We now have a lovely updated colour-coded routine on our whiteboard. Of course, the 8th person included in this routine is a baby that hasn’t actually been born yet so things may need some tweaking once the reality hits 🙂 It is however, a very useful exercise to look over my current routine and to plan ahead for the multiple breastfeeding sessions I will need to fit into my day and the interruptions that will invariably come with a newborn.
We will be (and have done with all our children) following a flexible  feed, wake, sleep cycle with our little one which allows me to make a rough plan of approximately where the daily feeds will fall. Of course, some days will not go as planned and we will often have to switch activities that are side by side around to fit a feed in earlier or later than planned. That is where the routine serves us and our family needs, rather than the other way around.
For anyone who is interested, I would be happy to email you a copy if you thought it would be of any help to you and your family. I have been trying to upload it here without success and am sick of fighting with the computer!
Other posts you may like:
- Routines (plus what to include in your routine)
- Moving to a big bed – managing your morning routine
- Preparing for a new baby
- ChoresÂ
Filed under: Routine and daily activities: structuring your child's day | Tagged: chores, homeschooling with toddlers, managing large families, organisation, planning your day, routines, structuring your toddler's day |
angathome 
Hi Ang, this blog has been an inspiration to me to get into a more structured routine. I have 3 boys, almost 5, 3 and 17 months. We have just started homeschooling this year. I’m still working out what works and what doesn’t with out routine but am loving your trays and workboxes ideas and am planning to implement more of them over the next couple of weeks. I would love a copy of your current routine if possible. Ainsley
Hi Ange
I am finding your blog really insightful. I am looking forward to your blogs once the baby is born to get some tips as Arielle is 8.5 months old and is slowly taking solids but is more interested in breast feeding. She is also not sleeping through the night, needing 2-3 feeds. We have tried letting her cry for an hour to try and break the cycle but it doesn’t make a difference she just gets extremely worked up. Other than that I absolutely adore being a mum and truely admire people like yourself and Andy having the energy and patience to raise a big family and beautiful children (both inside and out).
Love Amanda x
Hi Amanda, lovely to hear from you. If you haven’t already, I recommend you have a read of “On Becoming Baby Wise” by Gary Ezzo. Getting Arielle on a flexible routine whereby she receives the nutrition she needs during the day rather than at night is the key. Waking her to feed during the day means that she won’t reverse her days and nights (sleeping well all day and awake through the night.) Also, teaching her to settle herself to sleep is important, otherwise if she is dependent on you (or a sleep prop) to help her sleep and does wake at night, she will be unable to re-settle by herself. If you already have these basics in place then there are other things I could help you with that may be what she needs, but I’d have to get a bit more info from you. Send me an email if you would like to talk it through some more. Ang xox
Hi Ang, Once your back on track I would love a copy of the routine! Thanks Gail