![]() Many parents time this right before bed, so their baby sleeps as long as possible before needing another feeding. Give your baby a bottle or breastfeed – some parents nurse to sleep, while others put their baby down drowsy but awake (which some experts advise so they get used to falling asleep on their own). ![]() Babies don't need a bath more than three times per week, so don't feel bad about forgoing it if it's not a pleasure for you both. If your baby gets excited during baths or doesn't enjoy them, though, it's probably better to leave them out of the nighttime ritual. Sitting in warm water can be a soothing experience, and getting your baby warm and clean and dry is a great way to ease them into bedtime. One of the most popular parts of many bedtime rituals is a bath. As long as you follow up any rowdy play with something calmer and quieter before they go to sleep, it can be a good first step toward bedtime. ![]() So feel free to dance around with them to a favorite song or let them bounce in the bouncer if they're in the mood. Sometimes it helps to let your baby get any pent-up energy out of their system before you try to settle them down for the night. ![]() Maybe you'll find something here that's right for you. The following bedtime routine ideas have worked for other parents. Most experts also recommend choosing a consistent time to begin your wind-down routine. Your baby will be okay if you miss part or all of a routine every once in a while, or if you need to shorten it to accommodate your own exhaustion or other family members' schedules.Įxperts recommend including four main components in your bedtime routine: nutrition (like nursing or a bottle), hygiene (bath time, oral care, skin care), communication (reading, singing), and physical contact (cuddling, baby massage). You also might find it's not possible to do the full routine every night. You might find babies (and you!) are quite tired in the evening and don't want to engage in multiple activities, which is totally valid. Watch how your baby responds, and add or take away elements of the routine based on that. Instead of immediately setting up an elaborate routine, try just one or two things at first. If reading a book or singing a lullaby seem calming to them, that might be something to try. To start a bedtime routine, think about activities your baby seems to find soothing. For young babies especially, you may find that it's best to keep it short and sweet: diaper change and jammies, feeding, a kiss, and turning on the white noise machine. Start early enough in the evening, so you have time to get through the sequence before bedtime. Don't adopt a routine that will be exhausting or overwhelming for you – it's fine to keep it simple. What's most important is listening to your baby's cues and making sure you have enough energy at the end of the day to follow through with the routine. The whole routine might just be a few minutes or might take around an hour, depending on how many elements you want to include. If your baby is older and you never started a formal bedtime routine with them, or you used to have one but fell out of the habit, it's never too late to give it a try or recommit to the routine.įamilies have different traditions and expectations of what a bedtime routine looks like. There's no harm in helping your baby learn that it's time to wind down, even if they don't immediately fall asleep. While six weeks is too young for your baby to stick to a regular schedule (see our article on newborn sleep), they'll still come to appreciate the consistency and predictability. When your baby is as young as six weeks old, start following a set pattern every night. The sooner you establish a bedtime routine, the better.
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