Sleep Schedule for Newborn to 3 months old (full-term baby)

The 'FB' routine typically refers to a 'Feed-Awake-Sleep' (sometimes called 'Feed-Play-Sleep') cycle. This pattern is designed to help your baby connect feeding with being awake, rather than associating feeding directly with falling asleep. For naps, it means you feed your baby when they wake up, engage them in a period of awake time (play, cuddle, diaper change), and then put them down for their nap while they are drowsy but awake. This distinction helps prevent 'snack' feeds for comfort and encourages longer, more predictable naps by teaching your baby to fall asleep independently, rather than relying on the breast or bottle to doze off.

To implement the 'FB' routine for better naps, start by feeding your baby immediately after they wake up from a nap or a long stretch of sleep. Ensure they get a full feed to satisfy their hunger. Then, engage them in an age-appropriate awake period (e.g., tummy time, singing, looking at toys). Crucially, watch for their sleepy cues (yawning, rubbing eyes, zoning out) before they become overtired. When you notice these cues, begin your nap routine (e.g., swaddle, darken room, white noise) and put them down in their crib 'drowsy but awake.' Consistency is key; repeating this cycle throughout the day helps their body anticipate sleep after an awake period, making naps more predictable.

Short naps (often 30-45 minutes) are very common in infants, even when following an 'FB' routine. Several factors could be at play: **Awake Windows:** Ensure your baby isn't staying awake too long or not long enough for their age; overtired or undertired babies often take short naps. **Sleep Environment:** Check if the room is dark enough, cool, and quiet (consider white noise). **Sleep Associations:** If they still rely on an external comfort to fall asleep (e.g., pacifier that falls out, being rocked to sleep), they might struggle to connect sleep cycles. **Consistency:** It can take time for babies to adjust to a new routine. Continue to offer the opportunity for sleep after their awake window, even if the nap is short. Some babies just naturally take shorter naps until they develop the ability to connect sleep cycles, usually around 4-6 months.

You can start observing and gently encouraging the 'FB' pattern from birth, but it's important to remember that newborns (0-6 weeks) have very short awake windows and may still doze off during feeds frequently. The 'FB' routine becomes more structured and beneficial for nap scheduling as your baby gets a little older, typically around 4-6 weeks and onwards, when their awake windows begin to lengthen slightly. In the early weeks, focus more on recognizing your baby's sleepy cues and ensuring they get enough sleep overall, regardless of whether it fits a perfect 'FB' cycle every time. As they mature, you can gradually work towards solidifying the 'Feed-Awake-Sleep' order.

It's very common for newborns and young infants to fall asleep while feeding, especially at the breast or bottle, as feeding is comforting and exhausting for them. To prevent this from disrupting your 'FB' nap schedule, try to keep your baby awake during their feed. You can do this by: **Tickling their feet or cheek,** **burping them mid-feed,** **changing their diaper between breasts or halfway through a bottle,** or **lightly undressing them** so they're not too cozy. If they do fall asleep, try to gently rouse them to finish their feed. The goal is to fully fill their belly so they don't wake prematurely from their nap due to hunger, and to separate feeding from the act of falling asleep, which is crucial for the 'FB' routine to foster independent napping.