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Q&A: Bedtime routine for baby?

We want to establish a consistent bedtime routine. Where do we start?

Re: We want to establish a consistent bedtime routine. Where do we start?

The Bump Expert

Smart move. Performing the same series of activities night after night will signal baby that it’s time for sleep, and should help her go down more easily and sleep more soundly. Start with a bath, regardless of the dirt factor. Warm water is calming and that’s the point -- no need for an all-over scrub.

Back in the bedroom,  turn the lights down a bit and sing or play soft music as you dry her off and put on her PJs. As you nurse her or give her a pre-bed bottle, try not to talk, or at least keep your voice very soft. Or, read a quiet bedtime story (tried and true: Goodnight Moon) before kissing her goodnight. Even though it might seem silly to read to a little baby, she understands more than you’d think (and just loves the sound of your voice). Repeat the story ritual night after night and she’ll start to learn that dreamland comes next.

Paula Kashtan | May 07 , 2009 1:16 PM

Q&A: Bedtime routine for baby?

Routines really DO work! It's amazing. I used to have to rock my LO to sleep. Now with a routine, I can lay her down tired, but still awake, and she is able to put herself to sleep.

yadroc5831 | September 23 , 2009 2:04 PM

Q&A: Bedtime routine for baby?

I agree...routines do work. We give her a bath and a warm bottle and swaddle her at night and sometimes she can put herself to sleep. It also helps if LO wakes up in the middle of the night, to use the light from your tv if its on at night or the moonlight outside just to keep them reminded that it's nighttime. That helps us alot!

meka06 | November 13 , 2009 6:42 AM

Q&A: Bedtime routine for baby?

I have a question for you mommies...My Dr. said NOT to bathe my baby every day. In fact she said only 1-2 times a week!!! Especially during the winter. Bath time has become a part of our nightly routine. I don't use soap every day. She just sits in the warm water and I rinse her. Thoughts?

barkley17 | November 14 , 2009 9:20 AM

Q&A: Bedtime routine for baby?

We started giving baby baths/showers nightly even though we got the same info/instruction from our doctor as well. Warm water may dry out baby's skin but I've always heard that hot water for prolonged periods of time is what dries out the most. She loves the nightly showers, plus we've noticed no diaper rash since we switched from 2 baths a week. Daddy also gives her a massage with mrs. meyers baby lotion after showers and she comes out silky smooth. I think doctors say 1-2 baths per week at first because nightly may not be neccessary but I don't think nightly baths hurt. I think the routine helps.

babymonk | November 15 , 2009 5:05 AM

Q&A: Bedtime routine for baby?

I meant to say daddy gives her a massage with mrs. meyers baby oil, not lotion. It smells sooo good! Our daughter is 8 weeks old and often puts herself to sleep. Part of our routine is also a homedics sound machine with projection. We turn on the heartbeat sound and she watches the pictures on the ceiling. It's great because if she wakes up shortly after she falls asleep, she just lays there quietly and watches the pictures until she falls back asleep. Now we just have to figure out the transition to the crib from the bassinet.

babymonk | November 15 , 2009 5:14 AM

Q&A: Bedtime routine for baby?

i got down a great rutine with my lbaby girl at 3 months old. we kept her in our master bedroom until then and she got into a great night sleep at 3 months. but my question is she is noe a year and 8 months old and i am expecting #2 may of 2010 and i am wondering how it is with a 2nd newborn in the house with a toddler and how or when will i SLEEP? some one please any info. :) thanks

time2jiggle | November 19 , 2009 6:37 PM

Q&A: Bedtime routine for baby?

I don't really have one. Although I try to bed in bed between 10 and 11.

reileigh and reese 2010 | November 20 , 2009 12:46 PM

Q&A: Bedtime routine for baby?

How old were your little ones when you started the bedtime routine?

awendling19 | November 24 , 2009 7:01 PM

Q&A: Bedtime routine for baby?

2 months old we moved her to the crib and started a routine. Now she is almost 3 months and sleeping anywhere from 9-11 hours at night. Took a couple weeks of her crying till 3 am but now she's in bed between 9 and 11pm.

babymonk | December 10 , 2009 11:53 PM

Q&A: Bedtime routine for baby?

I have found that routines help a lot but would advise to keep it simple. I try not to add anything to my routine that can't be taken with us if we were to travel or stay with family. My routine is to take her to her room during her last feeding and turn the lights down low and minimize interactions with her other than eye contact. Then I put her in her crib while she is still awake, but relaxed and she puts herself to sleep. She is 3 mo old and sleeps through the night. I have heard that you should teach them to put themselves to sleep so that if they wake during the night, they don't need you to help them fall back asleep again. They learn to do that on their own if you lay them down before they fall alseep. I have found that to work well because I can hear her talk a little to herself a few times through the night but she rarely cries or needs me to come in unless she gets hungry. And, if she does cry, I do go in there because I think she is still too young to "cry it out" but she only cries when she really needs something (like a bottle or if she is feeling warm/cold). I started this routine when she was 8 wks old and it only took a couple nights for her to fall alseep on her own.

gevering | December 16 , 2009 7:30 AM

Q&A: Bedtime routine for baby?

I agree, setting a routine is important and has been a huge help in getting our DS down at night. We also have found that creating sleep association works well with routine, so we use the same lavender bath soap each night, dress him in his sleepsack and onsie, feed him from the bottle (as opposed to BF'ing) and then play the same song on his mobile and it seems to help. Baby's need to feel safe and secure, so by creating a routine and sleep association you're ensuring that sense of familiarity is present and LO will (hopefully) drift off happily.

mynaturalbaby | December 20 , 2009 3:16 PM

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