how do I get my baby on a good routine??

My DS is going to be 8 weeks on Wednesday and I still haven't established a good routine for him. I am trying to follow the baby whisper's routine of Eat/activity time/sleep. However the sleep part is what really throws us off. Sometimes whatever we do he will not nap. If I put him down for a nap he will cry really hard. We are constantly having to pick him up and then put him back down. We let him cry for a couple of minutes but I was under the impression that he is to young for the CIO method. Anyway, if he misses his first nap then after his next feed he will fall asleep right away without any activity time.

My other problem is- he falls alseep in our arms. I don't think he has any idea how to put himself to sleep. How did you ladies do it? I am going back to work in a 4.5 weeks and I really want to establish a good routine now.

Ohh lastly, after he eats we hold him for about 10 to 15 minutes up right because he has bad reflux... otherwise he will spit up a lot of his food. That's okay during the day but at bed time this leads to him falling asleep in our arms/chest. I know I am creating bad habits and doing "accidental" parenting.

I am willing to try anything!! THank you for the help.

Re: how do I get my baby on a good routine??

Have you tried a swing? DD lived in her 'snug a bunny swing' for the first few months. It was the only way she would sleep, swaddled, with the left to right rocking motion. It was a life saver.

I dont think you are creating bad habits, by letting him fall asleep in your arms. DD is 11 mos and i still give her a bottle at night, in the glider/rocking her, and then place her in the crib when she falls asleep. It's just what works, and she sleeps 12hrs. IMO, you must do what works for YOU, not what books or others say. There is no harm in letting him fall asleep on you.

Re: how do I get my baby on a good routine??

Re: how do I get my baby on a good routine??

I totally agree with a routine thing too BECAUSE of work. I probably wouldn't be so dead set on routines if I didn't work but my kids are in 3 different places throughout the week, they need something as do I!!!

My DD is a little over 8 weeks old and I also do eat, play, sleep. Just this week I started "napping". After an hour of play or the first sign of a yawn, I swaddle her and put her in her crib. She seems to be giving me 45 minutes of napping at this point, it will increase as she gets use to going down for a nap (that's what I found with DS). I do find that right now, the afternoons I let her just sleep in her swing (or with me since I only have a 2 weeks left of being able to).

I used to rock my DS to sleep for both naps and bedtime. Try rocking. DD for some reason with get herself to sleep

Both my kids are/were cat nappers. I'd say DS really started a good napping routine at 4/5 months.

Re: how do I get my baby on a good routine??

My DS didn't nap more than 30 min until he was 4 months and started solids (not sure if it was coincidence but the day we started solids he took a 90 min nap). Also he is just getting on a schedule now at 7.5 months in terms of his sleep.

My DS has reflux and that may have been part of the sleep stuff. I held him 24/7 the first few months because he never slept and now he goes to sleep on his own for all naps and at night. I did a little Ferber at 6 months but that was it.

It's hard when they don't sleep but I don't think you are doing anything wrong.