Some sample baby sleep routines for babies and toddlers


Routines are a controversial topic for new mums. Some swear by rigid routines, while others are happy to go with the flow. Regardless of your position, one important aspect for healthy consistent sleep is a pre-bedtime routine. One study of more than 10,000 children across Australia, Canada, China, India, Japan, Singapore, the U.K. and the U.S., found that a bedtime routine was consistently associated with better sleep outcomes. These babies, toddlers, and kids tended to go to bed earlier, spend a shorter amount of time falling asleep, wake up fewer times through the night and sleep longer overall.

A pre-bedtime routine does not need to be complicated. It may involve a combination of quiet play time, a bath, some books, or a milk feed. Once your baby is in their room, you can also follow a short bedtime routine of putting on your baby’s sleeping bag, turning out the lights, singing a song, and saying goodnight. Babies are creatures of habit, and before you know it, they will be reminding you of the next step in the routine!

We preface this section by saying that all babies are different. These routines are meant as a guide to show what has worked for some mums… your baby might not be so keen on them. The routines show a combination of feedings, naps and playtime for babies from 0-2 years. We hope there are still some nuggets of information you can use to help find the right routine for you and your baby.

 

1 to 2 months

7:00am: wake up, milk feed

8:00am-9:30am: nap, milk feed on wake up

10:30am-12:00pm: nap, milk feed on wake up

1:00pm-2:30pm: nap, milk feed on wake up

3:30pm-5:00pm: nap, milk feed on wake up

6:00pm-7:30pm: nap, milk feed on wake up

8:00pm: bath, bedtime routine, milk feed

8:30pm: bedtime

2 night milk feeds

 

7:00am: wake up, milk feed

8:00am-10:00am: nap, milk feed on wake up

11:00am-1:00pm: nap, milk feed on wake up

2:00pm-4:00pm: nap, milk feed on wake up

5:00pm-5:45pm: nap, milk feed on wake up

6:30pm: milk feed

7:00-7:45pm: short nap, milk feed on wake up

8:00pm: bath, bedtime routine

8:30pm: milk feed and bedtime

2 night milk feeds

 

 

2 months

7:00am: wake up, milk feed

8:00am-10:00am: nap, milk feed on wake up

11:00am-12:5pm: nap, milk feed on wake up

1:00pm-2:00pm: nap, milk feed on wake up

4:30pm-6:00pm: nap, milk feed on wake up

6:30pm: bath, bedtime routine, milk feed

7:00pm: bedtime

2 night milk feeds

 

7:00am: wake up, milk feed

8:00am-9:30am: nap

10:30am: milk feed

10:50am-1:30pm: nap

2:00pm: milk feed

3:00pm-4:30pm: nap

5:30pm: milk feed

6:00pm-6:45pm: short nap

7:30pm: bath, bedtime routine

8:00pm: milk feed and bedtime

2 night milk feeds

 

 

3 to 4 months

6:30am: wake up, milk feed

7:45am-9:00am: nap, milk feed on wake up

10:30am-11:30am: nap, milk feed on wake up

1:00pm-2:15pm: nap, milk feed on wake up

3:45pm-4:30pm: short nap, milk feed on wake up

5:30pm: bath, bedtime routine, milk feed

6:30pm: bedtime

2 night milk feeds

 

7:00am: wake up, milk feed

8:30am-9:45am: nap, milk feed on wake up

11:00am-12:00pm: nap, milk feed on wake up

1:30pm-2:45pm: nap, milk feed on wake up

4:30pm-5:15pm: short nap, milk feed on wake up

6:15pm: bath, bedtime routine, milk feed

7:00pm: bedtime

2 night milk feeds

 

5 months

6:30am: wake up, milk feed

8:15am-10:15am: nap, milk feed on wake up

12:15pm-1:30pm: nap, milk feed on wake up

3:30pm-4:15pm: short nap, milk feed on wake up

5:45pm: bath, bedtime routine, milk feed

6:30pm: bedtime

2 night milk feeds

 

8:00am: wake up, milk feed

10:00am-11:00am: nap, milk feed on wake up

1:00pm-2:00pm: nap, milk feed on wake up

5:00pm-5:30pm: milk feed and short nap

6:30pm: bath, bedtime routine

7:00pm: milk feed

8:00: bedtime

1 night milk feed

 

 

6 months

6:30am: wake up, milk feed

7:30am: breakfast

8:15am-9:45am: nap, milk feed on wake up

12:00pm-1:15pm: nap, milk feed on wake up

3:30pm-4:15pm: short nap, milk feed on wake up

5:30pm: dinner

6:00pm: bath, bedtime routine, milk feed

6:45pm: bedtime

1 night milk feed

 

7:00am: wake up, milk feed

8:15am-9:45am: nap

10:00am: breakfast followed by milk feed

12:30pm-2:00pm: nap

2:30pm: lunch followed by milk feed

5:30pm: dinner with milk

7:00pm: bath, bedtime routine

7:30pm: milk and bedtime

 

7:00am: wake up, milk feed

8:30am: breakfast

9:00am-10:00am: nap

12:30pm: lunch

1:00pm-3.00pm: nap

3:15pm: snack

5:30pm: milk feed

7:30pm: dinner

8:00pm: bedtime routine

8:30pm: milk and bedtime

 

