If you follow along via instagram you know that I mention multiple times the word routine. Whether that is nap-time, bedtime or day-day I love a routine.

Having a routine ensures consistency and consistency ensures healthy sleeping habits.

For me, I enjoy a consistent routine for my kids because in return, it allows me to prepare my day around my children’s sleeping and quiet -time activities.

I wake before my kids and sneak in a run, workout and devotional time. Having this time to fill my own cup before pouring into my children’s, allows me to be a more involved and happy mother.

If having a routine for your life allows you to be a better mother, allows for more sleep in your life, or is just something you thrive off of… follow here!

How To Ensure a Consistent Routine:

Appropriate Wake Window or flexible routine for your little one:
1. Newborns: Ensure that they are receiving a nap (contact or crib) every 35-60 minutes.
2. Infants: Ensure they are receiving 11-12 hours of nighttime sleep and depending on their age 2-4 hours of daytime sleep.
3. Toddlers: They are still receiving 11-12 hours of nighttime sleep and 2-3 hour naps.
4. Preschoolers: Usually see 10.5-11.5 hours of nighttime sleep and either capping naps at just 1 hour or naps have ended and quiet-time has taken the place.
Independent Sleeper:
When little ones know how to put themselves to sleep they are able to do this throughout the night and in those early mornings when the sleep drive is not as high. Many parents will have their little ones wake at 4-5:30am and want to start their day. If they are independent sleepers, and there is no light coming into the room, they will learn how to put themselves back to sleep.
Waking your little one at the Same Time Everyday:
- Little ones ages 0-4 months: Ensure that they are on 12 hours of day and 12 hours of night. We want to ensure that they are waking around the same time each morning. This can vary 30-60 mins at this age, especially due to naps and night feedings.
- Little one ages 4-5 months are able to have a 3o minute schedule difference each day depending on their nap consistency, last nap of the day and nap transitions.
- Ages 6 months and older are able to have a schedule that is the same each day. They are officially on that 11-12 hour night with no 30-60 min adjusting due to lack of naps, or early bedtimes. We will always wake them at the same time each day to allow for their schedule nap routines, and bedtime.
Toddler Light/Clock:
- The Hatch: We are huge fans of the Hatch Sound Machine that also can be used as a light system. This systems allow for your routine to stay in place, as well, by teaching your little one’s to stay in bed and also, to know when it is time to wake.
  - Yellow means our bedtime routine is ending in 2 minutes and then, it will be time to get into bed.
  - Orange/red means that it is bedtime and it is time to stay in bed.
  - Green means it is time to wake, and they can wait for mom or dad to come and get them.
- I do not teach my littles to climb out of bed without mom or dad coming to get them, but some parents do.. or their kids do it anyway.

Why is a Routine Important:

Having a routine that is consistent each and everyday is not only important for mom and dads mental health, but also, our little ones.

Routines allow for:

Predictable days.
Set boundaries to ensure healthy sleep habits are found and kept.
Time for mom and dad to have time together.
Happy Children/Babies because sleep is happening and their day is consistent.

If hearing or seeing the word routine seems like a joke to you, I would love to chat more. Let’s schedule a consultation (Book a Free Call) and dig deeper into your little one’s sleep issues so that we can ensure a flexible, but consistent routine is a part of your new motherhood journey.