Why have a bedtime routine?

Having a bedtime routing can make your baby feel more relaxed as she knows what is going to happen and feels secure. The more relaxed your baby is before bedtime, the more likely that she will go to sleep easily.

You can start a routine with a baby as young as six or eight weeks old.

The choice of what you include in your routine is your decision and you need to decide what suits you and your family. The trick is to choose something that helps relax your baby and makes it a pleasurable experience for both of you. The aim of the routine is to finish in your baby’s bed, so you can start anywhere in the house – e.g. bathroom or the living room. Her bed should be somewhere where she is happy to spend time and not just somewhere she is left at bedtime. The whole bedtime routine should be a pleasure for both of you, with lots of time and attention which means your baby will love this time of day.

3 Easy Steps

1. Burn off excess energy
2. Have a bath (or quiet/relaxing time)
3. A bedtime story and/or music (singing, CD, etc.)
   

Ideas To Add To Your Bedtime Routine

This is a great time for one or both parents to spend time with their baby and below are a number of ideas to get you started to incorporate into your own bedtime routine.

Excess Energy

Depending on your baby she may need to get rid of some excess energy. Bouncing in her bouncer or other exercise (running, gymnastics, anything fun) before bedtime can help; the key is to follow up this energetic and excitable play with something quieter. So you might follow with a bath and a bedtime story so she is relaxed before she goes to sleep.

Saying goodnight

Some babies will enjoy being carried around the room or the house, saying goodnight to the rest of the family, pets, or favourite toys.

Bath time

Bath Time is a part of many bedtime routines. The whole experience of being immersed in warm water is soothing and can be fun. Getting your baby clean, dry and cosy in bedtime clothes or bath robe is a great way to signal to her that its bedtime. A bath is also an ideal way for your partner to spend some special time with the baby. If your baby gets over-excited or anxious at bath time, just leave them out of the bedtime routine.

Massage

A massage is a great addition to a bedtime routine – following a bath is an ideal time to massage your baby. Babies thrive on loving touch and massage relaxes muscles and soothes. Massage can also be used to ease a number of uncomfortable ailments such as wind, colic and teething. (See our article on The Benefits of Baby Massage for more information.)

General washing and brushing

Part of the bedtime routine can include washing face and hands, wiping her gums or brushing her teeth, changing her nappy and putting on her pyjamas. It's a good time to start the habit of brushing the teeth so your baby becomes used to it and it becomes part of their daily routine.

Play a game

Playing a quiet game before bedtime can be a lovely way to spend time with your baby – this can be done in the living room or on the floor of your baby's bedroom. The game can be as simple as peek-a-boo or playing quietly with a favourite toy; the important thing is that it should be fun without getting her too excited.

Talk together

Many parents use bedtime to talk to their baby. The end of the day is a reflective period so talk softly and quietly. Chat about your day together or talk about what you have been doing individually.

Read a bedtime story

A bed time story is a popular part of any bedtime routine. This is a time for you to spend time together whilst your baby learns to recognise new words. Studies have shown that language skills can benefit from a baby's exposure to a large vocabulary.

Sing a song

Another favourite -- singing a lullaby can help your baby drift off to sleep. The combination of your familiar voice and a comforting tune will quieten her.

Play some music

Playing lullabies, classical music, or other favourite songs while you settle your baby to sleep - and then leaving it on after you leave - can help ease the transition from wakefulness to sleep. Gentle music can soothe babies with the additional benefit of drowning out outside noise.

By creating a routine, your baby will learn familiar cues signalling when it is time to settle down to sleep. This will help you manage your days together and makes bedtimes an enjoyable, rather than a stressful, experience for baby and you. It can also be useful if you are away from home as a routine can be used even in unfamiliar surroundings and will help to comfort your baby.