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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?

Sleep expert Dr. Marc Weissbluth says parents play a key role in helping their babies develop healthy sleep patterns. He says there's a "direct connection between how parents behave and how their child sleeps." Parents must "nurture the need to sleep and can help their child learn to self-soothe." Moms and dads can give the gift of sleep to their child by matching her sleep schedule with her natural sleep rhythms. When they have those 2 in sync, the child can sleep very well. The trick is to get your child to sleep before the hormones that give them a second wind are released. If they are overtired, it is more difficult to get them to sleep. He therefore suggests shorter (3-4 hour) awake intervals between naps. Dr. Weissbluth suggests a mid-morning nap time around 9 or 9:30 am, with another nap around noon, and depending on the child, a third nap several hours later. Bedtime can be as early as 6:30 pm. He encourages parents to stick to a schedule most of the time for success. Holidays and other special occasions are the rare exceptions, one or two days a month. Parents who have used his technique report amazing results, which allow parents to sleep while their baby is sleeping and keep stress and crankiness to a minimum. See video of this author of "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child." at http://billiediscoverytoys.blogspot.com/2009/07/healthy-happyzzzzz.html

toybillie | July 23 , 2009 6:59 PM

Q&A: Bedtime routine for baby?

I started a bed time routine with my son at 6 wks old. I began at 8 pm, bath, lotion, pjs, bottle, and bounced to sleep. ( He loves to bounce with me on the exercise ball) I noticed he was getting really cranky between 7 and 8 so we moved his routine to 7pm. I then stopped rocking him to sleep and put him down drowsy. If he fussed, I would pat his back and then walk away for a few minutes to let him figure it out. If he really wailed, which he rarely did, I would pick him and calm him down and right back to his bassinet. He is now a great sleeper and only wakes once in the night for a feeding. Also, when he wakes at night I keep the light very low and I don't talk to him. After his bottle, right back in the bassient, asleep or awake. He can sooth himself to sleep just fine. Don't start bad habits like putting them in bed with you or you will pay for it later. You have to let them figure out how to fall asleep on their own.

orti7483 | August 07 , 2009 10:04 AM

Q&A: Bedtime routine for baby?

After my newborn was about two or three weeks old I started a rountine with her at night starting at 8 with a bath then pjs lotion then if she didn't eat soon before all that then a bottle but usually by 10 or 1030 she is a sleep and will wake up once for now but I think that it is only going to get better if I continue with the same routine I think that she is starting to realize that it is bed time........It is not easy thougjh because her daddy and Uncle come in later in the night and it disturbs her so we are trying to figure it out

blondy4u | September 12 , 2009 12:14 PM

Q&A: Bedtime routine for baby?

I've just started the E.A.S.Y. routine by Tracy Hogg (a.k.a. The Baby Whisperer)...It's been amazing! It has made such a huge difference in our daughter. She is happier throughout the day and sleeps well at night. I would absolutely recommend her books to anyone!

soon2bmrswatts | September 27 , 2009 8:41 PM

Q&A: Bedtime routine for baby?

We've tried it all. Routine doesn't seem to matter for our little 3 month old. She sleeps when she wants to and that can sometimes mean 2-3 five to ten minute naps in a 12 hour period. We've tried to keep it quiet and dark, light and noisy, bath before bed, bath before last feeding, feeding to sleep, rocking to sleep, laying her down awake...blah blah blah. It is truly amazing to hear how many people really think that a routine works for every child. I think it all depends on their temperament. So far, nothing has worked for us. I'm praying that she will soon realize that sleep is much more awesome than she once thought!

ZaJesusKrissy | December 23 , 2009 10:29 PM

Q&A: Bedtime routine for baby?

We started a routine with our LO from a very young age, probably about 1 week after he arrived home from the hospital. Although it wasn't strict, we did make sure to create sleep associations which have meant our baby (now 6 months old) sleeps longer at night. We made sure to give him half of his BF or bottle before a warm lavender bath, dress him, then feed him the remainder of his milk in a dark quiet room. Once he was sleepy, we would put him in his Cocooi, turn on his mobile and then put him to bed. Now that he's too big for a swaddle, we put him in his sleepsack and then into his crib with the mobile playing. Even if our LO is cranky, as soon as we put him in his sleepsack he knows that it's bedtime and will become more settled. I think that the mobile music helps as well..... Obviously this won't work for everyone, but it has for us. Good luck!

mynaturalbaby | January 12 , 2010 2:09 PM

Q&A: Bedtime routine for baby?

