I am not medically trained. All tips and advice given is based on my own experience and given to me by my own pediatrician. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact your doctor. This post is solely to offer encouragement from my experience and not designed to offer medical advice or treatment.

What is jaundice?

Jaundice is a very common condition in newborn babies that takes place because the baby’s liver is still immature. Your baby’s liver is trying to get rid of bilirubin, the substance in red blood cells that builds up in the blood after your baby is born. When bilirubin levels become high, it can negatively affect the growth of your baby’s brain and nervous system. The doctors will see signs of high levels of bilirubin because babies will begin to turn yellow. To diagnose your baby with jaundice, doctors will check for the level of bilirubin. There are different levels of jaundice (caused by different levels of bilirubin).

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My Experience:

My baby did not have alarmingly high levels of bilirubin but she did have higher levels than normal. When Baby L was born she was sent to a care unit because she needed to be put on antibiotics for 2 days. On the last night before I was set to go home with her, the nurses informed me that Baby L was turning a shade of yellow and they needed to check her levels of bilirubin. The test came back in the morning and she was borderline medium/high so the doctor’s thought they would have to keep for her another day. I was supposed to be discharged at 11 am but I chose to wait until 5 pm to see if she was improving so I could take her home with me.

At 2 pm the doctors informed me that they did not see signs of improvement but that I would be able to take her home only if I scheduled an appointment with her pediatrician for the next day. They gave me a packet of discharge information but did not specifically tell me what to do concerning jaundice. At that point, my newborn baby was discharged with jaundice. As a new mom, I was so worried that I wouldn’t know what to do and I was worried about my daughter’s health.

So, the next day at Baby L’s pediatrician appointment, the pediatrician gave me great tips for helping my baby. The pediatrician also conducted a blood test specifically to check the levels of jaundice so she could see if the levels went down. She also gave me the confidence I needed in myself to know that I was able to take care of Baby L.

Tips To Helped your Newborn Baby Discharged with Jaundice

1- Listen to doctor’ instructions:

If you have a newborn baby discharged with jaundice it’s so important to follow the doctor’s instructions. Do not leave the doctor’s office without clear instruction and knowledge of the situation. Yes, you can always call the doctor’s office but I find it better when I ask questions in person and receive the full explanation in a way that I can understand. I always find it helpful to have the doctor write down or print anything that I am supposed to do.

2- Be aware of worsening signs:

When you have a newborn baby discharged with jaundice you need to be aware of worsening signs. In line with listening to your doctor’s instructions is to make sure you know the signs to be aware of if the jaundice is worsening. My doctor told me to watch for the color of yellow spreading throughout my baby’s body. If the yellow spreads make sure to contact your doctor. The yellow will usually spread from the eyes to the face, to the skin, to the arms, and then to the feet. Be sure to ask your doctor what signs you should be looking for.

3- Know the signs of improvement:

When you have a newborn baby discharged with jaundice knowing signs of improvement is just as important as knowing worsening signs. I love to know what signs of improvement I should be looking for because it gives me hope that things will get better. One of the signs that my pediatrician told me to look for that shows Baby L was improving from jaundice was the return of her natural skin color. When the yellowness was beginning to fade is when I felt a wave of relief.

4- Practice Doctor’s instructions:

It’s easy to know your doctor’s instructions but it’s different to actually practice the instructions. One of the instructions for healing jaundice was to make sure your baby was breastfeeding as much as possible because the bilirubin is removed from the body through the baby’s stool.  So it was suggested for me to breastfeed 8-10 times in a 24 hour period. At the time, I was breastfeeding during the day (and pumping) and supplementing with formula in the evening.

(I was going through my own struggles with breastfeeding so I needed to make sure Baby L was still eating as often as she should be to produce stool steadily). If you are bottle feeding, make sure to ask your doctor how many bottles or how many ounces you should be feeding your baby.

Another important instruction was to put Baby L in the window with as much natural light as possible. If it was possible, even take a walk with her and get natural direct sunlight. The pediatrician said natural sunlight helps reduce the yellowness in the skin and helped reduce the levels of bilirubin. (I never researched this for myself- I just listened to my amazing pediatrician and it definitely helped Baby L quickly improve!)

