Sample night shift schedule for a formula-feeding familyįormula-feeding offers the most flexibility for families wanting to take nighttime shifts. Still, the sample schedules below can help provide a jumping-off point to figure out a system that works for your family. These schedules will also vary depending on your baby's age and how often she's sleeping and eating at night, as well as other variables (how long it takes her to fall back asleep, for example). (Exclusively breastfeeding moms, for instance, will be up more often than parents who exclusively use formula.) You and your partner's individual needs and preferences will factor in, too. Shift times will vary depending on how your baby is fed.

All these feeding methods deliver the nourishment a baby needs to grow and thrive. Just as there's no 'right' way to feed your baby, there's no one-size-fits-all nighttime schedule when you have a newborn. Some families breastfeed exclusively others supplement with formula or exclusively pump and bottle-feed others formula-feed from day one. Here are some sample schedules to help you get started, plus tips for making the plan work for everyone. Hiring a night nurse can be another option, if it's financially feasible.įiguring out the right night shift system for your family depends on how you're feeding your baby, and it can take some trial and error. You might ask other family members or friends to be on call overnight - a move that can be especially helpful for single parents or families where one parent works at night. Trusted Source American Academy of Pediatrics Depression During & After Pregnancy: You Are Not Alone See All Sources īut parents aren't the only ones who can take on nighttime duties. The extra sleep that comes with taking shifts can also help parents who are at risk for or are experiencing postpartum depression. But in two-parent households where both partners have a similar schedule, splitting up those late-night duties can help everyone feel more rested, as well as give non-birthing parents more opportunities to bond with baby. Night shift systems don't necessarily work for every family, including single parents and families where one parent works overnight.

During the newborn days, many couples opt to establish a night shift system where each parent takes turns caring for the baby. Parents alternate baby care duties, such as overnight feeds, diaper changes, burping and getting baby back to bed.

Dad is on night duty