Since a bunch of mums and soon-to-be mums have been messaging/emailing me to write about Hunter’s daily routine, I thought I’d blog about it, ‘cos I also want it for my own reference in future when I read back on his baby years. By no means am I saying this is going to work for anyone else, it’s just what works for Hunter, and all babies are different! We haven’t really read any baby books (the 1 and only one we have and read is this one that my AU girl friend gave me), but we do a lot of online research and also try to be as “in tune” with him as possible to read his cues etc.
This is NOT a strict schedule. We’re not too fussed about insisting he does this-and-that at a specific time. We found we didn’t need to anyway, as since he was born he did stuff like clockwork, so it all fell into place. Anyway, so far so good – it works for us and Hunter is happy and healthy, so WHEW 😉
MORNING:
Wake up around 7:30AM. I usually try to extend it by turning on his musical mobile and pretending he doesn’t exist as I try to squeeze in a few more minutes of sleep (hee!). After around 15 mins, he starts cooing and talking to himself, so I can’t sleep anymore and lean over to say GOOD MORNING! Am greeted by a big happy smile and I am reminded all over again that we are so blessed to be parents. Bring him into bed for some cuddles and playtime and songs, then change his (soaked) diaper. Then at around 8:30AM it’s his Breakfast breastfeed. Then my Dad takes him out for a morning walk.At around 9:30AM, my Dad and Hunter come back, and Hunter goes down for Nap #1 of 45 mins. When he wakes up, I change his diaper and we go out eating/shopping/meeting friends!
AFTERNOON:
Lunchtime breastfeed at around 12:00PM and then has Nap #2 at around 12:30PM, 45 mins again. Afterwards it’s more shopping and wandering around Singapore until 3:00PM when he has his Afternoon Tea breastfeed. He then takes Nap #3 at around 4:30PM for – you guessed it – 45 mins! After that, we usually head back home by 6PM.EVENING:
The evenings we are very strict with. We have a very specific and inflexible bedtime that we refuse to change. I think that’s a good thing, considering Hunter’s mornings/afternoons are always outside and random. Anyway, he has his Dinner breastfeed at 6:15PM and then Chris does his baby-massage straight afterwards. Then it’s bathtime, tummy time (to rid him of any extra energy and to tire him), then change into his pajamas. Then it’s Bedtime reading.NIGHT TIME:
After his Bedtime reading, Hunter is given a quick cuddle and goodnight kiss, then placed into his cot awake but drowsy between 7:00 – 7:30PM. This is critical. Bedtime is every parent’s fear and obsession, ‘cos who doesn’t want their baby to sleep well and through the night?! We specifically make sure he’s in his cot and asleep at this time because we’ve read so much about this being the best time for a baby to sleep – both for their mental development and also to ensure they are well-rested enough to ‘sleep through the night’. And geez it WORKS! Ever since we started doing this when he was very young, he’s been a steady and solid sleeper, so we are quite obsessed with putting him down at this time now 😉We also make sure we put him in his cot awake but drowsy, because I know if you put a baby into his cot when he’s already asleep, he will NOT sleep well and need you again when he wakes up. Ever since we started doing this trick when Hunter was still very young, he can self-soothe himself back to sleep whenever he wakes up in the middle of the night (whew). Of course, it must be said he is a noisy sleeper and also noisy as he soothes himself back to sleep.. so I STILL wake up sometimes when he’s doing it (doh!) but at least I can leave him be and he’ll fall asleep by himself.
I do his Dreamfeed just after 10:00PM, after my shower. He’s asleep the entire time so it’s easy as I just plonk him straight back into his cot and snuggle up into bed… zzzz…zzz…
That’s pretty much it 🙂 It may not be “by the book” but we’re happy with it. I find it highly irritating when people come along and try to ‘advise’ us or urge us to change it etc, so I’m also not telling everyone this is the best approach. Maybe there’s an even better way for us to do things, but for now it’s all smooth clockwork for us so I daren’t change it 😛
If only my lashes were as long!
Hullo cheeky boys
I don’t have kids, but you sound like you are channeling my mom. She was adamant about the regular bedtime when I was growing up. I had to be in bed at 8:00 p.m. for the longest time. I didn’t have to go to sleep (you can’t make anyone do that) but I had to be in bed. Turns out years later I read that a routine like that is crucial for the best rest – esp if you want to avoid problems like insomnia later on.
I always needed 8 hours to be functional – then and now. I remember those kids who were allowed to go to bed when they wanted – they often missed school or were later because they couldn’t wake up properly.
Go with your instincts…they sound wonderful…
I love your Mum’s idea – go to bed at 8pm even if you refuse to sleep etc. I think it gives children a sense of security when there are set routines, so I hope to do that with Hunter!