Make sure to actually practice what the doctor instructs you to do. if you feel that it is something that you are unable to do then speak up and be honest. Do not be afraid or intimidated- you are your baby’s caregiver and parent so you are entitled to speaking your mind and asking for clear instructions.

5- Document signs/symptoms:

The doctor didn’t tell me to do this but I did it out of my own motivation. I wanted to make sure that I remembered how my daughter was progressing and kept track of when she was passing stool and how it looked. This came in handy because there was a day that she turned a little yellow again and when I called the doctor they asked me if I had any memory of what her past 3 stools looked like. If I didn’t write this down I would have never remembered.

As a new mom, your body goes through so much healing and your mind can easily get tired. Don’t put too much strain on yourself to have to remember everything. Just write everything down and keep track of how your baby is doing daily and it will give you peace of mind!

6- Follow Up With Your Doctor:

Be sure to follow up with your doctor accordingly. Sometimes doctor’s will not call you back right away with the bilirubin test results so you may have to call. Your doctor may also tell you to keep an eye on certain symptoms or signs and call them if anything worsens, gets better, or if you have questions. Know that you can take them up on this! Do not be afraid or shy to call your doctor if you have any questions!

If you feel like you cannot properly explain your baby’s signs or symptoms over the phone then do not be afraid to ask if you can bring your baby in for an emergency appointment. I’ve done all of these things countless times and even though I was afraid of looking like a worried mother, the peace of mind it gave me far outweighed my shyness.

How you may be feeling:

Like I mentioned before, you are going through a lot as a new mom. Your body just produced the miracle of life and you are certainly healing from it. Each mother goes through different delivery experiences and different strains, difficulties, and tears. On top of your body physically healing you may be figuring out breastfeeding, latching, deciding whether to formula feed or trying to pump. As mothers, we go through A LOT after labor and delivery. It’s totally normal and definitely more than fine to not feel 100%. In fact, no one expects you to feel 100%.

Because you’re experiencing all of that, having your baby diagnosed with jaundice can definitely send you into a crazy spin! Just remember to take one day at a time. I would even dare say to take it one HOUR at a time. Keep in mind that you need to heal properly so make sure to be taking care of yourself too!

When the nurses told me that my daughter was being taken in to get her bilirubin tested I thought I was going to pass out. Then when they told me she was going to have to stay longer until her bilirubin levels went down I certainly thought I was going to faint. The nurses had to send me to my room so I can lay down- that’s how worried I was!

Of course, some new mothers could have handled this better and maybe some people thought I wasn’t “strong enough” to handle it- but at that moment I couldn’t even fathom the thought of my precious new baby girl going through anything that was going to cause her discomfort or pain.

As a new mom- this is totally normal! Remember, take it one day, one hour, one minute at a time! Be sure not to fall down the rabbit hole of comparing yourself to other mothers!

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I designed the planner to help you:

• Easily plan your days, weeks, months, and even year so you can clearly see your schedule at a whole!
• Focus on your day to day tasks, including to-do lists, appointments and chores so you never forget to do anything!
• Track your baby’s feedings, including how much they ate and what they ate so you never have to forget what they ate
• Track your baby’s naps so you can see how long your baby is napping and at what time. This helps you create a nap routine that can help your baby sleep longer and consistently!
• Plan your workout times and even track your water intake!
• Set goals for yourself and your baby so you can accomplish new milestones together!
• Ultimately plan and track you and your baby’s day to day schedule in an easy way!

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I hope my experience with a newborn baby discharged with jaundice helps you and your family! Remember, it’s important to ask your doctors for specific instructions for what you have to do, what signs to look for in case things get worse, what signs to look for that your baby is getting better, and very important to make sure you feel confident knowing you can take care of your baby.

You can do this!!!

Have any of your babies every been discharged with jaundice? Feel free to share your experience in the comments!

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Having a schedule for your baby is so important! We talk more about the awesome reasons to have a schedule for your baby here (Why Having a Baby Schedule is Important). But what if you’re totally convinced that you need a daily schedule for your baby and have no idea what it should look like??

