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4 Essentials to a Successful, Easy Baby Routine

Baby Routines

4 keys to a successful baby to toddler routine

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).

Baby Wake Window Chart:

1-4 Months Old: 30-60 minutes wake window

5-8 Months Old: 90-120 minutes wake window

9-12 Months Old: 2.5-3.5 Hours wake window

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.


Related Reading: Complete Sample Routine for 0-12 Months

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.


Related Reading:

How to Know if Your Baby Had a Full Feeding | Full Feeding Newborn | Full Feeding Schedule | Baby Feeding Tips | Baby Feeding Schedule | Baby Feeding Tracker | #babytips #parentingtips #newmom

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

Always With Love, Brianna

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

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!

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!

May 17, 2022 · Leave a Comment

The Best Sample Baby Schedule Routine for Baby’s First Year

Baby Routines

0-12 Month sample Baby routine schedule

Inside: Find a simple, flexible sample baby schedule routine for babies newborn to 12 months!

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!

If you’re looking for a simple, flexible routine for your baby, you’ve come to the right place!

These sample baby schedule routines are perfectly designed to meet your baby where they are developmentally and help your baby transition through the milestones they will soon undergo.

Routines will also give you the confidence you need to understand your baby’s communication cues, offer them what they need when they need it, and ultimately help you care for your baby in the best way possible…full of mom-fidece!

If you’ve ever wondered to yourself…

What is my baby supposed to do all day long?

How long are they supposed to sleep?

Is my baby full?

How do I know what they need?

These routines will help!

Below you will find a sample baby routine categorized by age:

  • Newborn (0-4 weeks)
  • 1-4 Months Old
  • 5-8 Months Old
  • 9-12 months Old

Let’s dive in…

3 Things Every Baby Routine Needs

No matter the age, every sample routine will have 3 key components.

  1. Full feedings: Feeding your baby until full to prevent “snacking” throughout the day. Learn all about how to make sure your baby is getting a full feeding and the signs to watch for.
  2. Wake windows: The amount of time baby is up in between naps.
  3. Sleep: Consists of daytime and nighttime sleep. Naptime routines and bedtime routines will help your little one sleep better and longer.

These 3 key components are the solid foundation for every baby routine.

When you can confidently track your baby’s naps, full feedings, and wake windows you’ll be able to see your baby’s natural routine. Then you can use your baby’s natural routine to create your own daily flow that helps you, your baby, and your family thrives.

Every family has different needs. And the good news is, you CAN create an easy, flexible routine for your baby that helps you meet your baby’s needs while establishing a healthy structure that will enable you to fulfill your personal responsibilities as well.

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

Sample Baby Schedule Routine for Sleep and Feedings

Here is a breakdown of a sample baby schedule routine for babies ages newborn to 12 months old. Including the approximate amount of daytime sleep, number of naps, average wake windows, and feedings.

Remember, no sample schedule will be “perfect” for your baby.

This is an overall guide to help you form your own routine and also help you understand your baby’s actions throughout the day.

Each daily routine begins with the time your baby wakes in the morning from their nighttime sleep. From there, you begin tracking the time in between feedings, naps, and activities during awake time.

Throughout the week, times may change or shift based on your baby’s morning wake time, but the overall routine will remain consistent. This is perfectly normal.

Our goal is to follow a routine based on your baby’s patterns of what they need, not follow the clock minute for minute based on a schedule.

Newborn / 0-4 Weeks

Read the detailed newborn and 1-4 Week Old Routine Here!

The warm cuddles, the sweet “baby smell”, the feeling of their curled body fitting perfectly into your chest—oh the precious newborn stage!

Newborns do not have “schedules”.

During this stage, feed your baby on demand, let them sleep as they need, and get in all of those kisses on their little button nose.

Use this time to get to know your baby and his/her needs. Try to learn their tired cues and hunger cues because those cues will be the way they are communicating with you (along with crying- but that’s okay, babies cry…it’s what they do!).

Begin to lay the foundation to help your baby understand daytime is light and nighttime is dark, so your baby easily starts to learn the difference between days and night. (So she isn’t up all night and sleeping all day—trust me!)

But don’t worry, you can still take some steps to set your newborn up for terrific sleep and full feeding success by doing simple things throughout the day.

1-4 Months Old

As your little one enters the 1-2 month old stage, don’t worry too much about a “detailed schedule”. You will see your baby fall into a routine that best suits them. Take this time to continue to learn your baby’s communication cues.

As your baby approaches the 3-4 month old stage, you will see a routine being formed that meets your baby where they are developmentally. Follow their cues to ensure optimal naps and full feedings.

Read the FULL detailed, step by step 1-4 Month Old Routine Schedule here.

