Waketime and Naptime

In this chapter we will examine the last two activities in your baby’s

routine: waketime and naptime. Much of what is discussed in this chapter
deals specifically with a child who is at least one week old. That
statement is not to suggest that parental guidance is not necessary in the
first week, but that a baby is better able to respond to your leadership
starting in week two when life begins to settle in for both of you.
One of the most common mistakes made when following a routine is
to reverse the order of these last two activities—that is, putting the baby
down for a nap right after his or her feeding. This will be one of your
greatest challenges during the first week. Babies are usually sleepy
during the first several days, causing some to fall asleep right at the
breast after a few minutes of nursing. That means you have to work on
keeping your baby awake to take a full feeding. (Rub his feet, stroke his
face, change a diaper, talk to him, remove his sleeper, but he must eat.)
Snacking five minutes every hour is not a full feeding. Mothers who work
to get a full feeding during the first week have a baby who naturally
transitions into a consistent three-hour routine within seven to ten days.
Keep this goal in mind when putting in the extra effort. The payoff comes
in confidence and comfort for both baby and you.
Even with all this encouragement, there may be a meal or two when
your baby will not wake up sufficiently to take a full feeding. What will
you do in those times? If your attempts to keep him awake fail, put your
baby down to sleep but work on feeding him again in an hour or two, or
anytime your baby signals hunger readiness. The newness of parenting
can bring about some anxious moments, especially if you have a
sleepyhead on your hands. But rest assured, in a few days life will