Question Answered! Here is a sample daily schedule for your baby that I used for Baby L from birth. I adjusted the activities and times as she grew and took away some naps and feedings as she got older.

Want a place to track your baby’s daily schedule?? I’m here to help! I created a Daily Baby Schedule Template for you to write down all of your baby’s feedings, naps, and activities. Having a place to easily track your baby’s day is a HUGE help when you’re trying to figure out your baby’s daily schedule, nap schedule, and feeding schedule.

My Daily Baby Schedule is super flexible and easy to use because all you have to do is plug in the what activity your baby is doing at what time and for how long and you’re done! Be sure to download your copy of my free Daily Baby Schedule Template!

I’m not going to use specific times in this daily schedule but just specify activities so you can accurately use this as a template for your daily schedule. The time of the schedule also doesn’t matter because it will change from day to day depending on when your baby wakes up and starts their first initial activity of the day. We want to focus on each activity and length in between each one. Not exactly focusing on the exact clock time of the activity.

Important Schedule Tip: You want to be feeding your baby around every 3 hours and having no more than 2-2.5 hours in between each nap. Following the length of time between each activity is what will help you create your schedule- not the clock time.

(For those of you are interested in times, I will include times in parenthesis in case you wonder how the schedule timeline is). I suggest writing down everything your baby did during the day, documenting when they woke, when they ate, how much they ate, how long they are sleeping and so on.

Sample Daily Schedule:

Morning

• Wake: Baby wakes in the morning. If your baby is still waking for an early morning feeding and going back to sleep, that’s fine! Just add that to your schedule first. (Wakes at 7:00 – 7: 30 am.)

• Feeding: Baby should eat a full feeding. You can read more on full feedings here. (Starts feeding between 7:45 – 8:00  am.)

• Playtime: Play for a small amount of time or read a morning book until baby shows tired cues (rubbing eyes, yawning). This is usually no more than 45 minutes in my experience. Use this time to set a schedule for what you would like to do every morning with your little one. Make sure its time you have together, good body and eye contact so you can continue to bond. (Activity time from 8:30 – 9:00 am.)

• Nap: Put baby down for a nap. Take note of how long baby naps so you can see if there is a pattern for the next couple of days. This will help you with your nap schedules. (We talk more about nap schedules here). This nap is also the second to be dropped when your baby is about 10-12 months old. When this nap is dropped the next nap will get longer. Another side note for nap times- I never let Baby L be up for more than 2-2.5 hours. I find this is the optimum time between naps for her to have time to play and still be tired enough to nap but not overtired. (Start nap routine at 9:15 am.)

Mid-Morning

• Wake/Feeding: Depending on your baby’s age, this is the feeding that usually solids are introduced. It serves as their “brunch” but does not substitute milk. (Your baby will sleep between 45 minutes to an hour so wake time will be around 10:00 – 10:20 am and each feeding is about 3 hours apart.)

• Playtime: Feel free to insert here what you would like your baby to be doing. Maybe it’s time on a play mat or a swing. Or maybe its tummy time or time you play together. Maybe it’s a combination of everything. You can also mix things up and do one day a week a different activity. Be creative! Make sure to check for hunger cues like you did in the morning. (This playtime is usually a little longer than the first activity of the morning. I usually start this playtime activity around 10:30 –  10:45 am.)

• Nap: Put baby back down for a nap. Be sure to continue to take note of how long she sleeps. (I start the nap routine roughly 2 hours after the last nap routine, which is around 11:45 am – 12:00 pm.)

Early Afternoon

• Wake/Feeding: If your baby is old enough for solids this feeding is usually still all milk and they do not eat solids at this meal time. (I start feeding my baby around 12:45 – 1:00 pm.)

• Playtime: Another opportunity to include some sort of activity. Maybe this is the time you want to take your baby out for a walk or playtime in the park. Or maybe you want to run errands. Don’t feel boxed into staying home to follow the schedule by the minute. Do something you and baby can enjoy together! (Playtime is 1:30 – 2:30 pm.)