I think I am my own worst enemy when it comes to my babies sleep schedule. My husband and I both work evening jobs and do not return home unitl 1am. My daughter has the same sleep schedule as us. We sleep from 3am till about 10 or 11am. I am a little concerned because she doesnt nap well during the day at all and will not soothe herself to sleep. I am not against her sleeping with us, I am actually for it, but I am worried that she is not able to put herself to sleep. Help!

Wakeupstegen | January 14 , 2010 10:14 PM

Q&A: Bedtime routine for baby?

It's probably the same as everyone else's answer, but every night I give her a bath, she loves it! Then she hangs out neekid for a while (used to be massage, but she'd rather roll on to her tummy now) I do this mostly to let the bits get some air, then she gets in her diaper, jammies and sleepsuit. Then a feed, (baby rice and booby), then into the crib for a story. We live in England, so I've ordered the Mr Men book collection, I don't know if you can get in the States, but they are perfect for bedtime reading, she loves it. Rolls all around her crib, then just puts her little head in her hands and listens to me (since she's only six months, I find this amazing). I give her a ton of kisses and then she goes to sleep with out a peep. Mind you, she's sooo not sleeping through the night, but at least it's not a fight to get her down.

ShazzaC | January 19 , 2010 2:48 PM

Q&A: Bedtime routine for baby?

I started a reoutine with my daughter from the day that she came home from the hospital! if its a bath night we will bathe her, and then lotoin her up, daddy gets the bottle and mommy feeds while daddy reads a story. Then after the bottle is done mommy and Taylor will cuddle and she falls asleep-this routine works so well that she follows the same routine of feeding, rocking and cuddling for naps too-she is asleeping 8 hrs! yayayay!

Christina1382 | April 23 , 2010 8:39 PM

Q&A: Bedtime routine for baby?

Our 11wk old daughter refuses to sleep in her crib or anywhere else for that matter during the day. She will fall asleep if we are out running errands and will stay asleep in her car seat while grocery shopping etc. But the second we get home, she is awake. BUT... about 8:30pm I will give her a bath, feed her and by 9:30pm she is asleep for the night. She HAS to be swaddled or she will wake herself up during the night. She first stirs at 6am every morning (it's eerie how accurate she is every day) I breastfeed her in bed and have to wake her up to go to daycare at 7:30am. She sleeps until about 9am on the weekends. I can deal with the lack of naps during the day if I can get that much sleep at night. In the next week or so, we will move her to her crib (from the bassinet in our bedroom) so we'll see if that throws a wrench into the works!

emmalucy | July 14 , 2010 1:08 PM

Q&A: Bedtime routine for baby?

It is to my understanding that you shouldn't bathe your baby everyday. If you choose to give a bath as a bedtime routine .. maybe just don't use soap all the time. Your baby has very sensitive skin and this could be very drying. I also would be hesitant on the bath every night ... a bit high maintenance to keep your sanity in the long run. This probably sounds selfish but it is a lot of work to bathe a baby every night.

wegele102 | September 28 , 2010 5:04 PM

Q&A: Bedtime routine for baby?

Start your routine right after dinner. Maybe go for a walk, play a game, read a book.... slowly wear down the excitement level until they seem ready for sleep. Then, a bath (which, has been proven that, if given everyday before bed will help them relax and unwind) maybe some soft music, then off to bed. Routine them as if it were your morning routine before work.... its just their routine before bed.

wendyspampers | October 07 , 2010 2:07 AM

Q&A: Bedtime routine for baby?

our little one is a week old so it's still a bit too early to tell. since we've been home he's slept consistently through the night only to get up every 2-3 hours for his feeding. we established his routine to fit ours so we all go to sleep around the same time. 7 and bring him into our bedroom and keep the lights and sounds low. he sleeps until around 10 and then we are ready to feed him and put him down for the night. hopefully this routine will continue. we try and keep him around lots of noise and lights during the day to help him distinguish the difference.

MrsCMHobbs | October 12 , 2010 7:27 PM

Q&A: Bedtime routine for baby?

I hate the fact that TheBump recycles old posts.. this one was originally started in 2009 and I feel like I have read this one a million times already!

grishmabatra | November 23 , 2010 10:37 AM

Q&A: Bedtime routine for baby?

