Consistent Morning Routine With A New Baby

Mila and I begin our mornings the same each day. This is our way of ringing in a new day and my way of bringing consistency into her world. It took around two months for us to establish this routine together. If you haven’t yet, be kind to yourself, you will get there! 

Lev Vygotsky is one of my favourite psychologists stemming back from my university days. He states that children learn from the world through physical interaction (Moore, 2011).

I take on his belief that we as caregivers must provide our children with the opportunities to learn. Establishing a morning routine with my little one is giving her those opportunities to learn with me and adjust to this big world. 

Here is how we begin everyday together:

Serve and Return - 8:30am

I’ll peer over to Milas bassinet and greet her good morning, pairing it with a smile and some physical touch as she slowly wakes up. I’m careful not to immediately pick her up as that would startle and confuse her (every baby is different however). 

I use this precious time to serve her some cooing and eye contact while she returns back similar engagements. We do this for around 2-5 minutes or until she indicates she is done by looking away or squirming around. We continue serve and return interactions all through the day as well. 

If you’re interested in reading up more on serve and return interactions check out Harvard University - Center on the Developing Child. 

Diapering and singing - 8:40am 

Next, I will change Milas diaper in the same place each day so she can expect the upcoming actions of changing her diaper when I lay her down. 

While I change her diaper I use a saline nasal mist in each of her nostrils. We love the hydra sense one. Then I use the snot sucker to clear out any congestion. I’ll add some vitamin D drops to her pacifier, let her soothe on it, then add some probiotic drops and again let her soothe on it. 

I will sing a few of our favourite songs with her while I change her and dress her for the day. She will usually intently listen to the songs and either smile or babble. We don’t spend too long here as I know she needs to begin her play window while she has energy and before her first nap of the day. 

Feeding/nursing - 9:00am

I will typically nurse Mila for 30-40 mins after we are done getting her ready for the day. She responds better to being fed after getting ready. If I feed her right when she wakes she will usually fall back to sleep and wake up quite grouchy or unsettled. I think this is related to her associating feedings with sleep. (We’re still working on this)

Play and exploration - 9:30am

I am a strong believer in the power of play. Play allows children to learn so much from their environment. I typically will set Mila down on her back to play with her dangling toys. She attempts to reach them and kicks her feet the more she enjoys what she sees/hears. Once she attempts to start rolling over and arching her back, she is signalling to me that she is done or becoming overstimulated. 

If she is okay to do so, I’ll flip her over to her tummy and she will do around 3-5 minutes of tummy time. She responds well to encouragement, clapping and hoorays during this time. Next, I will sit her in her bumbo and I will make myself a quick breakfast while she watches me move around. 

I will sometimes place Mila back down on her mat or prop her up on one of her pillows so she she can hold her Sophie the giraffe or another favourite toy that she loves to put in her mouth and bite down on. 

Nap times and wake windows - 10:30am

Mila will have a second top up feed and a diaper change (she’s probably had 2-3 bowel movements and pees before this - shout out to breastfeeding moms - you know the struggle) before going down for her first nap around 10:30 in the morning, 2 hours after waking.

I find any longer than this and she will become overtired and cry. If she gives me sleep signals like rubbing her eyes and big yawns before this her nap will be earlier. 

Mila is a chronic cat napper so her naps last 20-40 mins (depending) for 5X a day. (Also something we’re working on). 

That is pretty much how our morning looks until the mid afternoon when we switch to our evening/nighttime routine! 

I would love for you to share what your morning routine looks like with your LO.

Xx 

Nikki