• Nap Time: Put baby back down for a nap. Be sure to continue to take note of how long she sleeps. (I start my nap routine again at 2:45 – 3:00 pm.)

Afternoon

• Wake/Feeding: If your baby is on solids then this meal is considered “dinner”. Or if your baby is on a combo of milk and solids then you can feed him milk first then use the activity time as the mealtime sitting int he high chair at the table. (This time can be anywhere around 4:00 – 4:30 pm.)

• Playtime: Usually the baby’s mealtime is incorporated into this activity. Maybe you want to sit at the table and eat dinner together as a family activity. It’s great to introduce baby to table time as a family. Simply pull up your baby’s high chair or seat to the table! (This is usually around 5:00-5:30 pm.)

• Nap: Depending on how old your baby is, this nap may be a short cat nap or this usually one of the firsts to drop. When this nap is shorter or dropped, your baby’s bedtime will most likely be a little earlier. Knowing your baby’s cues comes in handy here! (If your baby is still taking this nap then it will be a short cat nap starting somewhere around 6:00 pm.)

Evening

• Night Time Routine: Having a night time routine that you do every night before your baby goes to bed is very beneficial. Doing the same thing every night before your baby goes to sleep helps your baby understand that it is time for nighttime sleep, which is different than naptime sleep. Nighttime sleep will begin to stretch longer and longer as your baby grows. (If your baby is still taking that last cat nap then they will be up around 6:45 pm and have a little activity.

You can begin the bedtime routine during this activity such as a bath or reading books together. If your baby is still taking the last nap then the naptime routine will start at around 8:00 pm. if your baby is transitioning and dropping that last nap then the bedtime routine will begin at 7:30 pm.)

• Feeding: This is the “last” feeding of the day. If your baby is still waking for a midnight “dream feed”, that’s fine! Usually, this is considered the last feeding of the day that the baby is fully awake until the next day where your schedule starts all over again.

• Down for the night! (I followed this schedule from the first month since my daughter was born and she was sleeping 9-11 hours through the night by 4 months old!)

Be mindful that your baby’s times for this schedule will change based on their age!

As I mentioned above, be aware that your baby may not follow an exact “time” each day in their schedule. Your schedule will be different some days based on what time your baby woke up in the morning. Don’t get too hung up on the time factor of the schedule- the goal is to follow the full feeding and nap schedule, which should be eating around every 3 hours and being awake for 2-2,5 hours in between naps. If you are following that pattern on a daily schedule then your baby will be good to go!

As you can see above, your overall schedule will consist of 2 different schedules- a feeding and nap schedule. To find information on How To Know Your Baby’s Feeding Schedule, click here. If you need information on How To Start Your Baby on a Nap Schedule, click here.

Don’t forget to download your copy of my free Daily Baby Schedule Template so you can track your baby’s feedings, naps, and activities for yourself! Track all of your baby’s activities on one sheet- simply print out a new one each day or print out one and use it as a dry erase sheet by laminating it or putting it inside of a frame!

I created the Baby Daily Schedule so you can create your own schedule. I know how difficult it is to try to follow someone else’s schedule and after trying to follow someone else’s schedule for a few weeks, it just wasn’t working for me. So started from scratch and simply wrote down everything my baby did each day for a week. Then I tracked the following 2 weeks and saw an amazing pattern that ultimately became my baby’s schedule!

It was so easy to do once I started using my own daily schedule tracker and followed what my baby was already naturally doing. I hope I can help you start a schedule too! It’s really easy- just download and print the Daily Baby Schedule Template and write down each activity that your baby does, such as feedings, naps, and playtimes. You’ll start to see an amazing schedule form before your eyes! Be sure to download the Daily Baby Schedule!

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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! Remember that everything takes a little trial and error and that most things will take a while to adapt to. So definitely keep that in mind as you are beginning your schedule.

Feel free to move things around that you feel are not working or implement more things that you see do work. Also, know that having a schedule will not magically “fix” or “change” your baby. Read your baby’s cues and learn with them as they grow!

You can do it!

