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Daytime newborn routine 1: feed, play, sleep

Feed your baby.

Feed your baby.

Play and change his nappy.

Play with your baby. Check your baby’s nappy. Change it if it’s wet or soiled.

When he shows tired signs, it's bedtime.

When your newborn shows tired signs, put him in his cot to sleep.

Daytime newborn routine 2

Newborns need to be fed every 2-4 hours.

About 2-3 hours after the last feed, feed your baby. Newborn babies usually need to be fed every 2-4 hours.

Play with your baby and check nappy.

Play with your baby. Check your baby’s nappy. Change it if it’s wet or soiled.

Look for tired signs.

About 1-1½ hours after your baby’s last sleep, look for tired signs. When you see them, put your baby in the cot to sleep.

Night-time newborn routine

Feed your baby 2-3 hours after the last feed.

If your baby wakes and it’s 2-3 hours since the last feed, feed your baby.

Check her nappy and minimise light and noise.

Check your baby’s nappy. Change it if it’s wet or soiled. Try to keep noise and light down.

Put her to sleep.

Put your baby back into the cot to sleep.

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Raising Children Network is supported by the Australian Government. Member organisations are the Parenting Research Centre and the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute with The Royal Children’s Hospital Centre for Community Child Health.

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  • Murdoch Children's Research Institute

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