When to start routine for preemie baby?

My baby was born 6 weeks early. She is now 3 weeks old. When is a realistic time to start Gina Ford routine on her? Should I start training her now or wait until she is 6 weeks old (full term)?


She is on 3 hour feeding schedule now and can manage 3.5-4 hour feeding schedule in the night. I am trying to start Gina Ford routine on her, not rigid but loosely. The biggest problem I have now is she falls asleep while/after breast-feeding. I try to follow feed-play-sleep routine, but she doesn't know how to fall asleep by herself. I am ok with crying-it-out but not sure if she is too young as she is a preemie, so I have not done it yet.


appreciate any advice!

the original "crying it out" method - which is attributed to Ferber - his book says NOT TO START it until AFTER a baby is at least 6 months old, and even older is better.


A 6 week old baby doesn't have a routine. Some mothers find their babies are "sleepier" and then their babies seem to be sleeping through the night earlier - but that is not always the case. (around 3 months these babies wake up and suddenly don't want to sleep.)


More than a routine, I'd focus on good HABITS. Establish a wake up and a go to bed time.

Establish a bedtime routine (about an hour before bedtime) that you and your baby can both enjoy. A lot of mothers do a massage, a warm bath, a cuddle, a story (yes you can do a story now) and then a feed and then bed.

Establish HOW the baby should FALL asleep (awake in the crib and fall asleep on his own)


A routine - most people will say daytime naps don't ever get solidified until closer to 3 or 4 months.

Remember that breastmilk digests in 1.5-2.5 hours. Keep an eye on your baby's weight gain before you worry about schedules. When your baby wants to nurse more, your baby is trying to increase your milk supply. Forget about schedules for a day or two and drink more fluids to get your supply up and your baby will bring your milk in fast!


Massage for preemie babies is very valuable to help them grow faster and carrrying them skin to skin is also terrific. Originally they would still be in utero, so this is a great way to help bring them into the world happier and healthier.

vvv, my baby was born 7 weeks early. I started reading Gina Ford 2 weeks before her birth + all the breastfeeding books I could get my hands on but after she was born, I didn't follow a single book!! My routine was based on what my baby needed.


I didn't put her onto a routine until she was 2 months old (meaning full term + 2 weeks). She spent the first 2 months sleeping in a cot beside me. I could hold her and touch her throughout the night. I agree that skin to skin contact is important - I guess part of me wanted to make up for the time she lost in-utero. When she was 2 months old, I started turning off the lights and keeping the room dark at 6m and I would rock her to sleep... she would protest but I would still rock her until she slept. After a period of time, I patted her to sleep in her cot instead of rocking her and a few weeks after that, she fell asleep on her own as soon as the lights went off. She knew. This was when she was 3-4 months old.


I undid all my goodwork half a year ago though (at 2.5 years of age) because hubby is often away in China so I let her sleep with me. I just can't get enough of her ;-) Having said that, however, she knows that when the lights are out, it means it's time to sleep. I ignore her when the lights are out and I would say, "Sleep when you've finished talking to yourself/playing. Mummy needs to sleep". Works wonders.


I cannot comment on feeding though because I did a pretty bad job at it. I was worried about her weight (being a preemie and all) so I tried feeding her as often as I could, most of the time I was unsuccessful because I couldn't get her to open her mouth. She'd either sleep or wouldn't suck.. and when she did, she would regurgitate the milk everywhere. I should have fed her on demand.


I still try to force feed her today to which she replies, "Mummy, enough. I'm full already!!"


I didn't massage her when she was a baby. I should have... but now I do and she LOVES it. She will turn over for me to do her back and her front... and she would give me her hands and legs. It's great because she feels good and so do I.


I look at her now and although she was small at birth, no one could have guessed that this active little girl was a preemie :-)


I think a big part of motherhood is trying out your many ideas until you find one that works for both your baby and you. Following a particular author can be restricting at times and makes you feel really bad if you can't do it. Just my two cents worth ;-)