The first days of a newborn's life are very important. He begins to get used to certain living conditions and gradually learns to eat and breathe independently. Start planning your baby's daily routine at 1 month. This will be the key to its proper development. For example, a baby who knows exactly when food, sleep, and bathing awaits him will always be in a good mood.
A child who has been taught to be organized since childhood will grow up to be flexible, friendly, sociable, and will be less capricious and enter into conflicts.
At the same time, a daily routine is needed not only for the newborn, but also for his parents. After all, it will be easier for them to plan their own affairs and even find free time for themselves.
How to teach your child to have a daily routine
You should create a daily routine depending on your child’s biorhythms. At first, just watch when he wants to sleep and eat. After all, in fact, he himself adheres to certain patterns throughout the day. After that, start setting specific hours for certain activities. The first thing you need to clearly plan is the exact time of awakening. Although it can be quite difficult, wake your baby at the same time every day. If your baby wakes up before the time you set, put him to bed later.
Then you can set a clear time for other activities. If your baby continues to sleep when it's time to feed, wake him up. There is no need to feel sorry for the baby. He must get used to the routine. Monitor your one-month-old baby's daily routine. Pay attention to his mood and state of health. If he doesn't like something, adjust the routine.
Indicative table
Make a table for yourself with the time and duration of each action throughout the day. Don’t forget that specific hours are also needed for the baby’s waking hours. At first, you can use this table of the daily routine for a month-old baby, and then, if necessary, make the necessary adjustments to it.
| Time | Action | Duration |
| 06:30 | Waking up and first feeding | 30 minutes |
| 07:00 | Dream | 1 hour 30 minutes |
| 08:30 | Hygiene procedures. Change the diaper, wash, remove mucus and crusts from the nose | 15 minutes |
| 08:45 | Second feeding | 15 minutes |
| 09:00 | Dream | 2 hours |
| 12:00 | Third feeding | 15 minutes |
| 12:15 | Light abdominal massage | 15 minutes |
| 12:30 | Period of wakefulness. It's time for a walk | Warm season - 1 hour 30 minutes, cold season - 1 hour |
| 15:00 | Fourth feeding | 30 minutes |
| 15:30 | Dream | 2 hours |
| 17:00 | Waking period | 1 hour |
| 18:00 | Fifth feeding | 15 minutes |
| 18:15 | Dream | 1 hour 30 minutes |
| 19:45 | Period of wakefulness. You can go for another walk | 1 hour |
| 20:45 | Bathing | 30 minutes |
| 21:15 | Sixth feeding | 30 minutes |
| 21:45 | Sleep until morning. If necessary, awakening for night feedings | Until morning |
The role of sleep for babies
A restful and long sleep is important for a newborn baby, as it helps:
- adapt to the new environment;
- process a huge amount of information received while awake;
- grow due to the production of hormones;
- increase the endurance of the cerebral cortex;
- gaining weight.
Healthy sleep of a child up to 1 month is an indicator of his mental well-being, proper development, and the normal state of all organs and systems.
One month old baby's sleep
In the first few weeks of life, the baby sleeps a lot - almost 20 hours a day. Wakes up only to eat. Gradually, his period of wakefulness becomes a little longer. And he will not only eat. Therefore, when creating a routine for a newborn baby in the first month of life, do not forget to allocate the required amount of time for sleep.
Sometimes babies become restless and cannot sleep. This can be caused by a wet diaper, hunger, colic, noise, cold or diaper. Check everything if the baby does not sleep normally. Think in advance where the baby will fall asleep: in bed with his parents, in his own bed, or here and there. Check which of these your newborn likes best, and then add a clear place to fall asleep in his routine.
Baby mode
Since it is necessary to create a routine for each specific child individually, it is better not to use ready-made routines. In order for the baby’s routine to be correct, you should know the basic needs of the newborn by the hour. He should eat at least 6 times a day with intervals between meals of no more than four hours. At night, breaks between feedings can last up to six hours. During the day, the baby should sleep 4-5 times for approximately two hours. At night, he should sleep for a total of 6–8 full hours.
Don’t forget to include hygiene procedures in your routine. A one-month-old baby should be washed in the morning and evening, the navel area should be treated daily and bathed at night. You should take your newborn for walks outside. It is advisable to do this in the morning and evening. The duration of walks directly depends on the temperature and weather outside the window.
Remember that the routine should suit your baby and you. If someone is not happy with something, it must be corrected.
