Self settling

I have found that keeping to just a rough routine works for me.
I've had to tweak Blaire's routine a few times because I ended up heading back to part time work (feeding calves, milking cows etc) 3 weeks ago.
Blaire wakes up around 7.30-8am has a feed, a nappy change, another feed then he goes back to bed.
By then its usually 9-9.30am. He sleeps until 11am-12noon, then up for another feed & a nappy change.
Then we have about 1/2 an hour playtime, then another feed around 12.30pm-1.30pm then he has a snooze until 2.30pm when I wake him up for a feed & nappy change before I start work at 3pm.
He sleeps while I'm working until about 5.30pm, when I give him a feed, then he has playtime on his mat while I cook dinner around 6-6.30pm.
After dinner he has a bath, a massage, cuddles with his big bro Alex & his Daddy.
Then I give him his final big feed & aim to have him in bed around 8pm.

Edited to add: I know it sounds like he is hanging off my boob all day but I don't mind considering he sleeps most of the morning while I do my housework & catch up on things. And then he sleeps while I work & also he sleeps all night so it works really well for me.
Some days it doesn't work because I have extra things to do like shopping but because I don't make it a strict routine it doesn't matter.

I have a friend who keeps to a really strict routine of sleep, feed, playtime. And she has to schedule things like housekeeping & family functions because if she upsets the routine she has one very unhappy baby. But thats just my observation, she doesn't seem to mind it.

Edited by toniellis

We have been stricter on Addison getting herself to sleep in her own bed and after a couple of roughish days its actually working and she is back onto her routine and sleeping through to the next feed. I put her down teh minute I notice she is looking sleepy and even if she wakes and cries we just leave her, very tempting to pick her up but within about 5-10 minutes of grizzling she is asleep. Only problem we have is Kobe hates hearing her cry and will go and give her the dummy or pat her!

Hahaha I know what you mean about living on the couch! I have the feeling especially since Alex is still having his share too.
Blaire's routine is pretty great for me....It keeps me sane most days anyway!

Yeah I'm starting to have the same kind of thing Jess... so any suggestions from anyone would be good. Am contemplating contacting a Plunket centre.

I can offer suggestions that worked with both my boys....Like Nikki said though, for different babies different things work.
When my boys were waking in the night I would feed them with just a very dim light on. Feed one side, one good burp, change nappy, feed on the other side, then one good burp then back to bed.
Both my boys learnt to burp themselves around the 5-6 week mark by doing that.
I made sure they were well wrapped & they had mittens on so if they did get their hands free then their hands didn't get cold (it was guaranteed they would wake up if they had cold hands I found), also there was no chitchat or anything & if they stirred during the night I could tell by their cry wether they were hungry or they were just stirring & weren't actually awake.
I wouldn't even get up out of bed if they were crying unless it was a hungry cry.

Both my boys slept through the night at 6 weeks old & Alex always has unless he was teething, sick or going through a growthspurt. So far Blaire is doing the same & its bliss for him to sleep 12 hours at night.....

Just remember that alot of babies won't sleep through the night until much older. One of my friends has a 3 year old who still won't sleep all night. And sleep deprivation is a big part of parenting unfortunately. Make sure you ladies have plenty of sleep during the day when your babies are napping even if it means leaving the house as a pit

Hi Linelle, me personally I leave bubs to wake himself.
Mainly so the get the sleep they need & also to encourage them to sleep as long as possible at night time.
The only time I have woken my boys up is if they are asleep when I have to go somewhere. It doesn't happen very often though & then they both normally fall back asleep in the car anyway.

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