What to do with a Baby All Day (0-3 months)

Inside: Wondering what to do with a baby all day? This daily routine will guide you through those early months at home with a baby, either on maternity leave or as a stay at home mom.

As an expecting mom, it’s often difficult to know what will be harder, actually delivering the baby or what to do with said baby once it’s here – and this is just one of the first conundrums of new motherhood 🙂 

My goal today is to help provide you with not only a solid daily plan, but also the confidence to execute this plan on your own. 

When should I start my baby on a daily routine?

As you may know, we write a lot about daily routines around here – and with good reason.

Having a predictable routine can make being home with kids much less stressful, as everyone knows what to expect from their day. 

That being said, it can be very difficult to formulate any sort of routine with a baby since they can be so unpredictable, especially in the first 3 months.

And it may relieve you to know that’s okay! 

In their first couple months of life, rather than trying to create a routine for your baby, plan your day in terms of yourself: it’s your daily routine + your baby.

Until their sleep schedule firms up with predictable naps, it can be too stressful to try and plan around naps and wake-windows. 

In those first 3 months:

• Keep expectations low
• Go easy on yourself
• You and your baby are learning 
• Wait until you are ready 

It’s important to note that after giving birth, you should not resume any usual activities until you are cleared by your doctor or midwife.

Remember, there is no rush. While recovery can feel like a long process, in those first few weeks, there’s no need to worry about getting your newborn on a routine – that will just end up stressing you out! 

You may be wondering, “what to do at home with a newborn” and the answer is simple:

• Follow their cues for feedings and sleep
• Take every opportunity to rest alongside them (assuming this is your only child)
• Wear your newborn in a sling or wrap
• Take a sitz bath when you can
• Sit outside every day for some fresh air and sunlight

That’s it! 

Until you are cleared and until you feel able (mentally and physically) your only job is to take it easy and feed the baby.

What to do with babies when they are awake?

After about 6 weeks, you’ll notice your baby is awake for longer stretches and is more active.

At this point your partner has most likely gone back to work, leaving just you and baby at home.

Suddenly it’s you and this little creature and you may constantly ask yourself: “What do I do with my newborn all day?” 

Mama, today I’m going to help answer that question!

While I am not a medical doctor or professional and cannot advise you in that manner, I truly believe that having a daily routine for yourself (even while at home with a baby) can help ward off some postpartum depression and anxiety. 

As a mom of three, I can share from experience that taking a shower, getting dressed, and getting out of the house (even to the Starbucks drive-thru) can help you feel like a real person again after having a new baby. 

I often receive DMs on Instagram asking: “What should I be doing with my baby everyday?”

I hope that the daily plan provided below helps alleviate some of that worry!

Aside from the constant feedings and diaper changes, my 2 main recommendations of what to do with a baby are:

1. Get outside every day: whether it’s a power walk with the stroller (when you’re cleared) or sitting outside in the shade for a feeding, getting some fresh air and sunlight will make you feel so much better. 
2. Start tummy time: many new moms are unaware that you can start tummy time (laying baby on their belly with arms out front) right away! This is an integral part to helping your baby reach their developmental milestones and is how they’ll eventually learn to push up and crawl.

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What to do with a Baby All Day (0-3 months)

A Daily Routine for Stay at Home Moms and Maternity Leave

Please remember that this routine is simply a suggestion. Make adjustments for you and your baby. 

Morning Routine

• Wake up / open blinds for natural light (helps set baby’s internal clock)
• Feed / change diaper / get dressed 
• Mom’s Breakfast 

First Wake Window

This first “wake window” in the morning is a great opportunity to give your baby some floor time. You may find that this is their least cranky period of the day, and the time they are most willing to lay on their tummy. 

• Tummy time / play mat
• Listen to music
• Look at high-contrast images (see below – this is great for baby’s brain development)

I was recently gifted The Play Gym from Lovevery to try with my 3rd baby, and I have to say, this is something I wish I had for the first two!

A lot of the time, babies aren’t interested in tummy time because there’s nothing to keep their attention and it’s a lot of work for them to hold their little body up!

Emmy’s favorite part of the Lovevery play gym is the crinkly side – she’s obsessed with the sound and texture. 

Here are four more tips to help your baby love tummy time:

• Keep it short: in the early days, most babies will only stay on their tummies for 30 seconds – 1 minute. Make it your goal to build on this over time as they grow. 
• Offer a pacifier: it’s okay to give your baby a pacifier to help soothe themselves while they lay on their play mat.
• Add texture: babies love to feel different textures and of course, as they grow, you’ll notice they put everything in their mouths! I love that this play mat comes with natural and safe teethers for baby.
• Add a view: use high-contrast (black and white) images or mirrors for your baby to look at. They can lay on their side, back or belly during this time. 

Learn more about the Lovevery play gym, here.

Nap

• This first wake window won’t last long, but will extend as your baby reaches 3 months. In the first few weeks it may be helpful to just sleep alongside your newborn or hold them on the couch while you watch TV. 
• Every baby is different, some will need to breastfeed or have a bottle in order to go down for a nap, and others will want to feed as soon as they wake up. 
• When you’re ready, this first nap of the day is a great time to get out for a walk with the stroller – mom gets exercise and baby gets a nap! We have a car seat adapter that connects to our double stroller, making it easy to click the car seat in and out. 
• If your baby is super fussy and won’t nap on their own (totally normal), try using a baby-wearer. The Solly Baby is my favorite newborn wrap, and the ErgoBaby is my favorite carrier (pictured below).

Outing

After their first nap is a great time to get out of the house to run errands or schedule appointments. Be sure to have your car fully stocked with everything you’ll need (see my organizer below). These are some things to do with a newborn to get out of the house:

• Grocery shopping
• Doctor’s appointments/check-up
• Coffee with a friend
• Take stroller to the park
• Starbucks drive thru or sit inside

While you’re out and about for the morning, your baby will probably nap again in the car or in the stroller. 

You can also find all of my essentials for baby in my Amazon Storefront.

Afternoon Routine

• Arrive home / feed & change baby
• Mom eat’s lunch (either wear your baby or put them in a swing/bouncer)
• Nap (in wearer, bassinet/pack-n-play, or held)
• While baby naps: laundry, clean up, prep dinner

*Please note: Feed/change diaper as needed throughout the day

Tip: while you do everyday things like make lunch for yourself, narrate to your baby what you’re doing. You can literally say this out loud word-for-word! This is very beneficial to your baby’s language development, even this early on. 

Evening Routine

At this point your partner may be getting home from work, offering you a little break if needed.

With our first baby, when my husband came home from work, he would hold her and play with her as I made us dinner (I really love to cook and cooking is actually a relaxing activity for me!)

• Eat dinner
• Bathtime (babies don’t need a bath every night, so only incorporate this when you need to)
• PJs/ diaper / feed
• “Bedtime” – of course babies wake often to feed, so bedtime is not necessarily final 😉

Here’s a look at this ‘a day in the life with a newborn baby’ without the notes:

Please note: Feed, nap, and change diaper as needed! 

• Wake up / open blinds 
• Feed / change diaper / get dressed 
• Mom eats breakfast 
• Tummy time / play mat
• Nap / Stroller walk
• Feed 
• Daily Outing
• Arrive home / feed & change baby
• Mom eats lunch 
• Nap / feed
• While baby naps: laundry, clean up, prep dinner
• Eat dinner / feed
• Bathtime 
• PJs/ diaper / feed
• “Bedtime”

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