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One year ago, the words “nap schedule” scared the life out of me. I felt like there was all of this pressure to make sure my baby was napping at certain times every day. What if my baby isn’t tired? What if my baby doesn’t feel like sleeping? What if my baby is crying every time I put her down? All of these questions sped through my head and I felt so defeated that I didn’t even want to try. Man was I missing out!

The goal of a nap schedule is to keep your baby happy by allowing them to nap before they get overly tired and to regulate when/how they sleep so they can establish healthy nap patterns which will ultimately help them have a good night sleep.

Disclaimer: I am not a doctor, pediatrician, or medical professional. My experiences are all my own. Please refer to your pediatrician for questions medical questions you may have. Please read my full Disclaimer, Disclosure, and Terms Policies here.

Making a nap schedule for your baby isn’t about a certain time that they sleep, it isn’t about saying that your baby naps well, it isn’t about anything else other than what’s best for your little one. Finding a nap schedule for your baby that works for both of you will allow you to create an overall schedule for their day that will help you establish a healthy pattern for their growth.

We already talked about the importance of having your baby on a schedule here, and how to accomplish a full feeding schedule here. So now it’s time to dive into what that the nap schedule should look like.

How to Start a Nap Schedule

First Things First: Start a Nap Routine

Nap routines are golden! I find that most parents’ issue is resolved when they start an effective nap routine with their baby. This routine is done every time your baby goes down for a nap. In your nap schedule, you will be adding this routine before each nap. This nap routine can be used for babies of all ages (just tweaked a bit to accommodate their age). I personally used this nap routine for my daughter since she was 1 month old and I still use it and she is turning 18 months soon.

So what does that routine look like?

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Important!

Keys to make sure your baby is ready to be put down include:

Baby has had a full feeding, has played enough, and is showing tired cues. At this point, your baby should be fully fed, did an activity and is ready for a nap. (This also will be a part of your baby’s daily schedule.)

Keep in mind that it does NOT happen overnight, but it takes time for your routine to be established. That is why I recommend following a nap schedule so within that schedule at every nap time you are doing your same routine. After a week or so- you should see the benefits of the routine and your baby sleeping during naps consistently.

Feel free to make your own routine. Maybe you want to read them a book instead of singing a song. Or maybe you want to just stand up and hold them instead of sitting down and rocking them. Do what makes you comfortable- just be sure to follow the routine for EACH nap and avoid letting baby fall asleep in your arms. The goal is to put them down tired not sleeping. This will help them self-soothe and settle themselves, which is a great thing for them to learn as they develop!

Each nap in your baby’s daily schedule will begin with the nap routine. Your nap routine will be the cue for your baby to let them know that they are about to go to sleep!

Track all Nap Times

Make sure to take a day to write down all the times your baby sleeps, where they sleep and how long they sleep. This can allow you to see the pattern that they already have. Most times as parents we just have to slightly adjust what the baby is already naturally doing. We are not disrupting their whole lives by making them follow OUR schedule but taking what they do naturally and adjusting it.

After writing down a couple days’ worth of patterns, make a list of things you want to accomplish with your baby’s nap schedule and start from there. For example, maybe baby sleeps in the swing all the time and never sleeps in their crib/bassinet and you want to start transitioning baby to their bed for some naps. Create goals that when accomplished they will grow with your baby and establish a healthy schedule.

Don’t forget to download your Baby Journal so you can track each of your baby’s naps everyday! When you track your baby’s naps, you begin to see a pattern for their schedule. Download your copy of the Baby Journal below!

Have the Same Nap Routine for Each Nap

A lot of people do not give their babies sleep props. Sleep props are things that will help baby fall asleep and stay asleep because they are comforted. Some sleep props are pacifiers, swings, vibrating swings, or special blanket. While there are some sleep props that I do not think a baby needs there are some that I used early on and it helped establish a nap routine. This means for every nap you give your baby the same things and they know it’s time for sleep. Maybe it’s a special blanket or pacifier or maybe you sing a song and then turn the lights off.