It may be worth putting your baby to bed later so that he gets up at a certain time in the morning. Or change the bath time if your newborn is not in the mood for it at the time you set. The feeding option that suits him depends on his daily routine. Although this does not affect the number of meals. The important thing is how much he will eat.
Artificially fed
Babies get full faster on this type of feeding. Therefore, regulate your portions. The baby only needs a little formula to get enough food. In this case, the intervals between feedings should be slightly longer. Make sure that you do not overfeed your newborn, otherwise the baby will have problems with digestion, incomplete digestion, constipation, frequent regurgitation and colic.
When breastfeeding
If the baby is breastfed, then he needs to eat every 2-3 hours. Even if he cries and doesn’t want to, he must be forced. Otherwise, the mother may experience an overload of milk. This is quite painful, and then it will be more difficult to feed the baby.
Keep an eye on the baby. If he eats too often, then milk does not have time to accumulate in the breast. This means that the newborn remains hungry. Please note that you cannot deny your baby food if it is not currently on schedule. He shouldn't feel hungry. Just adjust your routine.
Mixed mode
If after breastfeeding your month-old baby is unhappy and cries, supplement him with infant formula. But keep a close eye on the amount of what he eats. It is better not to give formula to newborns at night. Let the baby empty his chest. This will additionally stimulate lactation.
During all feeding times, a child in the first month of life should drink milk weighing approximately one-fifth or one-sixth of his body weight per day. Everything that he could not get from his chest must be given to him in the form of a mixture. If the baby eats a mixed diet, then take this into account in the approximate daily routine of a month-old baby. In this case, you need to follow the rule: breastfeeding on demand, supplementary feeding on schedule. The type of feeding has no influence on the development of the baby.
Approximate daily routine for children aged 2.5-3 to 5-6 months
| 1st feeding | 6.00 |
| Wakefulness | 6.00 — 7.30 |
| Dream | 7.30 — 9.30 |
| 2nd feeding | 9.30 |
| Wakefulness | 9.30 — 11.00 |
| Dream | 11.00 — 13.00 |
| 3rd feeding | 13.00 |
| Wakefulness | 13.00 — 14.30 |
| Dream | 14.30 — 16.30 |
Rules of care
A mandatory element is morning washing. It is done immediately after waking up. It is necessary to take special care of the umbilical wound. Its treatment is carried out once a day after bathing. To do this, you will need a cotton pad pre-soaked in boiled water, or a cotton swab dipped in hydrogen peroxide. In the second option, after treatment, the navel must be wiped with another cotton swab dipped in antiseptic.
Bathing is an important hygiene procedure. As a rule, it is best to bathe your baby at night.
Until the umbilical wound has healed, bathing time should be 3-5 minutes. After healing, the duration of the procedure can be increased to 40 minutes. It is best for the water to be boiled.
Use scissors with rounded ends to cut your baby's nails several times a week. Mandatory baby care procedures also include massages, gymnastics and daily walks in the fresh air. Do not forget that the key to good development is communication between the newborn and his parents. Don't forget to talk to him, smile at him and play.
Washing
In the morning, the baby must wash his face. Include this item in your monthly baby's daily routine. To do this, use cotton pads soaked in warm boiled water. First, rub the eyes, gently moving the disk from the outer to the inner edge. It is recommended to wipe each eye with a new cotton pad.
You need to wash your face, ears (outside) and neck. If the baby is breathing heavily, he needs to clean his nose with a special saline solution and an aspirator. Next, you should change the baby's diaper, wash it and wipe all skin folds using the same cotton pad. After this procedure, it is recommended to undress the baby and examine whether there is any redness or anything else on his skin. If there is, then lubricate these places with baby creams.
Evening swimming
You can bathe a newborn from the first days. This must be done in boiled water. But at first, the duration of bathing should be short. It can be gradually increased. The optimal water temperature for a baby is 37 degrees. Every day the baby is simply washed with water. This should be done several times a week using soap and special baby shampoo. Please note that children benefit from bathing in string or chamomile.
Leave the bathroom door open. This will ensure that when you pick up your baby, he won't be as cold.
After bathing, wrap your baby in a towel, but do not rub too hard. Use cotton wool to gently remove water from your ears. When the baby is dry, treat his skin with baby oil.
Hygiene procedures
After each bowel movement, children must wash their bottom with running water. To do this, the baby should lie on your palm with his stomach down, facing you. Place your buttocks under running water. Lather them with baby soap. It's better if it's liquid. Then rinse everything thoroughly and dry with a towel. Don't forget to change your baby's diaper regularly. He should not stay in it for more than 4 hours.
