Should we have a bedtime routine?

Emily041285

Once she gets asleep DD (2 weeks today) is pretty much like clock work eating every two-three hours, but at night it's a struggle to get her asleep. I have zero problems during the day nursing her and even in the middle of the night. But she just won't eat well and fights sleep even though I can tell she is tired.

Is it too early to start a bedtime routine? If not, what do your routines look like?

Emily041285

I figured. It's just so frustrating that this is the only time she fights sleep. I could nurse for hours and she'd still be wide awake.

amhah09

I've always let the baby establish their own routine. It usually comes after a couple months.

snmetz7

At 8 we turn the lights low take her out of the onesie and put her in her halo sleep sack. And turn the volume on everything down. That's all we have so far but it has helped her sleep better at night.

irisheyez7

We don't do a routine per say...but she sleeps in the living room during the day and we go about our normal routine. At night we swaddle her and put her in the bassinet in our bedroom and turn off the lights and turn on the sleep sheep. We are hoping she will associate the bassinet with night time sleeping. We did get a 5 hour stretch out of her 2 nights in a row, so far so good :-)

Dixon813

We don't have a real routine (DS is 9 days) but we do keep him downstairs during the day - it's well lit, noisy, etc. then sometime between 8-10 (like I said, not specific right now) we dim lights, lower tv volume, he gets swaddled after a feeding then goes to his crib. We have one light we turn on during the night for changing and feeding, otherwise it's dark.

Our pediatrician just reminded us today the only thing we can really do to get them on a schedule is bright and loud house during the day, dark and quiet house at night. Good luck!

nursewinnie

I've definitely started a loose routine with her. She's two weeks old today. I started about 3 days ago and it's been a god send. Around 8 we turn down the lights some and turn down the volume. She's usually fussy from around 6-9 every day so we just cluster feed and cuddle or whatever works. At about 9 i pump, change her and swaddle (I only swaddle at night so she knows it's bedtime) then she and I go to the bedroom. I keep the lights off and turn the fan on medium while I give her the last of a cluster feeding bottle (I EP). She usually settles at that point and I place her in the rock and play at bedside and let her grunt and fidget and then we both fall asleep.

First two nights I got 2 four hour stretches of uninterrupted sleep. Last night we had one 5 hr and another 3 1/2 hr stretch. It has worked wonders for my mental state and she seems to be doing well. Also, during the day we keep all thenblinds open and lights on. We don't make an effort to be quiet.

Emily041285

Thanks ladies. I took your advice @LalaMama81‌ and just cluster fed unt she fell asleep instead of just cuddling and we got a 4 hour stretch last night!