For baby L I used the pacifier they gave her in the hospital (the soothie) and a special blanket I would wrap her in. I’m a firm believer in the swaddle and I would swaddle her with a nap blanket for every nap. Some naps she slept in her swing but I would still give her that blanket. After a week or so when I would start to put her down she knew she was going to take a nap by just the environment that I was creating.

For example, the first 4 months, my daughter had her morning nap in her crib, 2 daytime naps were in her swing, and the last nap was in her crib. I wanted her to get accustomed to her crib but also stay in the swing because during the day when she was fussy this calmed her. The key is to keep your baby happy and go at their pace. Do not try to rearrange or take away everything that they comfortable in.

Go at Your Baby’s Pace

If you have a lot of different goals and they all seem to jumble up then prioritize the ones that are most important and start with one at a time. Take a week to make each transition and then once you see it accomplished then you can start the next goal. Make sure you aren’t changing everything about how your baby sleeps all at once. That will be catastrophic for your little one. Keep things that your baby is used to and only change one thing at a time. Once your baby is comfortable with the nap schedule or change that you just implemented then you can move on.

Know your Baby’s Tired Cues

It’s hard to put your baby down when you don’t know when they are tired. The key is to put them down before they get full on tired. This will help them settle themselves and you teach them to fall asleep by themselves (meaning without you having to rock them). When you know the cues your baby does when she’s tired then you can know it’s time to put them down. Some usual cues when your baby is tired is yawning, rubbing eyes, fidgeting, long blinks and fussiness.

Nap Schedule:

Here is an outline of what a nap schedule should look like. This is beginning at square one.

I’m not going to use specific times in this schedule but just specify activities so you can accurately use this as a template for your schedule:

• Wake: Baby wakes for the morning from their nighttime sleep.

• Feeding: Baby eats. Make sure they have a full feeding from the first feeding of the day. You can read more about full feedings here.

• Playtime/Activity: Play for a small amount of time or read a morning book until baby shows tired cues (rubbing eyes, yawning, etc.) This play time is usually no more than 45 minutes in my experience.

• Nap: Down for a nap. When you start to see your baby getting tired or even if you don’t see her getting super tired I would recommend putting her down. If your baby is tired then she will fall asleep but if she isn’t then she might be a little cranky and you may have to try a couple of times to soothe her.

• Wake/Feeding: Wake and baby eats

• Playtime/Activity: Feel free to insert here what you would like your baby to be doing. Maybe it’s time on a play mat or a swing. Or maybe its tummy time or time you play together. Maybe it’s a combination of everything. You can also mix things up and do one day a week a different activity. Be creative! Be sure to be on the lookout for tired cues.

• Nap: Down for a nap. This will be your baby’s second nap of the day. For most one-year-olds this is will be there last nap of the day. For babies under 12 months they will be needing another nap before they go down for the night.

• Repeat this pattern as needed until your baby is down for the night.

If you want to see a sample of my schedule take a look at the post “What My Baby’s Daily Schedule Looks Like.”

As you begin to do this schedule on a daily basis you will notice that your baby will begin to get tired around the same time each day. This will serve as a good foundation for your little one’s overall schedule. You will also notice their tired and hunger cues as you start to use a daily schedule consistently.

Your baby’s nap schedule is going to change as she gets older so don’t get too worried when your baby starts to transition out of a nap or naps longer than usual. Nap schedules will also be affected by major events that are happening in your baby’s life, such as teething, being on vacation, sickness, etc. Don’t stress if your little one is off a schedule for a day or so. Just try to get them back on a schedule that is best for them when things go back to normal.

Get your Free Sample Nap Routine!

If you’re totally convinced that you need to start a baby nap schedule but don’t know how to actually start or what do- I’m here for you! The first thing to do is to start a nap routine! Here is my very own baby nap routine so you don’t have to go through trial and errors and guess what will work.

I went through a whole month of hard days trying to figure out the best nap routine and once I did it was magic! Not only did my daughter start napping consistently and longer, but she also started sleeping through the night! Sooo I wanted to share my baby nap routine with you so you can print it out and have! Be sure to download the Sample Baby Nap Routine below!