Routine Based on Wake Windows and Nap Lengths:

At this age, babies are napping after only being awake for a short amount of time. Babies 1-2 months will nap after being awake for about 30 minutes and babies 3-4 months will nap approximately 45 minutes after waking.

After every waking, there is a full feeding, a couple of minutes of playtime and then baby usually goes back down for a nap.

As your baby gets older, their wake windows will lengthen and their naps will decrease.

Overall 1-4 Month Schedule Routine

Daytime Sleep: 4-5 hours (depending on age, nap lengths, bedtime, and night sleep)

Number of Naps: 4

Wake Window: 30-60min

Bedtime: 7:30-8:30

Full Feedings: Every 2.5-3 hours (cluster feeding is still common at this age)

5-8 Months Old

Routine Based on Wake Windows and Nap Lengths:

Nap 1 is usually 2 hours after morning waking and nap 2 is usually 2.5 to 3 hours after waking from nap 1. Bedtime is 3-3.5 hours from waking after nap 2. The morning wake time is usually the shortest, follow your baby’s tired cues to know when they are ready for the first nap.

Overall 5-8 Month Schedule Routine

Daytime Sleep: 3-4 hours

Number of Naps: 3

Wake Window: 2-3 hours

Bedtime: 7-8pm

Full Feedings: Every 2.5 to 3 hours (follow pediatrician’s recommendations for introducing solids)

The third nap of the day is usually a “cat nap” ranging from 30-45 minutes, sometimes an hour. This nap helps push your baby to bedtime, so bedtime isn’t super early and then your baby begins to become an early riser (ultimately waking you up at 5am—yikes!).

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

This nap is dropped somewhere between 7-9 months. Every baby’s “sleep needs” are different so if your little one is still catnapping 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.


Related Reading:

9-12 Months Old

Routine Based on Wake Windows and Nap Lengths

Nap 1 is usually 2.5-3 hours after waking in the morning and nap 2 is 3 hours after waking from nap 1. Bedtime is usually 3-3.5 hours from waking after nap 2. Bedtime can shift a bit depending on when your little one woke up from nap 2.

No wake time is perfect…always follow your baby’s cues so you prevent them from being overtired but are also not putting them down too early for a nap when they aren’t tired yet.

Read the full, detailed 9-12 Month Old Routine Here!

Overall 9-12 Month Old Schedule Routine

Daytime Sleep: 2.5-3.5 hours

Number of Naps: 2

Wake Window: 2.5-3.5 hours

Bedtime: 7-8pm

Full Feedings: Every 2.5-3.5 hours mix of breastmilk/formula and solids

Newborn to 1 year old sample schedules. Image of baby in sink bath with mom

0-12 Month Sample Baby Schedule Overview

Want this sample schedule in bit-size form? Yay for charts! Here you can see the breakdown of naps, wake windows, and full feedings for each age group.

AGEDAYTIME SLEEPNUMBER OF NAPSWAKE WINDOWBEDTIMEFULL FEEDINGS
1-4 Month Old:4-5 hours430-60 minutes7:30-8:30 pmEvery 2-3 hours
5-8 Month Old:3-4 hours32-3 hours7-8 pmEvery 2.5-3 hours
9-12 Month Old: 2.5-3.5 hours22.5-2.5 hours7-8 pmEvery 3-3.5 hours

My Baby’s Routine is Suddenly Changing? Now what!

Whenever your baby’s normal routine starts to waiver, such as short naps or early morning wakings, or unusual fussiness, you’ll be able to compare and contrast your baby’s behavior based on their routine and pinpoint what could be causing it.

Maybe your little one is teething or is getting sick or is in a state of transition to longer wake windows and dropping a nap.

Having a solid but flexible baby routine will give you the confidence you need to know when something is “off” and give you the assurance you need to help you guide your baby through whatever they are experiencing.

When you see your “normal routine” starting to fall apart or change, then you can begin to cross off different possibilities of what your baby is experiencing. If it’s not something temporary, like teething or illness, then maybe it’s time to pivot your routine.

sample baby schedules newborn to 1 year old. Image of baby in high chair at table.

Testing Routines for Wake Windows and Optimum Naps

If you see your baby is not thriving on a routine, always use your instincts.

If your baby is napping too short, always ask yourself “were they tired enough?”. If your baby is taking a long time to fall asleep and is overly fussy, ask yourself “was he/she overtired?”. By learning your baby’s tired cues, you can know when they are ready for sleep and by doing this you are ensuring they are getting the optimum amount of comfortable sleep.

Once you see how long your baby needs to stay up and then nap, you begin to create a routine based on YOUR baby’s wake windows that allow you to meet your baby where they are developmentally. Don’t be afraid to shift times if you see your baby is miserable (and you’re miserable too!)

When baby is happy, mama is happy 🙂

Free Baby Tracker and Mom Planner
FREE Mommy & Me Mini Planner Printable Downloads!

