Building schedules and routines with your baby can be challenging, and you might wonder if you need them in the first place. In short, yes. Your baby is in a sensitive period for order and predictability, which is grounding and helps them adapt.

The good news: creating structure and predictability in your days together doesn't have to be rigid or clock-based. Strict schedules can backfire when they most need you to follow their direct cues around hunger and sleep.

Here are some tips to help you think about schedules and routines in a healthy way:

Remain flexible: New developmental milestones will require your overall schedule to shift over time, so staying observant and responsive is important rather than setting one schedule in stone.

Your routines should be consistent even if your schedule is flexible: Consistent habits are good (baby knows it's time to rest because we always rock, feed, and sing), but rigid schedules can create stress (baby has to go to sleep by 7 p.m. because that's what they did yesterday).

Your baby's schedule should be designed by them: You may be in charge, but you want to follow your baby's natural rhythms and avoid creating a schedule that may be biased to your preferences. Offering sleep to your baby when they are not yet tired ends up being more work for both of you.

It's a delicate balance of structure and flexibility. Being responsive to your baby's cues, consistent in routines, and prioritizing their needs will help you nurture a happy and content little one.