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Do You Need a Newborn Sleep Schedule?
Establishing a baby schedule that works for you and your little one can be a lifesaver! Creating a routine for your infant can help give your baby a sense of predictability and stability, and it will help you care for yourself too.
When I say, “schedule”, what I really mean is a flexible routine that fits you and your baby. There’s no one-size-fits-all baby schedule. Your child’s sleeping and eating patterns are unique, and they will change as he grows and develops.
When creating a daily schedule for your baby, you want to make sure that your routine meets your baby’s needs for nutrition and sleep. In this post, I’ll discuss the basics of establishing a newborn sleep schedule and give examples of newborn schedules you can use as a guide.
I’ve also included a baby schedule printable template that you can use to customize your own newborn schedule.
When Do I Start a Baby Schedule?
For the first few weeks, your baby will spend most of her time sleeping, and her patterns will be very unpredictable. A Newborn sleep schedule will not be consistent or predictable because your baby doesn’t have days and nights figured out just yet. This stage is exhausting, but it won’t last forever.
During these first few weeks, you can start learning your baby’s sleep cues so you can begin to set a newborn sleep schedule that works for her.
By the time your baby is about 2 months old, you’ll likely be familiar with his sleep cues. Understanding these cues is important for determining when to put him down to sleep so that he is drowsy but awake.
You probably won’t be able to establish a predictable baby schedule this early, but you can start establishing good sleep habits as early as 1-2 months.
I started implementing a (flexible) newborn sleep schedule for my babies at about 2 months old. My baby schedule was based on these factors:
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The Amount of Sleep Baby Needs
This changes as your baby grows and develops, so you’ll need to adjust your schedule accordingly. I learned my baby’s sleep cues so I could tell when he needed to rest. I also consulted my pediatrician to find out how much sleep my baby needed each day.
2. How Often Baby Needs to Eat
I used my pediatrician’s recommendations as a guide for how much my breastfed baby needed each day. I also kept a record of how many wet diapers he had to make sure he was getting enough to eat.
3. Baby’s Sleep Habits
I started parenthood with a set of twins. They could not have been more different in personality and temperament- even as infants! I had to adjust my baby schedule to fit their unique sleep patterns.
I kept them on a close schedule (for my own sanity), but sometimes their nap times did not match. And that’s ok. The goal of a schedule is to provide structure, but still make sure your baby has everything he needs.
4. The Family’s Routine
If you want to create a baby schedule that you’ll stick to, you want to make sure it fits with your family’s daily routine. Whenever possible, I tried to plan feeding times and bedtimes in such a way that I could still get my older kids ready for school and eat dinners together as a family.
Tips for Starting a Newborn Sleep Schedule that Really Works!
1. Keep Naps Short
Try not to let naps go longer than 2 hours.
2. Distinguish Between Daytime and Nighttime Sleep
I didn’t use the darkening curtains for nap time. I also didn’t try to keep everything unnaturally quiet while she napped. I still moved around the house as usual and kept the daytimes full of activity and interaction.
At night, I established a bedtime routine: bath, bottle, book, and bed. That helped her recognize bedtime and distinguish it from her daytime naps.
I also kept the baby’s room dark at night. When I came in for feedings, I only turned on a small nightlight. I didn’t talk to her and play with her. I kept it very quiet and calm to help her realize it was still time to rest.
3. Keep A Level of Consistency
As much as possible, create a sense of stability by having predictable routines for things like bedtime, mealtime, and playtime. The more consistent you can be, the more your baby will begin to fall into a routine.
Notice that I said “consistent” but not “rigid”. You never want to sacrifice your baby’s needs for the sake of a schedule.
Your baby’s sleep patterns will likely not be predictable until he is around 3 months old. So, don’t be disappointed if your newborn sleep schedule is not by the clock. Concentrate on learning your baby’s sleep patterns and giving him what he needs. The predictable baby schedule will come in time.
4. Lay your Baby Down Drowsy, But Awake
I started doing this at around 4 months. I wanted her to learn to fall asleep on her own.
Timing is everything when it comes to putting your little one down to sleep. You want to do it when your baby starts showing signs of being sleepy. You’ll begin to observe some of your baby’s sleep cues, such as rubbing her eyes, big yawns, or fussiness. That’s your cue to swaddle, calm, and then lay her down just before she’s fallen asleep.
If you wait too long, your baby can become overtired and begin to fight sleep.
Sample Daily Baby Schedule With Free Printable Template
Remember, your newborn sleep schedule will grow and change with your infant. Your baby’s daily routine will be unique to him and fit the needs of your family.
If you’re looking for a sample baby schedule, I’ve created these posts to help you out. These schedules are meant to serve as a model, but you can modify your baby routine to fit your child’s needs and sleep patterns.
I’ve also included a FREE printable baby schedule template that you can use to fill in your own newborn schedule.
You can get your free printable newborn schedule template here:
1 Month Old Sleep Schedule/ 1 Month Old Feeding Schedule
2 Month Old Sleep Schedule/ 2 Month Old Feeding Schedule
3 Month Old Sleep Schedule/ 3 Month Old Feeding Schedule
4 Month Old Sleep Schedule/ 4 Month Old Feeding Schedule
How Much Sleep Does My Baby Need?
The first thing you need to know when creating a newborn sleep schedule is the amount of sleep your baby should be getting each day.
Your baby’s need for sleep will change as he grows and develops. These sleep recommendations are based on an average range and may vary slightly. Consult your pediatrician if you’re concerned that your baby isn’t getting enough sleep.
According to whattoexpect.com:
| Age | Hours of Sleep Per 24 hour | Approx. Day Sleep (Naps) | Approx. Night Sleep |
| Birth-6 Weeks | 14-17 Hours | varies | varies |
| 2 Months | 14-17 Hours | 7-9 hours | 8-9 Hours |
| 3 Months | 14-16 Hours | 4-8 Hours | 8-10 Hours |
| 4 Months | 12-16 Hours | 3-6 Hours | 9-10 Hours |
| 5-6 Months | 12-16 Hours | 3-4 Hours | 10-11 Hours |
| 7-8 months | 12-16 Hours | 3-4 Hours | 10-12 Hours |
| 9 Months | 12-16 Hours | 3-4 Hours | 10-12 Hours |
| 10-12 Months | 12-16 Hours | 3-4 Hours | 10-12 Hours |
How Much Will My Baby Eat?
When creating your baby schedule, you’ll need to consider how often he or she needs to eat. The chart below gives the approximate feeding schedule by age. Remember that each baby’s feeding needs may vary slightly. Always consult your pediatrician if you have concerns about how much your child is eating
Source: babycenter.com
| Age | Breast Feeding | Formula |
| Birth – 1 Month | Nurse Every 2-3 Hours
8- 12 Breastfeeding Sessions/ Day |
2-4 oz every 2-3 Hours |
| 2 Months | Nurse Every 3-4 Hours
6-10 Breastfeeding Sessions / Day |
4-5 oz every 3-4 Hours |
| 3 – 4 Months | Nurse Every 4-5 Hours | 4-6 oz Every 4-5 Hours |
| 5 Months | Nurse Every 4-5 Hours | 6oz / 5-6 Bottles/Day |
| 6 Months
May also be Starting Solid Foods |
Nurse 5-6 Times a Day | 28-32 oz / Day (5-6 Bottles) |
| 7 -9 Months | 24-32 oz of Breastmilk/ 3-5 Sessions | 24-32 oz Formula / 3-5 Bottles |
