Tentative Schedule for Infants 0-4 Weeks

0-4 Weeks
Preparation for Parenting
Baby Wise

Routine for Weeks 0-4
If breast-feeding: 2- 3 hour routine for birth to end of fourth week
If bottle-feeding: every 3 hours (pg 81 in Prep for Parenting) 1 ½ oz – 3 oz bottle for first several weeks.

Decide when you want to start your day. Somewhere between 6-7 am. Wake baby each day at this time. If the day starts earlier than ½ hr – 1 hr before the time you decided adjust accordingly. If baby wakes earlier than 1 hour before the time decided, attend to baby and put back in bed.

Decide when you want the day to end. Baby should be in bed within ½ hr of this time each night.

Session Time What to do
Early Morning 6 am 1. Feeding and diaper change
2. Possible wake time
3. Put baby down for a nap
Mid Morning 9 am 1. Feeding and diaper change
2. Possible wake time
3. Put baby down for a nap
Afternoon 12 pm 1. Feeding and diaper change
2. Possible wake time
3. Put baby down for a nap
Mid-afternoon 3 pm 1. Feeding and diaper change
2. Possible wake time. COUCH TIME!!!!
3. Put baby down for a nap
Late-afternoon 6 pm 1. Feeding and diaper change
2. Possible wake time
3. Put baby down for a nap
Early Evening 9 pm 1. Feeding and diaper change
2. Possible wake time
3. Put baby to bed and go to bed yourself! Set and alarm clock for the next feeding.
Late Evening 12 pm 1. Feeding and diaper change
2. Put baby back to bed. NOTE: If you are breast- feeding, we do not recommend that you let your baby go longer than 5 hours at night for the first 4 -5 weeks. Therefore we schedule the middle of the night feeding through the end of this phase.
Middle of the night 3 am 1. Feeding
2. Put baby back to bed.

Goals: Establish milk supply, teach baby to nurse, give full feedings (both sides), baby to gain weight (use healthy baby growth chart in back of book!)
Feed: 8 feedings/day
Wake Time: Wake time is limited at first due to baby's need for sleep. 10-15 minutes for first 2 weeks…. Begin pac-n-play time when baby has wake period of 15 mins. 30 mins for weeks 3-6.
Wake time ideas: Rock & sing to baby, watch mobile, go for a walk, run errands, visit friends and family, bathe baby, place in infant seat near window.
Naps: 1-1 ½ hrs
Growth Spurts: 2-3 weeks
Additional Notes: * First feeding is 15 mins per side if comfortable.
* Milk comes in approx 3-5 days after birth.
* First week aim for 15-20 mins per side for a total of 30-40 mins
* Limited soap on nipples due to drying affect.
* You may introduce bottle or pacifier at 2-4 weeks of age, 1 or 2 times a week.
* Be aware of the checklist on page 28-30, reread chapters 4-6 before birth if you have any questions.
Do your best to wake sleepy babies:
* Make sure you wake them up the same time every morning (within a ½ hr) (see pgs 107-108)
* Wet wash cloth on forehead or feet
* Strip down to diaper and rub feet
* Feed one side (or half bottle), change diaper, feed other side (rest of bottle)
* If baby is asleep at the breast, gently tap under baby's chin to encourage them to continue eating.
* 10-10-5-5 works well (feed 10 mins on each side, then go back to first side and do a second round (dessert) this time for only 5 mins each side)