Our little girl has been sleeping in her crib in her room and through the night since she was 3 weeks old. Our routine has been 8pm we do bath time and pjs, I will swaddle her... she HAS to be swaddled or she wakes every 3 hours. I think it is her way of her knowing its night time not nap time. Then we will feed her around 9-930pm and she will fall asleep sometime before 10. We then put her in her crib in her wedge (she has to sleep on her side and this is the only way we dont risk her rolling.) Then she will start stiring around 7am and then will wake for good between 8-9am. I honestly believe it is up to the parents to find what the baby likes and what works for both of them to get the baby to sleep as long as possible. I dont believe schedules work for every baby but I have been told over and over my husband and I are very lucky because of how well she sleeps. Nap times are a different story for us. She naps when she wants to during the day she will take a couple 30 min naps and then usually 1 long nap of about 2-3 hours around lunch. Only if she is in her swing though other wise the naps are at max an hour. Which I find funny because she hated that swing till she was 6 weeks old (I also realized she hated to be laying down in it so I put the cradle on the inclined upward setting and she loved it...) so now once she falls asleep I will lay her back to nap.

Kathryn0104 | November 23 , 2010 12:44 PM

Q&A: Bedtime routine for baby?

I also read The Baby Whisperer and am following the EASY steps; it really helped set a routine with my baby and we started "late" when she was 2 months old. I've also started putting her in bed when she is drowsy so she is (successfully!) learning to fall asleep on her own.

jdailey615 | November 23 , 2010 9:34 PM

Q&A: Bedtime routine for baby?

We too started using the Baby Whisperer's E.A.S.Y. routine and OMG what a miracle. Well it's really not a miracle-it's just common sense and structure but in ONE day it got my 7 week old taking naps (which he did not do before because I wasn't ever able to identify his sleepy signals and get him down in time for the nap) in his own bassinet (he ALWAYS was in our bed) WITHOUT having me nurse him to sleep (he used to only fall asleep on the breast and would wake up when i unlatched him to put him down). The first nap took 50 minutes to get him down but it wasn't bad because we didn't have to rock him or walk him to sleep-we just pat his little bottom and "sh" him in a pattern similar to the sounds of the womb (my baby also needed the optional pacifier-which he never used to take-but only to get a little sucking energy out of his system). The next nap, it took him 20 minutes to go to sleep, then 10 minutes, and to get him in bed for the night it took him FIVE minutes!! He was practically craving his cozy little bassinet. I HIGHLY recommend her book!!! It will help you understand WHY your baby is crying, help you get him or her sleeping in their own bed without needing to be nursed/fed to sleep (you don't want to be doing that for very long...it's important for your baby to know how to self-sooth), it will also help get feedings on a better schedule (not like by specific times, but on better intervals), and if you have (had) and extremely fussy (almost colicky) baby like mine, it will help him mellow out and enjoy his day more. Sorry I could go on and on lol!! PS: We do NOT let him CRY IT OUT. Totally not CIO! =)

mixwellg16 | November 24 , 2010 12:22 AM

Q&A: Bedtime routine for baby?

When we started our LO on a sleep schedule we just started one... we giver her dinner, some milk afterwards, let her play and when its bed time we do teeth, bath, read, and then put her in bed and tell her good night... it was hard at first, but the sooner you can get a routine down the easier everyones nights will be...she's going to be 2 in march and has recently started being a little difficult once she's in her bed, so now we giver her a toy thats safe for her to have in bed and leave her door opened a little bit and she'll play for 15-20 mins alone in her room and then fall asleep...also, ours listens to music every night and that seems to help...we just turn it off when we go check on her and shes asleep...hope this helps!

Sprizzle2182 | January 18 , 2011 3:36 PM

Q&A: Bedtime routine for baby?

I'm surprised at how many people give their baby's a daily bath before bed. I can't give my baby a bath every day as he has eczema. Daily baths are too drying, soap or not especially in the winter months, so they've never been a part of his sleep routine. You can get a baby into a sleep routine without the bath. What happens if you can't bath your babies before bed? And at what point do you stop bathing them as part of the routine and let them fall asleep without the bath? I just can't imagine having to bath him every night.

princess_paula | January 18 , 2011 6:55 PM

Q&A: Bedtime routine for baby?

We have a pretty simple routine. It's bath (on bath nights) or a lotion massage, eat from one boob, diaper change if needed, then the other boob. cuddle for about 20 mins which could include a story, quiet music, or just rocking and then sleep. Now she's only just over 2 wks, but that seems to work well for now!

pattersg | February 09 , 2011 11:43 AM

Q&A: Bedtime routine for baby?

i have tried it alll...during the day my son will ONLY nap in his carseat...but after every feeding withn 2 hrs he is cranky again..nd might just take a 20 min nap...night tine is the worst! it could take me an hr and a half usualy to put him 2 bed..i try every way to sooth him and finally by 930ish he has tired himself from screaming.. he has acid reflux but it on meds but hates to lay on his belly... ive tried the bath bottle bed routine but after his bottle he is back in hyper/awake mode..it refreshes him..im exhausted by 8 pm and is such a struggle to have him sleep & and he gets up 2-3 times a night to eat..any advice?????

baby811 | March 02 , 2011 11:56 AM

Q&A: Bedtime routine for baby?

