Babies Thrive on Routine
Date :
Thursday, November 19 2009
Source:
Autourina Mains
Imagine having to attend training, a meeting or trip and never getting an agenda. An agenda provides an outline of what is to be expected and prepares the attendee to stay on task, feel organized and anticipate what is to come. A routine works the same way for children from birth on up. The brain functions in sequential, logical manner and routine helps keep the brain in a calm mode which is optimal for learning.
First few weeks of life, babies have to adjust to living outside of mother’s womb. In the womb, the baby slept and was active as he/she pleased without having a set schedule, however being born into a family, they have to adjust to the family routine of sleeping during the night and awake or active by the day. By about 2-3 months old the baby will be ready to follow a routine. You’ll be able to notice a pattern of when your baby sleeps, is quiet but awake, plays, eats, naps and needs to be change. This is a good time to begin establishing a routine for your baby.
Babies thrive on routine and they feel secure and content when their most basic routines of feeding, bathing, sleeping and changing schedules are held fast. Keep in mind that with babies and children in general you have to be flexible. Some parents may be more relaxed than others and follow an on demand schedule where they tend to the baby’s needs on demand. They feed when the baby is hungry, change as needed and let the baby sleep whenever.
Some parents may follow a rigid, hourly routine of feeding, changing and putting the baby to sleep every 2 hours. And there are those parents who are somewhere in the middle. The parents in the middle are perhaps the most flexible as they learn how their baby’s routine is and go along with it. As the infant matures, eating and sleeping patterns change. Parents become in tune to the baby’s changing needs and plan their day around it. By the time the baby reaches toddler age, he/she will be used to the family schedule and is able to wake, eat, play, nap, bath, and sleep on a daily set routine.
You can create a bed time routine as early as 3 months old, by recognizing when your baby is sleepy. When the baby is sleepy, lay her down and read a short book, or rock her while you read a book, or sing a song to help her fall asleep.
Don’t be afraid to set a routine and remember that your baby will appreciate having consistency.