Morning routine

We wake between 7-8am, have a feed, clean nappy and get baby dressed for the day, while baby is awake I'll put him in his bouncer while I have coffee and breakfast, then he'll fall asleep again around an hour after waking so then I'll have a shower and get myself ready for the day so usually by 9-10 we are both ready for the day 👌I'm pretty much doing it all by myself as my partner doesn't live with us yet

During the week when I'm home alone with the kids (partner leaves at 5am) I try to get myself up and ready before they wake up, so usually I get up at 7 get myself ready then the kids Normally wake around 7.30. Get my older one breakfast and then change a breast feed baby. Then get my older child washed and dressed while lg is in her play mat then send older one off to play while i wash and dress my little girl all ready to leave the house by 8.30 am. My little girl usually has her first nap of the day while I'm doing the school run. My son isn't biologically mine so this is my first newborn stage and you find babies adapt very well to having to fit in to daily life so don't be afraid to make a routine for yourself.

My Lo normally wakes around 5 ish. I feed him then put him straight back down. I get ready/eat in this time. If i have nothing on for the day i go back to sleep with him and have a shower when he naps sometime in the day. He naps alot so its great for me. As your LO contact naps, could you try putting her down where she normally sleeps at night in the dark? Just to add i never ‘get my boy ready’ iI bathe him every 2/3 days whenever i have time in the day, and he always wears sleep suits unless we’re going somewhere special. There comfy for him and easy to change nappies. I hate trousers and socks! 😂

It sounds like your biggest hurdle here is having to have all naps as contact naps. Don't get me wrong, I love a contact nap, but a bit of very mild sleep training to get the LO into his own crib for a few naps a day will really help you out. I found precious little sleep by Alexis Dubief very helpful. I make heavy use of a bouncer seat, one that's easy to carry around with me. I have one upstairs and another downstairs. I often shower while LO is in the bouncer.

@Tanya very helpful! Thank you

does baby wake at a consistent time each day? If so, get up before them. It might seem hard, as you’re tired, but give it ago and see if it makes you feel better. I much prefer half an hour less sleep and half an hour to myself. Lately he wakes up between 4 and 5 so sometimes I stay up and do some excercise, shower etc and just chill. We take it in turns to do this so one of us is still in bedroom with baby.

@Rebecca it’s a good point! Currently it feels like every hour is precious as I’m running on very little sleep as it is 🥴 but could do this yes! Thanks

I always prepare the morning bottle the night before so I can just go straight down warm it and there is no chance of hungry screaming baby. First feed and nappy change 7-7:30 Cuddle 7:30-45 7:45-8:15 Baby down with play gym, Moses basket, or anywhere where she is happy for half hour whilst I sterislise ajd make a few more bottles. 8:15/30 - put her down for a nap. This is where I would really try and find a way where you can have some contact free time from them, bouncy chair, Moses basket , side cot or even laying on your bed clear of any debris. 8:30 -9:30/10 - me get ready do some jobs etc 10 onwards baby wakes , 2nd feed and get her dressed ready for the day. Just keep trying different methods you will find something that works, it’s all trial and error x

@Sarah this is my ideal and what I've been trying for, however we do have wind issues which extends the feed. Can I ask if you wake your baby at 7? Sometimes mine will wake at 6 or 6.30 so what then?? Any tips please!! Jx

My baby always wakes up really happy in her next to me smiling and kicking about so i first get dressed. (I shower at night when my other half is home) I get her out and she has a kick in the bed, then I feed her and wind her and put her in the carrier for her first nap whilst I do some sterilising and a few house jobs, get her bag ready etc x

This made me laugh as it sounded just like me! I really struggle to get us out in the mornings. We get up at 8 ish, I will have already fed her in bed. I change her, put her in day clothes and put her in her cot for about 20 mins while I feed the dog, have a quick shower, sort my face out, brush teeth, pack a bag, try to make a cup of tea and toast! By then she's bored so we feed on the sofa while I drink/eat. Lay her on the bed while I dry my hair and get changed. Then we head out....takes about an hour non-stop and that's if no washing to hang up/house work. Though this morning I had an appointment at 11 and didn't get there on time as she wanted feeding as we were about to leave!

So I’ve been waking up at 6:45. Get dressed have a bru and sort the dogs out. Then I wake him at 7:30. Do his bum and then feed. He usually has a nap after this which is normally a contact nap too xx

@Jazmine she will usually wake anytime between 5:30-7 and so I just try and do the feed as close to 7am as I can but sometimes it’s a bit before or after, but I just try and follow the same as I mentioned above, but just back or forward by whatever time we started. I’m not super regimented with anything, this just kind of naturally happened and I followed her cues more than anything tbh. I have found the easiest nap to implement is the morning one though for some weird reason but every baby is different. Wind is a biiish.. 🙈 it’s what will mostly wake her so I feel your pain on that one.

This really stressed me out before. I’m the same in terms of contact naps. Sometimes I can get him down but it’s 50/50 so if I know I need to be somewhere I just prepare as much as I can the night before. My clothes and his clothes laid out, his bottle ready night before, bag packed if we’re going out, I’ll even put cereal in a bowl with a lid so it’s super quick for me to have breakfast or pack breakfast bars. I’ve reduced every part of my routine as much as possible. I have a small make up bag with my 3 staples - concealer, powder and blush. A dab of moisturiser and SPF and I’m good to go!

@Babs glad it’s not just me haha! My main fear with putting her down for a nap is that it’ll be a terrible nap and she’ll wake up. Although our nights are pretty bad at the minute so I suppose I don’t really have a lot to lose from trying 🤣😴

Honestly I never thought it would be like this. I’ve really tried everything but I think it’s just down to the baby. He likes to be held 🤷‍♀️ I try to take the pressure off, if I put him down and he stays - great! And if he doesn’t then I pick him up and we have a contact nap. He’s not great at sleeping on the go either so if we’ve been out and he hasn’t slept I plan a nice long contact nap for him so he’s not grouchy. I pick and choose my battles!