Either turn on mobile and put him in the crib. Or I try to rock him to sleep. He like either one.

iloveu4ever | March 22 , 2011 12:52 PM

Q&A: Bedtime routine for baby?

After reading a bunch of sleep books, I liked "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child" the best. No one way works for every baby. My son is 9wks old & he used to go down between 11pm and 3am. After reading the book & starting evening bathtime/quiet time, I can get him down between 7pm and 10:30pm. He will sleep anywhere from 3 to 6 hours at night & then once wake for a feeding - usually between 3-5am. Try to be flexible as each baby will decide what they want to do. I have done co-sleeping at night when he was fussy and I was exhused. At nap time I would put him in the bassinet teaching him that this was another sleeping spot. It took about a week, but I got him out out of our bed and into his bassinet. Now I am doing naps in the crib as I have to go back to work soon and daycare has cribs for the babies to sleep in. I want him to be used to the idea of sleeping in a crib before he goes there. Just listen to your baby and try every option to see if you can figure out how to get baby to sleep. (FYI crying-it-out just drove me nuts and I would have a let down of milk, so it was a stressy mess for both of us. I would not recommend it. Baby just wants to be close to you!)

welchsari | April 17 , 2011 3:17 PM

Q&A: Bedtime routine for baby?

Since you can't give a baby a tub bath at first due to the umbilical cord, we would take him in his room, wash his hands and face, put him in a clean diaper and footed pajamas, turn the light out and give him a bottle or I would nurse him. Usually he would be asleep by the time we put him in his crib, but sometimes he would wake up and it was really hard to get him back to sleep. But as soon as the stump fell off we would give him a nice relaxing bath first, and that helped SO much! We had to slather him in vaseline so his skin wouldn't dry out, but hey, free massage. He is 6 months old now and sleeps like a champ. Even if we lay him down wide awake, after that routine he will go to sleep on his own 99% of the time.

grnelson | April 29 , 2011 3:51 PM

Q&A: Bedtime routine for baby?

Every baby is different but for me the night time routine is as much for her sake as it is for mine. When I start the night time routine I know that it's the end of my day and I can take off the mommy hat for a few hours. I started her routine at 2 weeks and have been sticking to it religiously. At dusk we go for a walk (as long as weather permits) for about 20min around the neighborhood. Next is bath time. Then we lotion her up, put her pj's on, and give her her last bottle. Even at 8wks she picks up on those cues that it's bedtime.

Allerielle | June 08 , 2011 4:35 PM

Q&A: Bedtime routine for baby?

Baby J's routine is great!! He doesn't take very many naps during the day (but its him!), he likes to be awake during the day!! He might take 2-3 15-30 minute naps during the day, but mostly only about 15 minutes! About 8pm every night, I lay him in the bed to get every thing for his bath ready! He gets a bath, gets lotioned up & PJs on... He gets his bottle by 9, sometimes earlier, and he is asleep by 9:30 every night. Sleeps all night and will wake up between 7-8!! I could not be happier! He has slept through the night since he was almost 2 months old, and he is now almost 4 months old!

abaldwi6 | June 10 , 2011 1:04 PM

Q&A: Bedtime routine for baby?

we have been so lucky! our little one has been sleeping all night since around 4 weeks old. we added a little cereal to her formula because of some acid reflux and fed her a little more before bed and she has adapted to that very well. she is now 8 months old and sleeps from 9pm to 7am. perfect for our schedule which we introduced and put her on for that matter. our pediatrician said you can set the pace for your little one. you just have to be persistent and patient. and it has definitely paid off!

ashhd07 | June 21 , 2011 2:01 PM

Q&A: Bedtime routine for baby?

for Baby811, I would seriously just let him sleep by me. My son wouldn't sleep by himself for a while, and still prefers sleeping by me that he's two. It's hard when I just want to spend some time with my husband, but looking back, I wouldn't've changed it because of how much trouble it was. Sometimes, you gota go against what everyone's telling you. Granted that's after you've tried EVERYTHING

KDNnJDT | July 27 , 2011 10:03 AM

Q&A: Bedtime routine for baby?