And to make sure we are not mad-strict parents, we make daytimes very flexible and go with the flow, so he also becomes accustomed to change and doesn’t get fussed by it. I hope it all works.. heh
I don’t have kids, but you sound like you are channeling my mom. She was adamant about the regular bedtime when I was growing up. I had to be in bed at 8:00 p.m. for the longest time. I didn’t have to go to sleep (you can’t make anyone do that) but I had to be in bed. Turns out years later I read that a routine like that is crucial for the best rest – esp if you want to avoid problems like insomnia later on.
I always needed 8 hours to be functional – then and now. I remember those kids who were allowed to go to bed when they wanted – they often missed school or were later because they couldn’t wake up properly.
Go with your instincts…they sound wonderful…
I love your Mum’s idea – go to bed at 8pm even if you refuse to sleep etc. I think it gives children a sense of security when there are set routines, so I hope to do that with Hunter!
And to make sure we are not mad-strict parents, we make daytimes very flexible and go with the flow, so he also becomes accustomed to change and doesn’t get fussed by it. I hope it all works.. heh
We have a fairly similar routine in the morning and at night! I think the only difference is that Nae needs a couple of 2 plus hour sleeps during the day and 1 shorter one (about 40 mins). Otherwise, she gets cranky!
I hope your lil one will be a good sleeper so you can get as much rest as possible.. a well-rested mama is a happy mama, heh!
Fantastic! We just helped Enoch learn how to self-soothe too, wished we had done the “drowsy but awake” thing a lot sooner! Am also amazed by how Hunter is able to nap on the go 🙂 Enoch is now getting a great nap routine at home, but I’m kinda wondering how it’ll be if we take him outside during his normal naptime. Any tips on how to have the baby nap well while outside?
I think self-soothing is the holy grail.. and once a child can do that, things get so much easier!
I think Hunter naps anywhere and everywhere because we did it since he turned 1 month old and I went out every day with friends. So maybe he’s just used to it? Maybe if you keep doing it, he’ll soon get used to it and be able to nap outside 🙂
We have a fairly similar routine in the morning and at night! I think the only difference is that Nae needs a couple of 2 plus hour sleeps during the day and 1 shorter one (about 40 mins). Otherwise, she gets cranky!
I hope your lil one will be a good sleeper so you can get as much rest as possible.. a well-rested mama is a happy mama, heh!
Hunter is a real angel! 🙂 I do agree with a lot of what you say about baby and their routines! Although its amazing that Hunter doesn’t fuss too much and survives on 3x45mins of nap a day only! But well the most impt thing is that he is happy and STTN! 😀
I strongly believe expected routines are really beneficial for young children… it works for us anyway!
I didn’t realise 3x45mins is little?? I thought it was enough cos he sleeps for 12hrs at night!
Most babies need at least one good nap at home and 10 to 12 hours at night to function optimally. For my two kiddos they will only Catnap outside 30 to 45 mins each time and does not sleep well either! Then they get superbly cranky. I try to assure myself that naps are not forever so one day they’ll be able to manage better outside home! So for being able to manage on 3 short naps and still remain happy, Hunter’s a dream! 🙂
urgh hate it when people tries to dish out ‘advises’! you guys know better, dun you?!
Hunter is such a coolios lil’ guy! 🙂
Fantastic! We just helped Enoch learn how to self-soothe too, wished we had done the “drowsy but awake” thing a lot sooner! Am also amazed by how Hunter is able to nap on the go 🙂 Enoch is now getting a great nap routine at home, but I’m kinda wondering how it’ll be if we take him outside during his normal naptime. Any tips on how to have the baby nap well while outside?
I think self-soothing is the holy grail.. and once a child can do that, things get so much easier!
I think Hunter naps anywhere and everywhere because we did it since he turned 1 month old and I went out every day with friends. So maybe he’s just used to it? Maybe if you keep doing it, he’ll soon get used to it and be able to nap outside 🙂
Hunter is a real angel! 🙂 I do agree with a lot of what you say about baby and their routines! Although its amazing that Hunter doesn’t fuss too much and survives on 3x45mins of nap a day only! But well the most impt thing is that he is happy and STTN! 😀
I strongly believe expected routines are really beneficial for young children… it works for us anyway!
I didn’t realise 3x45mins is little?? I thought it was enough cos he sleeps for 12hrs at night!
Most babies need at least one good nap at home and 10 to 12 hours at night to function optimally. For my two kiddos they will only Catnap outside 30 to 45 mins each time and does not sleep well either! Then they get superbly cranky. I try to assure myself that naps are not forever so one day they’ll be able to manage better outside home! So for being able to manage on 3 short naps and still remain happy, Hunter’s a dream! 🙂
urgh hate it when people tries to dish out ‘advises’! you guys know better, dun you?!
Hunter is such a coolios lil’ guy! 🙂