Should I try to stick to a routine?
Follow your baby's cues and respond accordingly. You will, in time, work out what your baby'sc ries and cues are telling you. Listening and responding to your baby in this way means that you will fall into the kind of routine that they need. And remember: routines change as your baby grows. You'll certainly find that you're changing and adapting your routine all the time.
As for sleep time routines, you might feel ready to offer a bedtime routine at around 3 months. This can be good for everybody in the family and can help prevent sleeping problems later on. Do what works for you. The most important thing is that it calms, soothes, and helps your baby. Bedtime is a wonderful opportunity to spend one-to-one time with your baby. You could give them a bath, change them into nightclothes and a fresh nappy, dim the lights in the room, or even sing a lullaby. Just remember how your baby loves to hear your voice.
When you're a new parent, you might be keen to hit a routine right away. But, as health visitor Sarah Heaney explains, the most important thing is to look out for baby's cues as to what they need.
If you do this, then you're likely to hit the routine they need.