So there you have it! This is the basic foundation of introducing your baby to a nap schedule. Remember, the goal of a nap schedule is to keep your baby happy by allowing them to nap before they get overly tired and to regulate when/how they sleep so they can establish healthy nap patterns which will ultimately help them have a good night sleep.

As always, feel free to drop me a comment or email me if you have any questions! Do you have your little one on some sort of nap schedule? How have you seen any benefits? Join the conversation below!

Want to remember this? Post “How to start a nap schedule with your baby” to your favorite Pinterest board!

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Inside: What to accomplish a full feeding and find out your baby’s full feeding schedule? Read on for my tips and tricks!

“Why does my baby still seem hungry after a feeding?”

“Why do I need to start them on a feeding schedule?”

…I hear these questions a lot! And they are great questions.

When you think of a “schedule”, you think of a time-stamped activity. But when we talk about your baby’s feeding schedule, we aren’t talking about feeding them only at an exact time every day and not feeding them unless it’s that time.

We’re talking about getting to know your baby and the way she eats, how often he eats, and how much he eats at a time.

This is the full feeding schedule.

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 called the full feeding schedule.

There is one fundamental thing to do to help you know (and help create) your baby’s feeding schedule): accomplishing the full feeding.

We already talked about the importance of having your baby on a schedule here, so now it’s time to dive into what that schedule will look like by starting first with the full feeding schedule.

What is a full feeding?

Disclaimer: I am not a doctor, pediatrician, or a medical professional. My experiences are all my own. Please refer to your pediatrician for questions about overeating, under-eating, nutrition, and medical information. Please read my full Disclosure, Terms, and Disclaimer Policy here.

A full feeding is making sure that your baby is full at the end of the feeding. Seems obvious right? But in fact, this is hard to do sometimes. This will look different if you are breastfeeding or formula feeding because pediatrician has a maximum number of ounces a baby can drink of formula.

So, while a breastfeeding baby can eat for 15 minutes, a formula feeding baby can eat for only 5-10 minutes because they finished their given number of ounces quicker. Remember, it’s not about time but about being full.

You will know when your baby is full not by the amount of time but by their cues.

How do I get to know my baby’s cues when they are full?

Know this will take some time and you will not know this overnight so don’t stress yourself out!

The main thing to look for is what your baby is doing after they eat. These will be the cues you look for. In reality, you are looking for cues that your baby is still hungry after a feeding.

When you know what your baby does when she’s hungry, then you’ll have a better understanding of when she is full.

How do I know if my baby is completing full feedings?

If your baby had a full feeding then he will be satisfied and ready for the next activity. This is why it’s so important to know your baby’s feeding schedule because it’s hard to complete your overall day schedule when you don’t have feedings down pact. Also, if your baby is eating at normal intervals, usually 3 hours or so apart, then you know they are getting full feedings.

In my Full Feeding Cheatsheet, I go over in-depth the signs to look for if your baby has or has not completed a full feeding as well as exclusive tips to help you accomplish a full feeding! You can download the FREE cheatsheet here!

How do I begin to create a full feeding schedule?

First things first, you want to make sure to take a day to write down all the times your baby eats and how much they eat. This can allow you to see the pattern that they already have.

Most times we just have to slightly adjust what the baby is already naturally doing. We are not disrupting their whole lives by making them follow OUR schedule but taking what they naturally do and adjusting it.

Bonus: As a bonus to my exclusive Full Feeding Schedule Cheatsheet, you also get a free Full Feeding Schedule Tracker!

So how do you even begin to start a full feeding schedule?

Let’s start from scratch with a sample schedule!

I suggest writing down everything your baby did during the day, documenting when they woke, when they ate, how much they ate, how long they are sleeping and so on.

(I’m not going to use specific times in this schedule but just specify activities so you can accurately use this as a template for your schedule):

• Wake: Baby wakes in the morning (if your baby is still waking for an early morning feeding and going back to sleep, that’s fine! Just add that to your schedule first.

• Feeding: Baby should eat the number of ounces/breast milk for the amount of time that he usually does, this will be the start of the trial and error.