The BEST way to create your baby’s own schedule routine is to begin to track your baby’s activities. By first getting an understanding of what your baby is already doing, you can see what direction you need to go.

To help you EASILY track your baby’s sleep, naps, feedings, and playtime, I created a Mommy & Me Mini Planner!

Stay organized and productive by keeping track of your own to-do list while ALSO tracking your baby’s sleep, feedings & activities.

A FREE instant download that you can print and view on any device!

Includes:

  • Daily Baby Journal
  • Mommy & Me Daily Planner (side by side view of your and baby’s routine)
  • Master Baby Schedule Template
  • Weekly Planning Tameplate
  • Monthly & Annual Panning Template

Get it free now!

Sample Baby Schedule Routine 1-12 Month Recap

Flexible routines offer your little one the predictability and stability they need to grow and also help you confidently learn your baby’s cues. From feedings to naps to playtime, these routines can bring a thriving structure to your day!

In this post there was a sample baby schedule routine categorized by age:

  • Newborn (0-4 weeks)
  • 1-4 Months Old
  • 5-8 Months Old
  • 9-12 months Old

Be sure to save this post so you can easily find it again as your baby continues to grow!

Remember, you’re the best mama for your little one—YOU know your baby best.

You got this, mama!

Always With Love, Brianna
Related Reading:
  • Easy Newborn Tips
  • How to Get Your Baby to Sleep In a Crib
  • How to start a nap schedule with your baby
  • Why a schedule for your baby is so important
  • What My Baby’s Daily Schedule looks like
  • Greatest Newborn Essentials to Make Mom Life Easier

February 18, 2022 · Leave a Comment

The Best 2022 Mom Goal Planner

Mom Life

Inside: Download a free printable 2022 Mom Goal Planner created perfectly for busy moms!

Truth moment…

Goals are hard to make and even harder to keep. Add being a busy mama to the mix and it’s practically impossible!

If you’re a baby mom then your days are probably filled with mile-high diaper piles, nap time woes, and midnight nursing sessions….

Or if you’re a toddler mom then your days are probably filled with sprinting after a toddler tornado for 8 hours…

No matter where you are in your motherhood journey (more like a rollercoaster haha), here’s one thing that never changes— there is ALWAYS something you need to or have to get done.

And in the hazy middle of things you *need* and *have* to do, there are things you WANT to get done.

Things that would make your life easier, Things that will make you happier. Things that will help your child thrive, or marriage thrive or help YOU thrive.

These are the things I like to set goals for.

Goals are not Pass or Fail. They are things we work on and work toward.

Going into 2022 my biggest advice is to create tiny, actionable steps for each of the goals you make. And write them down.

Good news, I can help with that!

Free 2022 Mom Goal Planner!

Here’s my favorite freebie- the 2022 Mom Goals Planner…

It comes with a dated, monthly calendar for the year 2022 and on each month there is a place to write out your:

  • personal goals,
  • family goals,
  • kid goals,
  • and marriage/relationship goals.

For each month, there is also a goal planner page where you can write 3 specific goals for the month and then write out 9 action steps for each of those goals.

This helps you break down each goal into realistic, practical bite-size pieces so you can accomplish them with ease!

Even the smallest task like turning over my daughter’s closet to take out the 9-month clothes that no longer fit her is a goal I have. Or big things like eventually transitioning my kids to sleep in one room. That’s a goal too!

Image of tablet with goal tracker next to computer and smart phone.

Use the Goal Planner To…

  1. Create goals– make attainable, realistic goals that align with your busy mom life
  2. Track goals– use action steps to break down your goals into bit-size attainable pieces
  3. Reach goals– finally accomplish those goals you’ve been wanting to reach!
Tablet with image of goal planner calendar page and goal tracker page.

Download the 2022 Mom Goal Planner Now!

Complete the form below to get the 2022 Mom Goal Planner + Calendar sent straight to your inbox as a printable instant download.

If you feel like a hamster stuck in a wheel, this goal planner is perfect to help you get all of your ducks in a row 🙂

Always With Love, Brianna

Related Reading:

  • How Can Easily Busy Moms Make, Keep & Accomplish Goals
  • How To Actually Reach Your Goals as a Busy Mom

No time to read this now? Save it to your favorite Pinterest board!

December 21, 2021 · Leave a Comment

How to Unlock Toddler Positive Discipline: Step by Step Workbook Guide

Toddler Routines

Toddler Positive Discipline Workbook guide

Inside: Learn step by step how to use toddler positive discipline strategies to gently set boundaries for your little one without yelling or tears!

Does your little one have BIG emotions? If you’re tired of struggling with your toddler to actually listen and having trouble knowing when or how to discipline your little one- you’re in the right place!

Toddlers are natural-born boundary pushers…your child isn’t trying to frustrate or manipulate you– they just want to know where their boundaries are.

