Newborn Daily Routine (Free Sample Baby Schedule)

Inside: Practical tips for developing a newborn daily schedule that will add a little structure to your day as a new mom. Get a free sample schedule to use as a guide with your newborn baby routine as well!

Where do you start when setting up a newborn daily routine and schedule? Is it even possible to get into a habit with a baby that is LITERALLY just days or months old?

With patience and consistency, you’ll find that setting up a newborn schedule for your baby is absolutely within your grasp.

Before long, you and your new little bundle of joy will be smooth sailing over all the hiccups and bumps of the newborn period.

Key takeaways

• Discover general guidelines and recommendations for creating your baby’s schedule.
• A consistent “eat, play, sleep” schedule can benefit all family members.
• Download a free, printable sample routine to use as a reference.

“A baby is as pure as an angel and as fresh as a blooming flower.”

~Debasish Mridha

🌟 Join a fun and informative 30-minute newborn care class to learn essential skills like diapering, temperature-taking, swaddling, sleep, and more! The best part? The fabulous Hilary from Pulling Curls will be your guide. With 20 years of experience as a labor-and-delivery nurse, she has all the insider tips and tricks to help you feel confident caring for your little one. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to learn from a true pro! Sign up now and get ready to rock the parenting game! 🍼💪

Establishing A Newborn Baby Routine (+ FAQs)

Most people with children never mention that it takes this much work to get them to eat and sleep, right?

But just as you’re wondering about a set schedule, know that your newborn is also settling in and starting to get into a flow.

Since he’s so new to the world, he’s still trying to figure it out in the best way possible so that he can be fed, burped, changed, or cuddled. These are precisely the four things that are constantly on his mind.

When should you start a routine with a newborn baby?

While this might vary depending on the baby, you can establish a newborn daily routine and schedule at two weeks of age.

At this age, it more than likely means that you will be working with your baby’s sleep patterns and feeding schedule, but as soon as you get a great groove for that by following your baby’s cues, you can then transition to other factors.

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Do newborns need a routine?

They do, but not in the same way that you require a routine. When they’re young, all they can think about is eating, sleeping, and going potty.

That’s it, literally.

So while you want to focus on a schedule, the routine you will need to zone in on will be to try to create some structure for those three things.

Can a 2-week-old baby have a routine?

While it might not seem like a routine, you will be working with them frequently during this time.

If you’re a first-time mom, be ready… Because in just a day or two, your newborn can flip their days and nights and be confused.

However, if you can set up a consistent routine where you keep the days and nights as they’re supposed to be, you and your baby will greatly benefit from it.

It might not seem like a routine at first, but getting your baby to understand the time of day that they’re supposed to sleep and the time of day that they’re supposed to be awake is actually the perfect foundation for creating a solid newborn baby routine.

What is a good schedule for a 1-month-old?

Once you set up a routine and get to know your baby’s natural patterns and needs, you’ll have a good idea of a better schedule for your child.

If you’re looking at it vaguely, remember that all babies will want to eat every 2-3 hours for a 24-hour period, and for some, this is pretty much around the clock.

Remember that a solid feeding schedule accompanied by a consistent bedtime routine is an excellent 1-month-old baby schedule.

What is a good routine for a newborn?

Even though you might want this to be a blanket answer, it really isn’t. The reason for this is that all newborn babies differ from each other.

Besides, this doesn’t mean that their schedules will be the same each day or night just because they all have simple needs.

Parents like us are the ones who are molding our newborns’ day-to-day schedules, so this shows that every baby’s timetable will vary in some way.

What is the simplest baby schedule?

The following are typically included in a baby’s schedule: feeding, napping, and playtime.

To keep your baby happy and healthy, experts recommend feeding them every 2-3 hours, followed by a nap. But don’t forget to squeeze in some playtime between meals and naps to keep your baby engaged and entertained.

As your little one grows, their schedule may change, so stay flexible and adjust as needed. After all, every baby is unique, just like you!

Related article for new parents about the newborn stage: First Weeks with A Newborn [What to Expect]

How to Set Up A Newborn Daily Routine or Schedule

If you’re looking for simple newborn daily routine tips to start at a young age, here are some basic ideas you can begin with that might carry through when your baby gets older.

Each bullet point is explained in more detail below.

• Bathe him before bed.
• Read him a bedtime story.
• Give him a soothing massage.
• Snuggle and rock him to sleep.
• Hum or sing a lullaby.

Bathe him before bed.

There’s just something relaxing about bath time before bed.

Though you don’t need to bathe your newborn every night, doing this a few times per week is an excellent way to start calming him down for bed and planting that seed in his mind.

As he grows older, he will subconsciously understand that taking a bath is part of his bedtime routine and is a great way for him to relax with ease.

We have always loved this baby wash because it has calming components that help soothe my little ones. We still use this today!

Read him a bedtime story.

No matter the age, reading books to your child is always a great idea.

He might not understand the words you’re saying, but he will love to hear the comforting sound of your voice.

Plus, when he gets older, he might just grab hold of the book and take his turn reading bedtime stories to you too!

Of all the bedtime books my kids and I have read, this baby book is by far one of our favorites. This sweet counting board book has beautiful illustrations and engaging rhymes, perfect for soothing your newborn.

Give him a soothing massage.

Studies show that infant massage can have numerous benefits for your baby.

One of them? You got it right! It helps your baby sleep better because it can aid in releasing positive hormones that can control tension.

Snuggle and rock him to sleep.

If you have a rocking chair like this in your house, use it to rock your newborn baby to sleep.

The rocking motion from the chair is a simple reminder of his time in Mama’s belly and can help ease him into a comfortable sleep with little effort on your part.