• Activity: Baby plays for a small amount of time or reads a morning book until baby shows tired cues (rubbing eyes, yawning). This is usually no more than 45 minutes in my experience. Make sure to check for any hunger cues. If you see some hunger cues then maybe you didn’t have a full feeding but continue what you are doing and wait for the next feeding to confirm.

(If your baby is really fussy and just cannot continue without having more milk then feed them a half-ounce or ounce more. If they do this again the next feeding then you definitely know that they need a milk increase.)

Use this time to set a schedule for what you would like to do every morning with your little one. Make sure its time you have together, good body and eye contact so you can continue to bond.

• Nap: Put baby down for a nap. Take note of how long baby naps so you can see if there is a pattern for the next couple of days. This will help you with your nap schedules. (We talk more about nap schedules here).

• Wake/Feeding: Baby wakes and eats. (If baby woke early and wants to eat then maybe that first feeding wasn’t as full.) Feed your baby the amount that you did in the morning. We won’t know what works and what doesn’t unless we continue the same pattern. (If your baby is obviously still “hungry, hungry” then, of course, feed them but our goal is to pinpoint exactly what their full feeding looks like.)

• Playtime or activity: Feel free to insert here what you would like your baby to be doing. Maybe it’s time on a play mat or a swing. Or maybe its tummy time or time you play together. Maybe it’s a combination of everything. You can also mix things up and do one day a week a different activity.

Be creative!

Make sure to check for hunger cues like you did in the morning. If you see your baby is still fussy/hungry or is acting like she did in the morning after her first feeding then maybe this is confirming that she is not getting a full feeding. Use one more feeding to see if this is a pattern.

• Nap: Put baby back down for a nap. Be sure to continue to take note of how long she sleeps.

• Wake/Feeding: Again, if baby woke too early after a really short amount of time then maybe the feedings are not full enough. Feed your baby the amount that you did the other feedings. After this feeding you will know if she continues hunger cues then the feedings were not full.

From here you continue this schedule until the night and the last feeding of the day. If your baby is waking in the night to eat abnormally then that is a clear sign that full feedings were not accomplished.

If your baby is eating well, playing well, napping well then you can safely say you are succeeding at full feedings!

How do I change the amount of milk my baby is eating to get a full feeding?

If you feel like you have to increase breastfeeding time or ounces then do so cautiously and in small increments.

You do not want to overfeed your baby (even though there are some schools of thought that say you cannot overfeed a baby because your baby will let you know when they are done).

I am NOT recommending to feed your baby a huge amount and see when enough is enough!

I suggest to increase a small amount of milk once and take a week to see if your baby is responding to it well and is showing signs of a full feeding. Remember to document and take note of everything during this time, including milk increases.

If you are formula feeding, always ask your pediatrician what the maximum number of ounces your baby can receive a day. Take that amount and divide it by the number of feedings your baby has. Sometimes that number can reassure you that your baby can, in fact, be drinking more.

Remember, as your baby grows, feeding amounts will grow as well. And over time, some feedings will be dropped, such as late-night feedings.

Find a source you can trust to guide you through the ages your baby goes through feeding transitions/dropped feedings.

Get the Free Full Feeding Schedule Cheat Sheet (with bonus Full Feeding Tracker!)

Don’t forget to download the Full Feeding Cheat Sheet!

The Cheat Sheet includes exclusive tips and directions to help:

• you know when your baby has accomplished a full feeding
• tells you what signs to look for
• advises you what to do if your baby has not had a full feeding.

It also includes a free Full Feeding Tracker so you can write down your baby’s feedings and track how much they are eating and what time. Trust me, you won’t want to miss out on this amazing resource!

There you have it!

This is a basic foundation for knowing how to accomplish a full feeding schedule with your little one!

Feel free to use this schedule as a guide to your baby’s day and feedings. Also, use that full feeding schedule to guide your nap schedule and then you can begin to see your overall daily schedule forming.

When you accomplish full feedings, your baby will automatically create their own schedule and feeding pattern that works for them. It takes some effort but it is well worth it!

You can do it, mama!

As always, feel free to drop me a comment or email me if you have any questions!

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