A predictable bedtime routine can help your baby to make the transition from their daily activities to a peaceful night time slumber.
The first few months with your new baby you are in survival mode. Lack of sleep is at an all time high and you are learning what life with a newborn is really like. Your focus is on recovering from pregnancy and childbirth and enjoying the time you have with your precious new baby. By the time your baby is a few months old, both of you will be ready to add some sort of a routine to your sleep patterns.
Babies as young as 2 months old can benefit from having a predictable bedtime routine. Experiencing the same thing each night before going to bed cues your baby in that it is time to go to sleep and will encourage them to fall asleep faster. Your routine will vary depending on your infant’s personal preferences and your lifestyle. It may seem as though developing a bedtime routine takes away from the time you have to yourself at night, but as your baby begins to learn that his world is safe and predictable he will go to sleep quickly and easily at night. The time that you spend taking care of your baby’s daily needs will leave you with beautiful memories for a lifetime.
A nightly bath will relax your baby and prepare them for sleep. Babies do not necessarily need to be bathed daily for the first year of life but a short dip in the tub or sink will calm your baby. Some skin conditions, such as severe eczema, may make this practice harmful to your baby, but a short soak can actually improve many skin conditions. It is important to apply moisturizing creme to your baby’s skin immediately after a bath.
Nurse your baby or feed them a bottle immediately before putting them to bed. Not only will this make your baby sleepy as they work hard to digest their food, but putting your baby to bed with a full tummy will help everyone in your home get a better night sleep.
Rock your baby or read to them before putting them to bed. Babies need to feel secure and being close to a parent is one of the most comforting things to an infant. Some parents feel silly reading to young babies and are hesitant to add a story to their bedtime routine. Reading to babies is comforting to them. They enjoy hearing the sound of your voice and being in close contact with you while you read to them. Pictures with strong contrasts or bright colors are appealing to babies. Your baby may want to touch the pages in the book and skip from the back to the front. Reading, in any form, is an excellent addition to a bedtime routine because it will develop a habit of including books in your daily routine and encourage a love of reading. Your baby learns language by listening to it so even if you do not think your baby is getting anything out of a bedtime story they are learning important language skills.
Your bedtime routine will evolve as your baby grows. It may take some experimenting to determine what you and your baby enjoy as part of a nightly routine. As your baby becomes accustomed to their bedtime routine and their world becomes predictable, their bedtime routine will help them make the transition from a hectic daily life to a peaceful bedtime and they will fall asleep faster and sleep better at night.
