Amul Baby Growth Plan - Baby's Routine

Remember that your baby is an individual with his own likes and dislikes. No hard and fast rules should be laid down in bringing up a baby.

Psychologists all agree that babies need a lot of love, care and protection. But a time will come when the child wants to do things on his own, like feeding himself, dressing himself, etc. Encourage the child in his attempts to be independent.

Daily routine

The moment the baby wakes up he needs a change, as he is usually wet. Change the napkin and offer his first feed for the day. Some babies get up early and some a little late. Most of them get up between 5.30 a.m. and 6.30 a.m.

Bath time

A bath can be conveniently given any time between 8 a.m. and 10.30 a.m. It should be either half an hour before or half an hour after a feed. If you wish rub oil on the baby's body and give him a gentle massage before the bath.

Never put oil in a baby's nose or ears

Vitamin syrup can be given at this time since the baby is undressed and there is no chance of the baby's clothes being dirtied during the administration of vitamins.

Clean the eyelids with moist cotton, and the nose with a wisp of wet cotton wool.

Bath water must not be very hot. Check the warmth of the water by immersing your elbow or hand in the water. The water should be pleasantly warm. Apply a good quality baby soap freely beginning with the head. Since babies usually dislike having the face or head soaped, it will be easier for you if you tuck his arm inside the towel before doing it.

Wash off the soap with water, holding the baby's head over the tub. Gently dry the hair and face with a towel.

While applying soap to the body, soap all the skin creases. Gently lower the baby in the tub and wash off the soap. Once the baby is able to sit up on his own- that is, by the end of six months --seat him in the tub while bathing him. Allow the baby to play in the tub should he desire to do so.

Dry him completely, dust a baby powder freely on his body, paying special attention to all the skin creases. Dress the baby in dry, clean clothes and feed him.

If the baby is given a bath before the feed, it will be better if you keep the feed ready before you start bathing the baby.

Sleeping time

A new-born baby will sleep for about 20 to 22 hours in 24 hours. A premature baby may sleep even more. Sleeping time progressively decreases to about 18 hours a day by the time the baby is six months old, and to about 14 to 16 hours a day by the time the baby is a year old.

Over clothing makes the baby feel too warm; underclothing makes the baby feel cold. A wet napkin, flies or mosquitoes, hunger and overfeeding disturb the baby's sleep.

Toilet training

By regularly putting the baby over the chamber after each feed the baby will soon associate the feel of the potty and the sitting position with passing urine and stool. Support the head and back of the baby while he is on the potty chamber. Do not keep the baby there for more than 10 to 15 minutes if he does not pass urine or stool.

Gradually this association of sitting on the potty will become so fixed that the baby will pass stool or urine only when put on the potty.

By the time they are two years old most babies are dry at night. Do not be impatient, however, as it usually takes longer for the baby to be dry both during the day and the night.

Start potty training when the baby is about six months old. Do not rush into it, nor be very rigid in this training.