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Good Routine for a Four Month Old

By the time children are four months old, they're usually sleeping through the night. With a bit of sanity restored to the house, this might be the time to initiate the first of many schedules your child will follow. Approaches to planning a child's day vary. Some parents prefer meticulously meted out, to-the-minute rules, while others favor a more natural approach. Each style has its merits, and all have a common goal: to meet the baby's needs and aid in its development.

  1. Choose a Style

    • Decide whether to lead, follow or do a bit of both. According to the parenting advice service BabyCenter, baby routines come in three types: parent-led, baby-led and combination. Parent-led schedules are strict and to-the-minute. They dictate eating times, eating amounts, sleep time and play time. Often, they're based on the behaviors the baby has exhibited thus far.

      Baby-led schedules require the parent to respond to the baby's cues to dictate sleeping and feeding times. The thought behind this method is that babies will fall into a rhythm by which they meet their basic needs naturally.

      Combination schedules set general timetables for eating, sleeping and playing, but they change from day to day; parents can postpone naps or extend playtime, for example.

    Cover the Basics

    • Whichever style you choose, meet your baby's needs. According to BabyCenter, four-month-olds generally require 12 to 24 ounces of breast milk or formula (ask your pediatrician for an exact recommendation.) They also need about 15 hours of sleep--three naps and one long, through-the-night rest. Playing, skills development and social interaction should take up the rest of their time.

    Consider Yourself

    • Schedules are only as good as the parents who make (and enforce) them. If you're meticulous and organized, a parent-led schedule might be best. If you're a go-with-the-flow person and have a flexible daily routine yourself, a baby-led schedule might be your best option. If you see the validity in both approaches, a combination schedule is the way to go.

    Know When to Break Schedule

    • Schedules help babies develop but should never be enforced simply for their own sake. For example, the American Academy of Pediatrics frowns upon parent-led schedules because they can result in poor weight gain and dehydration. Likewise, if a child seems tired, do not put off a nap just because the schedule says it's not time yet.

    Interpret the Crying

    • Know what your baby is crying about. Many parents automatically ascribe crying to hunger, exhaustion, rash or illness. This can cause them to force-feed or otherwise divert from their schedules needlessly. According to The Parenting Group, common causes of crying in newborns to children four months old include overstimulation and a lack of calming forces. Remedies include simple peace and quiet (including removal from well-meaning but ogling family members), walking the baby in a stroller or giving the baby a warm bath.

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