7 months

7:00am: wake up, milk feed

8:00am: breakfast

9:00am-10:15am: nap, milk feed on wake up

11:45am: lunch

12:30pm-1:30pm: nap, milk feed on wake up

4:00pm-4:45pm: short nap, milk feed on wake up

5:45pm: dinner

6:30pm: bath, bedtime routine, milk feed

7:00pm: bedtime

1 night milk feed

 

6:00am: wake up, milk feed

7:30am: breakfast

8:30am-10:15am: nap, milk feed on wake up

12:00am: lunch

12:45pm-2:30pm: nap, milk feed on wake up

5:15pm: dinner

6:00pm: milk feed, bath, bedtime routine

6:45pm: milk feed and bedtime

1 night milk feed

 

 

8 months

7:00am: wake up, milk feed

8:00am: breakfast

9:00am-11:00am: nap, milk feed on wake up

12:00pm: lunch

1:45pm-3:15pm: nap, milk feed on wake up

5:00pm: early dinner

6:00pm: bath, bedtime routine, milk feed

6:30pm: bedtime

Start stopping night feeds

 

6:30am: wake up, milk feed

7:30am: breakfast

9:30am-11:00am: nap, milk feed on wake up

12:00pm: lunch

2:15pm-3:45pm: nap, milk feed on wake up

5:45pm: dinner

6:30pm: bath, bedtime routine, milk feed

7:00pm: bedtime

Start stopping night feeds

 

7:30am: wake up, milk feed

8:30am: breakfast

9:00am-11:30pm: nap, milk feed on wake up

1:30am-2:30pm: short nap, milk feed on wake up

4:30pm-5:15pm: short nap on the go

5:30pm: dinner

6:30pm: bath, bedtime routine, milk feed

7:30pm: bedtime

1-2 milk feeds

 

 

9-12 months

7:00am: wake up, milk feed

8:00am: breakfast

10:00am-11:30am: nap, milk feed on wake up

12:30pm: lunch

3:00pm-4:00pm: nap, milk feed on wake up

5:30pm: dinner

6:30pm: bath, bedtime routine, milk feed

7:00pm: bedtime

 

7:30am: wake up, milk feed

9:30am: breakfast

10:30am-11:30am: nap, milk feed or snack on wake up

1:30pm: lunch

2:30pm-3:30pm: nap, snack on wake up

5:30pm: dinner

6:30pm: bath, bedtime routine

7:30pm: milk feed and bedtime

 

6:00am: wake up, milk feed

6:15am: breakfast

8:15am: snack

9:00am-10:00am: nap

11:30pm: lunch and milk feed

2:30pm-3:30pm: nap, snack on wake up

5:00pm: dinner and milk feed

6:00pm: bath, bedtime routine

7:00pm: milk feed and bedtime

 

12-18 months (with 2 naps)

6:30am: wake up, milk feed

7:15am: breakfast

9:15am: snack

9:45am-11:15am: nap

12:00pm: lunch

2:15pm: snack

3:15pm-4:00pm: nap

6:00pm: dinner

6:30: bath, bedtime routine, milk feed

7:00pm: bedtime

 

12-18 months (with 1 nap)

6:30am: wake up

7:00am: breakfast, followed by milk feed

9:00am: snack

11:30am: lunch

12:00pm-2:00pm: nap

2:30pm: snack

5:30pm: dinner

6:30: bath, bedtime routine, milk feed

7:00pm: bedtime

 

7:30am: wake up

8:00am: breakfast

9:30am: snack

12:15pm: lunch

1:00pm-3:30pm: nap

3:30pm: snack

5:30pm: dinner

6:45: bath, bedtime routine, milk feed

7:15pm: bedtime

 

18-24 months (with 1 nap)

6:30am: wake up

7:00am: breakfast

9:00am: snack

11:45am: lunch

12:30pm-3:00pm: nap

3:00pm: snack

5:45pm: dinner

6:45: bath, bedtime routine, milk feed

7:30pm: bedtime

 

8:30am: wake up and breakfast

11:00am: lunch

12:00pm-3:00pm: nap

3:00pm: snack

6:00pm: dinner

7:00: bath, bedtime routine

7:30pm: milk feed and bedtime

 

2 years old (with 1 nap)

6:30am: wake up

7:00am: breakfast

9:30am: snack

12:00pm: lunch

1:00pm-3:00pm: nap

3:30pm: snack

5:45pm: dinner

6:45: bath, bedtime routine, milk feed

7:45pm: bedtime

 

7:00am: wake up

7:30am: breakfast

9:00am: snack

11:00am: lunch

12:00pm-2:00pm: nap

3:30pm: snack

5:30pm: dinner

6:30: bath, bedtime routine

7:00pm: bedtime

 

2 years old (with no nap)

7:00am: wake up

7:30am: breakfast

9:30am: snack

12:00pm: lunch

1:00pm-2:00pm: quiet time

3:30pm: snack

5:30pm: dinner

6:30: bath, bedtime routine, milk feed

7:00pm: bedtime

 

6:30am: wake up

7:00am: breakfast

9:30am: snack

12:00pm: lunch

1:00pm-2:00pm: quiet time

2:30pm: snack

5:45pm: dinner

6:15: bath, bedtime routine, milk feed

7:00pm: bedtime