From day one (and breastfeeding) we make it a point to go out shopping or for walks or something out if the house... the babe loves it (not so much car rides but that has greatly improved) she loves to see different sights and sounds. By bedtime ritual time we also had from day one, she isn't rocked, just eats then sleep and she sleeps through the night till 6:30-7:30 am and no need for new diaper till shortly after she awakes... just keep a routine that allows her to get to sleep by herself. So when she is old enough you won't have to worry about rocking a child who should be able to sleep on their own.

rampulmb | August 29 , 2011 5:17 PM

Q&A: Bedtime routine for baby?

I have found that bouncing or rocking on the exercise ball works best for me. I also found online a CD of white noise such as a vacuum cleaner. I bounce while playing the CD and it usually puts my baby right to sleep. The nice thing about the CD is I can adjust the volume and it doesn't burn out the vacuum cleaner. I have found that soft music works well too, but the vacuum sound seems to drown out background noise and is less stimulating to my baby.

michellezazula | September 03 , 2011 1:34 PM

Q&A: Bedtime routine for baby?

We established a routine the week after she came home. Bath (without soap every other night) with dimmed lights, lotion, jammies, a bottle warmer than usual (like how warm tea or milk make you sleepy), sleepy music and rock to sleep. Her routine went from ten to eight, it depends on her mood. Lately I try to put her down while she is drowsy but it's requiring me to get up and rub her back or put her pacifier in her mouth cause she's upset she lost it. She started sleeping 5-7 hours by 6 weeks!

AniRu718 | September 07 , 2011 11:11 PM

Q&A: Bedtime routine for baby?

We also have a bedtime routine. We start at 7:00 Pm with a bath then lotion & pj's followed immediately by breastfeeding. He is usually asleep by 7:45 and sleeps until 8:00Am. He is also a thumbsucker so I think that helps with any self soothing he does!! He also has a couple naps during the day!! My baby loves to sleep.

krista.reid | September 09 , 2011 10:22 AM

Q&A: Bedtime routine for baby?

After a week of very little sleep and lots of stuff going on at work I was at the end of my rope! That Friday night I was falling asleep walking my 2 month old around the house to try and get her to sleep. She had been so great the first 6 weeks- fell asleep feeding and let me put her in her crib without waking. At 2 months she would fall asleep in my arms and then wake up as soon as you put her down and only take 15-30 minute naps during the day with the sitter. Solution- a routine! I don't think it matters what you do as long as you are consistent! It has to be the same every night and it takes more than doing it 2 times for it to start to work. like most people we do play time, bath, pjs and sleep sack, feeding and rock to sleep. she usually sleeps 4 hours, eat and another 3-4 hours. It took about a week to get her into this (she still fusses a bit right before she falls asleep). Good luck! decide what you are going to do and keep doing it until it works

gwenchecho | October 15 , 2011 6:09 AM

Q&A: Bedtime routine for baby?

Hi my baby is two 1/a months now and I at first she will only fell sleep in my arms and then I putted down in bed but now I put her down when she is really drowsy and she goes to sleep on her own but with a Pacifier, then she cries if the pacifier comes out and I have to keep puttin git back until she goes to sleep. She also seems to really have to use her pacifier to take naps too, if not she cries and gets mad because can make her sef go to sleep. Is this okay?? I am afraid she is getting too used to using the paci.

lorenazulu | November 01 , 2011 1:07 PM

Q&A: Bedtime routine for baby?

our baby was born on thanksgiving this year and we've made it a routine to wake him up (if he's not already awake) at least an hour before his bath time and try to engage him enough to stay awake. then after his bath he gets in his jammies and eats and then lays between us in bed while we pray with him and he falls asleep. then we swaddle him and put him in his crib. he sleeps an average of 4.5 hours before waking up to eat again. works for us

star24_lys@msn.com | December 13 , 2011 9:59 AM

Q&A: Bedtime routine for baby?

I used to Sell Books but now I buy a lot of them, espacially about how to rise your chield.In the lastest one they siad that it's better to try to astablish a bedtime rutine as soon as possible.

oliveraj | March 06 , 2012 2:27 PM

Q&A: Bedtime routine for baby?

My baby is 8months and only now these past months he has been waking up at night I know hes teething but tht does not seem to bug him I try to put him on a schudel but it does not help. hes like his dad a night owl. What do I do??? Help tired and Sleepy

Phatmom | March 28 , 2012 11:35 AM