Massage and gymnastics
It is very beneficial for a one-month-old baby to receive a massage. Just stroke it with smooth movements. Pay special attention to your stomach. Gymnastics at this age consists of bending the arms and legs.
But do it carefully. You can also give your baby your finger and lift it. Do not do massage and exercises half an hour before meals and immediately after, as well as before bedtime.
Walks
If the baby was born in the summer, then you can take him for walks from the very first days. But remember that direct sunlight will not do him any good. Protect him from them. Choose a cool time of day for walking. It is best to do this in the morning or before bed.
In winter, you can go for your first walk only a few days after returning home. And only if the temperature outside the window is not lower than ten degrees. The first walks should last 10–15 minutes, no more. Each day their duration can be increased slightly.
In this we must be guided by the rule: the child should have the same amount of clothing as the parents, plus one layer. But be attentive to the baby. If it is too hot, remove something from it, and if it is cold, then, on the contrary, add something.
Infant development by month
Breasts develop very intensively. Every month, parents notice the emergence of new skills and abilities, changes in physical, mental, psycho-emotional state. Usually, during the first 12 months, all congenital pathologies in a child appear. These deviations are reflected in the baby’s height, weight, and behavior.
It is important to know the developmental features of children by month:
- 1 month . Newborns and infants sleep and eat a lot. By the end of one month, babies begin to turn their heads, follow bright toys, and respond to sounds. The following innate reflexes are preserved: swimming, sucking, searching, grasping, walking. Lying on their stomachs, babies try to lift their heads. This strengthens the muscles of the neck, shoulders, back;
- 2 month . Children in the second month of life become more active. They can already stay awake for about 50 minutes. Improves hearing and vision. For about 10-15 minutes, babies are able to lie in the crib and look at toys. Children can hold their heads better. Some try to roll over from side to back. Babies begin to explore their limbs, bring their hands to their mouths, and suck their fingers. They recognize mom and dad. The children begin to roar, saying “abu”, “agu”, “aha”. Many innate reflexes begin to gradually fade away;
- 3 month . In the third month of life, mental, physical, and emotional skills improve. Babies are able to hold their head for a longer time. Lying on their stomachs, they rise up on their forearms and inspect their surroundings. Muscle tone decreases. The little ones continue to study the arms and legs, pulling objects of interest to them into their mouths. Infants of this age become more emotional: they smile, laugh, imitate the facial expressions of adults;
- 4 month . Children of 4 months develop very quickly. They are already confidently holding the head. Lying on their stomachs, babies rise on their elbows. They learn to roll over from their stomach to their back. Active infants can crawl on their bellies. They recognize loved ones and are strongly attached to their mother. Children have favorite toys;
- 5 month . Five-month-old babies are improving their acquired physical skills. Many are trying to sit down. The humming gradually gives way to babbling. Six-month-old babies are actively exploring the surrounding space. They develop everyday skills. Speech continues to develop: you can hear not only vowels, but also consonants. At this age, babies begin to be fed;
- 7-8 months . Children 7-8 months are characterized by increased activity. They move well on all fours. They can sit with a straight back. Fine motor skills improve. At the age of 8 months, babies try to stand up. Some can already walk using a support. Infant games become more meaningful;
- 9-12 months . Ten-month-old children love to imitate adults and try to repeat words. They can fulfill simple requests from parents (bring, hide, show). At 11 months, many children take their first steps without support. They understand the meaning of words and can nod in agreement or refusal. One year of age marks the transition from infancy to childhood. Kids can squat, walk well, and can step over obstacles.
Tips for parents
An approximate daily routine should be compiled individually for each baby. Just see what he wants to do and when. If the child does not want to sleep at home, go out into the fresh air.
You can adjust the time you fall asleep and wake up with the help of walks. For example, if you need to put your baby to bed a little later, take him for a walk before bed. Do not turn on overhead lights at night, even if the baby needs to be fed. Better buy a night light.
Remember that your baby's daily routine should be flexible. Corrections need to be made to it. It is better to adhere to a more strict routine only after a few months. Don’t be nervous if you can’t immediately accustom your baby to the routine. This may take quite a long time.
Wakefulness
The period of wakefulness between sleeps in a one month child is 1 – 1.5 hours. The newborn should spend this time as usefully as possible. You can give him a light massage, do special gymnastics for newborns, talk to the baby, read a book to him, play with a rattle, and be sure to spend time on hygiene procedures.
