? about bedtime routine

Court0026

We have been giving DS a bath every night (soap 2 times a week) for about 2 weeks to try to set up a nice bedtime routine.  However, he still doesn't seem to fall asleep for at least 2 hours after no matter what time we do the bath.  He has pretty dry skin and hasn't seemed to enjoy the baths lately.  Would you continue to include the bath?

papagena

Nope.  Baths don't calm all babies, so if it's not working and you're getting dry skin, I'd stop doing it daily.  Our routine is a last feed, change & massage, a book & bed.

DRMRS

We had been doing the same thing but I have found that while he enjoys the bath, it doesn't help him fall asleep.  So we now give him a bath earlier in the evening...he hangs out for a while afterward, nurses and then goes to sleep a little while later.  Unless the bath really seems to upset your DS,  I would continue to include it (I think it makes for a nice part of the bedtime routine), but do it earlier and don't expect him to fall asleep right after it.

Court0026

Thanks!