Learn step by step how to use positive discipline strategies to set boundaries for your little one with love, compassion, and patience- that WORKS.

You CAN teach your little one how to listen without using harsh discipline tactics so you can help your child feel loved and secure!

Imagine how it would feel to:
  • Not have to worry about whether your child will listen to you outside of the home
  • Establish a lasting connection with your child through affirmation & security
  • Run an errand without worrying about how your child will act
  • Have a simple plan of action for your when your toddler throws tantrums
  • Easily manage your toddler’s BIG emotions with constant reassurance
  • Feel confident you are taking the right steps to keep your toddler healthy (emotionally, physically, & mentally)

Download the Unlocking Toddler Positive Discipline Workbook to learn the exact strategy you need to help you set boundaries with love!

unlocking toddler positive discipline workbook and step by step guide
BUY IT NOW- 75% OFF!

In this Ultimate Guide & workbook, I’ll show you a routine you can use to help you begin to set boundaries for babies 18 months to 4 years old!

You’ll learn what causes toddlers to act out and how to prevent those meltdowns with love, understanding, and compassion.

Get ready to…
  • Effortlessly follow each practical step of the training so you can create your own gentle discipline routine at YOUR pace.
  • Easily track your child’s behaviors and moods to see your progress on a daily basis.
  • Get instant access to step by step guidance PLUS tools & resources to help you set boundaries for your little one with love, compassion and patience! 
  • Instantly download the Unlocking Positive Discipline Workbook to have the gentle discipline strategy right at your finger tips so you can keep coming back to it as your child grows!
step by step guide to unlocking toddler positive discipline workbook
BUY IT NOW- 75% OFF!

Here’s Everything You Get!

A complete step-by-step workbook that offers a step-by-step guide on how to create a positive discipline routine using a super simple, gentle framework- the 5 C’s of Positive Discipline.

The Details

  • When to Begin Discipline
  • The Importance of Discipline
  • What Setting Boundaries Looks Like
  • Baby & Toddler Tracker

5 C’s Gentle Discipline Routine

  • Making Your Child Aware of Actions
  • Why Tone Matters
  • What is Consequence
  • Time Out or Time In?
  • Why Understanding Trumps Punishment

Progress Worksheets

  • Consequence Worksheet
  • Behavior Tracker
  • Behavior Chart
  • Behavior Worksheet
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Does this Toddler Positive Discipline Guide work?

I was standing in the Target checkout line and my daughter decided to have a full-blown, red-faced, screaming match tantrum…

Long story short, my daughter just didn’t like when I told her “no”. She wanted to go back to the toy aisle and didn’t like that she couldn’t. So she had a meltdown…in the middle of Target.

Turns out, I needed to set boundaries. I needed to communicate with her in a way that she understood. And it worked!

I learned how to assess the situation and how my daughter was communicating, prevent her triggers, help her through those triggers, all while setting boundaries without using harsh discipline tactics.

Build Your Confidence!

Being a mom is the hardest job on earth. Between naps, feedings, activities, cooking, laundry, and errands, you have A LOT on your plate.

It’s time to build your confidence! Caring for a toddler can feel like holding an umbrella in a hurricane. But by when you provide them with boundaries, your child will feel safe, loved, and secure.

Don’t feel like you’ve lost control! By setting boundaries in love you are showing your little that you are in charge- helping them feel your loving security.

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What You Will Learn in the Toddler Positive Discipline Guide

  • When is the best time to begin a discipline strategy
  • What causes toddlers to act out
  • How to prevent tantrums in love and compassion.
  • Why you should track your child’s behavior/moods for progress
  • How to enforce boundaries without yelling
  • Gain the confidence you need to help your child understand boundaries & feel secure!

The UNLOCKING POSITIVE DISCIPLINE WORKBOOK is everything you need to finally feel CONFIDENT in how you set boundaries for your child!

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Always With Love, Brianna
Related Reading:
  • Easy Toddler Bedtime Routine for Calm Nights
  • Stress-Free Potty Training Tips & Routine

November 23, 2021 · Leave a Comment

Simple 1-4 Month Old Baby Schedule: Step by Step Routine for Feedings, Naps & Playtime

Baby Routines

easy 1-4 month old baby schedule and routine.

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!
1-4 month old flexible baby routine. Image of baby on blanket smiling

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.


Related Reading:
How to Feed to Get your Baby Full| Image of bottle on table

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.

3-4 Month Baby Schedule Chart with wake times, wake windows, feedings, and activities

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!

1-4 month baby routine for easy naps, feedings and activities. Image of baby on blanket

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!

1-4 Month Baby Routine Schedule Guide. Image of tablet with guide displayed

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!

Always With Love, Brianna
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

November 14, 2021 · Leave a Comment

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