One of the largest issues with bringing your new baby home from the hospital will be sleep loss for you. You will need to feed your new baby approximately every 2 to 3 hours around the clock. Your newborn will also need to be changed, held and rocked. For new parents, sleep will be far and few between for the next few months. Putting your baby on a schedule may help increase your sleep time. At first it may be a challenge, but will pay off as soon as everyone adjusts to the routine. Learn all the tips on feeding and sleeping schedule for your newborn.

Creating a Schedule for Newborns – From Birth to 2 Months

You will find that establishing a routine for your baby will depend largely on your baby’s cues and needs with sleeping, eating, needing changed and awake time. It will also depend on your needs and your family’s schedule.

Understand the Crying

The only way that your baby can tell you he or she needs something at this age is with crying. Often, babies will cry even if they have been fed and changed. These crying spells tend to peak at the 6 to 8 week point during the evening hours and then become less over time. You can try the recommended “Five S’s” to help comfort the baby. These consist of swaddling, side/stomach lying while you’re holding baby, shushing, swinging and sucking. Stay strong: The crying eventually goes away!

What does Your Newborn Need?

When you design your schedule, you need to make sure you understand the needs of a 1 to 2 month old baby during a 24-hour period:

• Feeding. Your baby will need 12 to 24 ounces of formula or breast milk and maybe even up to 32 ounces. They have very small tummies and need to eat frequently around the clock.
• Sleep. Babies this age need around 16 hours of sleep over a 24 hour period. They usually take about 3 naps a day and periods of sleep during the night.
• Activities. They need adequate enrichment and playtime while awake. During this time they develop social skills, get muscle exercise and learn motor skills. They need toys, you can read to them, massage them or take them for a walk outside.

Schedule for Newborn Who Is Breastfed

It is advised to breastfeed your baby exclusively until he is 4 month old. It will not only provide with him the essential nutrients but also will give him a better immune system. Watch a video for more facts and tips on newborn breastfeeding schedule:

Schedule for Newborn Who Is Formula Fed

This schedule focuses on baby’s cues and the parents scheduling needs. In this routine, the baby is the only child and formula-fed.

8:00 a.m. – Baby wakes up and eats 6 to 8 ounces of formula. Diaper change. Baby falls back to sleep.

1:00 p.m. – 6 to 8 ounces of formula. Diaper change. Baby remains awake and we incorporate playtime on a floor mat with toys. I also read or sing at this time.

4:00 p.m. – 6 to 8 ounces of formula and diaper change. Baby takes a short nap until 5 p.m.

5:00 p.m. – This is baby’s “fussy” period. We need to try the “5 S’s” and spend time trying to comfort and calm him down.

7:00 p.m. – Bath time. We bath him every night, but only use soap products every other day to protect his skin. After the bath, we try to massage with lotion while singing. This really helps to relax and calm the crying spells in the evening.

8:00 p.m. – Baby takes 6 to 8 ounces of formula. We lay him down in his crib awake and sing or read to him. Then we turn on his light up toy and he watches it until he falls asleep.

12:30 a.m. – 4 to 6 ounce bottle for baby. Diaper change and back to sleep.

4:00 a.m. – 4 to 6 ounce bottle and diaper change. Baby falls asleep.

Schedule for Newborn Who Is Formula Fed

This schedule incorporates baby-led cues and parents schedule needs. This includes baby and an older child in the home, which can take some juggling but can be done! The baby is formula-fed.

5:00 a.m. – Baby wakes up for first feeding of the day. Eats 4 to 6 ounces of formula. I change his diaper and he falls back asleep.

8:00 a.m. – Wakes back up and takes another 4 to 6 ounce bottle. Diaper change.

9:00 a.m. – Baby remains awake after feeding and we have playtime between 9 a.m. and 12 p.m. During this time, I play with my older child and use a baby carrier to take baby around the house with me.

12:30 p.m. – Lunchtime for myself and a bottle for baby. Diaper change.

1:00 p.m. – Naptime for baby and my other child. If I have time, I try to nap myself.

4:00 p.m. – Baby wakes up for a 4 ounce bottle and diaper change.

4:30 p.m. – Outside playtime and walk for baby and my older child.

6:00 p.m. – Dinner for the family

7:00 p.m. – 4 to 6 ounceBottle and diaper change for baby. Baby goes down to sleep for the night.

8:00 p.m. – Bedtime for my older child. I try to go to sleep as soon as possible after my older child is put to bed.

12:00 a.m. – 4 to 6 ounce bottle for baby. Diaper change and back to sleep.

3:00 a.m. – 4 to 6 ounce bottle and diaper change. Baby falls right back to sleep.

Tips on Schedule for Newborn

Feeding Schedules

Sleeping Schedules

Newborn babies sleep and wake on a 24-hour cycle. Waking occurs when they need to eat, have a diaper change or need comforting and interaction with parents. They sleep between 14 and 18 hours per day in short 3 hour bursts and 1 to 3 hour periods awake. Even during sleep they exhibit activity such as; moving the legs and arms, sucking, smiling or restless activity.

When newborns are tired, they tend to be fussy and often cry. They also may show signs of sleepiness by rubbing the eyes or other clues that you will soon learn. Try to put your baby to bed as soon as they show the signs of sleepiness, but before they fall completely asleep. It is important for babies to learn how to put themselves to sleep. You can begin to “train’ your new baby to sleep more at night and less during the daytime hours by giving them a lot of light exposure and stimulation while they are awake during the day. As the sun goes down, cut down on stimulation in the form of noise, lights and activity.

Here are a few more tips for newborn sleep:

• Take note of your baby’s sleep/wake cycles
• It is very important to always put your baby to sleep in his or her back without soft blankets or toys near the face
• Do your best to encourage sleep during the night. This means when baby wakes up only take care of feeding and changing with as little light or noise as possible. Try to avoid playing or talking at this time.

Watch a video to learn more about infant care: bath, diaper change, swaddling, etc.