This baby swing right here played a huge role in our lives when my kids were still establishing their respective routines. I remembered putting them in here after I snuggled with them. As soon as it stopped, I moved them to the bassinet.

Related article: 9 Crucial Tips to Prepare for a Baby on a Budget

Hum or sing a lullaby.

Your baby is going to find great comfort in your voice. I can’t emphasize the advantages of singing to your baby enough.

What it comes down to is that it doesn’t matter if you’re singing or humming. As long as you’re giving him that time and setting up that routine, it will be something that comforts him for many years down the road.

General Guidelines to Consider When Planning Your Baby’s Schedule

Always keep in mind that newborns need about 16–17 hours of sleep (8–9 total hours of nighttime sleep) in a day and eat 8–12 times per 24 hours.

Expect some growth spurts as well. A growth spurt occurs between the second and third weeks and the sixth week. Although growth spurts may not happen at these precise times, your newborn may cluster feed during this period.

Cluster feeding is more common in the evening to help your baby feel fuller before bed or to compensate for not eating enough at a previous feeding.

It’s also advised to add two to three short sessions of tummy time to a newborn’s daily schedule to help them grow strong and agile. You can start 1-3 minutes of tummy time per session a day or two after your baby is born.

In addition, pediatric experts recommend that diaper changes occur after every feeding and before and after each nap. However, every parent has their own approach based on their child’s needs and schedule.

When my children were newborns, I changed their diapers after each feeding, before their naps, and immediately after they pooped. Fresh diapers are a given after every bath.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, it is unnecessary to bathe your baby daily, as babies do not usually sweat or get dirty enough to require a full bath every day. They recommend giving your baby only three baths per week during their first year of life to prevent their skin from drying out.

Sample Baby Schedule for a 2- to 8-week-old Infant

My kids and I followed the timetable below through the newborn phase. Your newborn daily schedule may look a little different.

Remember to take this with a grain of salt and trust your instincts. Consider your baby’s needs.

If your newborn is hungry after only 45 minutes, don’t just let them cry!

If you believe that your child sleeps better after a pre-bedtime bath, go ahead and do it. To avoid dry skin, apply a small amount of scent-free, hypoallergenic lotion to their skin afterward.

• 7 AM–7:30 AM: Wake and feed, then change diapers
• 7:30 AM–9 AM: Nap time for 60–90 minutes
• 9 AM–9:30 AM: Wake and feed
• 9:30 AM–11:30 AM: Change diapers, then take a nap for 2 hours
• 11:30 AM–12 PM: Wake and feed
• 12 PM–2 PM: Change diapers, then take a nap for 2 hours
• 2 PM–2:30 PM: Wake and feed
• 2:30 PM–3:30 PM: Afternoon nap for 60 minutes
• 3:30 PM–4 PM: Wake and feed
• 4 PM–5:30 PM: Change diapers and light newborn play
• 5:30 PM–6 PM: Feed and catnap (30 minutes)
• 6 PM–6:15 PM: Wake, then bath time
• 6:15 PM–6:30 PM: Change into a fresh outfit for bedtime
• 6:30 PM–7 PM: Read a book
• 7 PM–10 PM: Feed, then bedtime
• 10 PM–1 AM: Dreamfeed and change diapers
• 1 AM–4 AM: Cluster feed, then back to sleep
• 4 AM–7 AM: Dreamfeed, then back to sleep

Note: When dream-feeding, make sure that your baby is swaddled well. Our favorite is this swaddle blanket.

Ideas for Playtime Activities to Do with Your Newborn Baby

Although newborns may seem fragile, they are developing and rapidly growing. Physical activity and cognitive stimulation should be part of their daily routines to ensure their development and well-being.

Here are a few more activities you can do with your little one throughout the day:

• Hugs, kisses, and lots of physical contact.
• Blow raspberries on the baby’s tummy.
• Play peekaboo or patty cake.
• Sing and dance with them in your arms.
• Take them with you on walks.

Download the free printable Sample Baby Schedule below and tweak it to your liking.

Whether you are a new parent or caregiver, setting a daily routine for your infant or daycare babies can be a smart way to provide structure and consistency.

To help you with this process, we have a free sample infant daily schedule template available for download. This schedule includes suggested feeding periods, sleep times, and playtime activities for babies.

Although this printable can’t be modified, you can use it as a guide to create your own schedule templates tailored to your babies’ specific needs and preferences.

So don’t hesitate to access this resource to assist you in establishing a predictable routine for your newborns!

Conclusion to the Newborn Baby Routine

As you can see, setting up baby schedules and routines isn’t all that difficult. Initially, it may seem overwhelming. However, immense benefits for you and your little one are there for the taking.

One of the benefits of consistently following a pattern for feeding, playtime, and sleep is a sense of predictability and comfort for everyone involved. It sure does primarily require patience, persistence, and a little bit of creativity on your part as the immediate caregiver.

Although it may take some time and effort to create a routine, once you witness how calm and rested your baby is each night because of it, you’ll know that the hard work is all worthwhile.

You may also like this related article about babies: Simple Activities for a Three-Month-Old Baby

You got this, Mama! Until next time.

We both know this blog post can help other new mommies out there with their baby schedules, so feel free to share! Thank you so much for stopping by!

Talk to you soon,

Do you have other tips for setting up a baby’s schedule?

🌟 Join a fun and informative 30-minute newborn care class to learn essential skills like diapering, temperature-taking, swaddling, sleep, and more! The best part? The fabulous Hilary from Pulling Curls will be your guide. With 20 years of experience as a labor-and-delivery nurse, she has all the insider tips and tricks to help you feel confident caring for your little one. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to learn from a true pro! Sign up now and get ready to rock the parenting game! 🍼💪