There is no shortage of confusion amongst new parents about the topic of a newborn schedule for their child. As it relates to newborns, a schedule encompasses the time and duration between when your baby eats, sleeps, plays, or needs a diaper change. In the first few weeks of life, newborns do not have a set schedule because they are mostly reacting to their needs cycle. As a result, it is crucial to understand the concept of the newborn schedule and keep track of it. Below you will find general information on understanding the newborn schedule.
What is Typical?
When discussing what “normal” is it is vital to remember that each child is unique and, therefore, the schedules discussed here are merely a guide. It is also to be expected that your baby’s schedule can and will vary each day. Schedules do not happen overnight, and it often will take weeks for a baby to find a groove that works with their body clock. It isn’t uncommon for it to be close to your child’s fourth month before you begin to see a schedule emerge. In general, however, your baby will work through a cycle of eating, sleeping, and going to the bathroom every few hours.
Maintaining a Log
Utilizing a log during the day and night to document your child’s activities can provide you with vital information. Of particular interest, is the frequency of certain activities (bowel movements, urination, etc.) and the total duration of others (sleep, feeding, etc.). Having these numbers can help you easily and accurately determine if there is a problem with any of your child’s habits. After a long day or night, it may be hard to recall every feed and sleeping times, so it is critical to keep notes as close to the event as possible.
Utilizing Technology
The beauty of the modern world we live in is that there is an app for almost everything. Monitoring a newborn schedule is no exception. The Baby Connect app allows you to keep track of feeding, diaper changes, sleeping, and many other useful metrics. Additionally, the data can be synced across devices so all caregivers can share information on baby’s activities.