Bedtime Routine

LauranBilly

How do I get started on a routine? My LO goes to sleep when we do, anywhere from 10 to 11, We co-sleep. But what I want to know is, do I need to make her routine fit around her 10-11 bedtime now, or can I make it earlier? And if so how would I go about doing this? If its 8:30 and I am trying to get her in bed and asleep by 9.. she is going to fight me for an hour trying to go down. Thus we are still at the usual 10-11 bed time.( that?s the way I see it happening) Also I would like to get her back into the crib at night. Can someone help me out with some tips and advice. I have my IL?s in my house right now so things are a little hectic. Should I also wait until they are gone before I make the change? She was doing really well in her crib before they moved in.

luvdv8

Definitely avoid changes when the house is already chaotic. Also, don't try to change the sleeping location and bed time at the same time- master sleeping in the crib and then start changing her bed time slowly (15 minute increments every few days) while keeping the same routine in the hour or so before bed.

DD's routine is:

6-6:30 Bath time

6:30-7:30 TV/Play time with daddy

7:30-8 Clean up the play room

8:00- 2 bedtime stories then off to bed

IEtoLA

I would start the routine first to get her used to that, then get her used to her crib, then start moving up her bedtime in 15 minute increments every few days. How much longer are your ILs going to be with you? If it's going to be a while I would just start now, but if soon just at least get the routine thing going and then start after they leave. We start her routine 30 minutes before bedtime: milk, bath, books, bed. When I switched it around a while back it only took her a few days to get used to it.

Ambeerose

luvdv8:

Definitely avoid changes when the house is already chaotic. Also, don't try to change the sleeping location and bed time at the same time- master sleeping in the crib and then start changing her bed time slowly (15 minute increments every few days) while keeping the same routine in the hour or so before bed.

DD's routine is:

6-6:30 Bath time

6:30-7:30 TV/Play time with daddy

7:30-8 Clean up the play room

8:00- 2 bedtime stories then off to bed

This is pretty similar to what we do too.

6-6:30 Eat

6:30-7 Bath

7-7:30 Sit on the couch and snuggle then bedtime stories and go to bed

Like the pp said, if the grandparents are going to be there for a while you might as well do it now. And I would start off by putting her in the crib and getting her used to that, then trying to move bedtime up.

MommyMich

Personally I would make all the changes at the same time.  If you want her in her bed at a certain time, make a routine that does that.  Why bother getting her in bed at a certain time and then shaking it up again to move where she is sleeping?  It might be a fight for a couple of nights, but she will adjust.  I would rather have a couple nights of headache and be done with it than get her used to something and start all over.  Are your in-laws going to be there for a while?  If they are then I say there is no reason to wait until they leave.

LauranBilly

They are going to be with us for another couple of months. Thanks for the ideas ladies.. its giving me something to think about.