Routines. Everyone says babies need and love routines. But what does that look like for a newborn?
I first have to give props to the kindle app. In our first few weeks of parenthood I realized I had no clue what I was doing. Despite the fact that, professionally, I teach kids with autism by troubleshooting schedules and behavioral challenges on a regular basis, I had not the slightest clue what to do with a newborn. But the kindle app allowed me to download books that hopefully would guide me in the right direction. So by the light of my dimmed iPhone as I rocked my little Snarf Baby for many hours in the dark, I was able to try to get a handle on this whole newborn thing.
So far the most helpful books have been:
Secrets of the Baby Whisperer: How to Calm, Connect, and Communicate with Your Baby
By Tracey Hogg
The Happiest Baby on the Block
By Harvey Karp, M.D.
and
The 90-Minute Baby Sleep Program: Follow Your Child’s Natural Sleep Rhythms for Better Nights and Naps
By Polly Moore, PH.D
There is not a one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to kids. But I found that these books have helped me to figure out what works for our little snarf baby.
So here’s what worked for us so far:
Once he wakes up we give him a few moments to get himself together. He’s not a get up and go kinda guy. He gets that from his dad. Then we change the diaper and play a bit at changing time. Then, if he’s hungry he eats. If not then we play first. During play time we try to get some tummy time in. He hates it but seems to do better if we put a mirror up so he can look at himself. Then about an hour and fifteen minutes from the time he woke up he starts to get fussy. So we check / change the diaper, swaddle, sing and rock the little Snarf to sleep. We use a pacifier to get him to sleep but he usually spits it out soon after dozing off. If he doesn’t, we can gently remove it.
Daytime naps usually last about 30 to 45 minutes. Just recently, at almost three months old, he has begun to nap in his crib or pack & play.
His bed time routine is pretty simple at this point. He gets a bath which he loves, takes his medicine and has a bedtime feeding. Then it’s swaddle, song and rock him to sleep. While doing this we turn on the Cloud b Sleep Sheep – Four Soothing Sounds From Nature for white noise and the Cloud b Twilight Constellation Night Light, Turtle for ambiance.
He has always, for the most part, been a good night sleeper. Usually sleeping in 3 to 5 hour stretches. Occasionally he has bad nights and wakes every hour and a half to two hours. But, at night, he just eats and goes back to sleep.
Well that’s where we are at this point. We’ll keep ya posted as things change.
Well he’s been super droolie and chomping on everything. Then yesterday Mike noticed a little white dot where teeth will one day be. I tried to take a picture of it but here’s all I got. We’ll see what develops!
We got tickets to 
Jacob in his swaddle.