A baby’s bedtime routine is a consistent set of habits/activities that are repeated daily for the baby before their bedtime. A good routine includes bath/massage, nursing, play and early bedtime.
It’s never too early to start a bedtime routine. While most moms introduce their babies to a bedtime routine when they are a bit older, the earlier you start your baby on a bedtime routine the better. You can start your baby on a bedtime routine as early as when they are an infant. However, the routine and the activities will change and adjust as the infant grows into an older baby.
Why Bedtime Routine is Important for Baby
There are many benefits of having a bedtime routine for your baby. It ;
- Helps prepare them for sleep by relaxing and winding them down for a peaceful restful night.
- Enhances their quality of sleep
- Assists in independent sleeping- the predictability of the routine gives your child a sense of security
How to Start a Bedtime Routine for Newborns
1. Start off with a Bath & Massage
Bathing is an important part of any baby’s bedtime routine. If you have never had a bedtime routine before for your infant, then this is one of the best things to start off with. A bath followed by a massage relaxes your baby .
Massage is especially important for newborns and infants under 3 or 6 months as they are not moving much on their own yet. A bath and a massage are truly soothing as it cools the baby’s body temperature and helps them fall asleep more easily.
However if you do bath time after feeding, it is important to let the tummy settle first.
Read: How to Create a Simple and Effective Evening Routine for Infants/Toddlers
2. Incorporate Nursing/Feeding Time
Your baby will not be able to have a good and quality night sleep when they are hungry hence important to have feeding as part of your new infant routine or babies under 6 months old.
You may opt to feed your baby after bathing or before bathing them. Also ensure the baby is properly burped. Do a tummy massage and bicycle legs to deal with any tummy discomfort and encourage a bowel movement.
Read: Why you Should not Allow your Baby to Bed without Dinner
3. Play/Bonding Time
Play is one the key things you need to include in your bedtime routine for your newborn. If you have never had a bedtime routine before for your baby, you can set the time right before bed for you to play and bond with your baby.
Also play can be a tradition between you and your baby that prepares them for sleep. It can be you singing some baby songs to them or playing some baby games or reading out a book to them (even though they won’t understand it yet). Do not prolong this period for too long.
A nice dark, un-stimulating environment should help your baby go to sleep after this.
4. Set an Early Bedtime for your Baby
If you have never practiced a bedtime routine before, you need to understand the benefits of putting your baby to bed early. Through an early bedtime, your baby resists less, wakes less often during the night, and is generally easier to get along with the following day.
Therefore consider adjusting your baby’s bedtime if they are currently sleeping late as part of your new bedtime routine. For infants and babies under 3 or 6 months, the recommended bedtime is before 7 pm.
Tips for Introducing your Newborn to a New Bedtime Routine
- Start the bedtime about 1 hour before the intended bedtime. It is very important in the first few days of starting the bed-time routine.
- Have a wake-up time every day to help your baby adjust to the routine.
- Be consistent- Try doing some things around the same time every day.
- Ensure warm and cozy bedtime dressing. If too cold or hot the baby may not sleep well.
- Be moderate on moving bedtime up. Pick on baby cues and focus on your child’s tired/sleepy signals to help effectively introduce the routine.
- Try controlled crying for sleep training to help the baby adjust to the new routine smoothly. If they cry , go in and comfort them, each time you come back wait longer until they go to sleep.
- Help them correctly identify their nights and days. During the day, keep it light, bright, and loud. At night keep it dark and quiet. It will be easier like this for the baby to follow and transition into the routine.
- Make nighttime feeding and diaper change short, quiet, and dark as possible.
- Focus on a solid routine rather than a schedule as you introduce the routine. Infants are too young to stick to a schedule. As soon as you see the tired cues switch to your wind-down bedtime routine.
- All babies are different hence learn the different aspects of your baby as you introduce them to a new bedtime routine. Eat-play-sleep may not work for all. Adjust yours accordingly by reading your baby cues.
- You have no control over your baby’s appetite and feeding frequency. Infants may wake up several times for feeding during the night. However, your new routine should help them to go right back to sleep.
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