Bedtime Prayers?

Tess12 · May 2009

Is anyone doing this with their LOs yet? If so, what prayers and how do you fit it into the routine?

franciscaz · May 2009

I grew up w/a simple one:

Thank you Lord for Mommy, Daddy, my brothers and sisters. Thank you for Jesus, I love you... Amen. My mom would always say it w/me from the time I was a tot. I will do the same w/my son as soon as he starts talking (and daddy stops wanting to rock him to sleep every night).

We do a serious family prayer in the evenings and when Harm is older I am sure he will love to participate. I think the main thing is getting them used to it when they are little.

MNheidi · May 2009

We're not quite into a routine w/ it yet but I'm singing the last verse of Away in a Manger.

Be near me, Lord Jesus,
I ask Thee to stay
Close by me forever
And love me I pray

Bless all the dear children
In Thy tender care
And take us to heaven
To live with Thee there

MrsHK · May 2009

We don't have anything for DS yet, but it's in our routine. After changing and reading a book, we sit down shut of the lights and start relaxing. We all say a prayer together. Then DH leaves and DS and I rock and sing "Amazing Grace". (Sometimes DH stays and I go have chill time).

It's still more adult content but since he really hasn't been able to understand we keep it to what we like. I was thinking recently about when to make the change since he obviously understands us now.

Hippinski · May 2009

We do simple ones:

Now I lay me down to sleep

I pray the Lord my soul to keep

With Angels on my left and right

To keep me safe all through the night

And this one I made up to help with the really bad nightmares I get. I shared it with Ryan when he had a bad dreams and he now uses it too:

Dear God,

Please keep away the dreams that make me cringe in fright so that I can sleep peacefully all through the night.

Tess12 · May 2009

When my sister's kids were toddlers, she taught them "I see the moon and the moon sees me. God bless the moon and God bless me" and that was their bedtime prayer. I think it's sweet and low-key for little ones. I think I may use that.

Mama Jan · May 2009

Yes, we pray with DS every night before bed. We don't have a prayer/poem that we recite, we just teach him to pray the way we would throughout the day. We thank God for different people or things that happened that day, we pray for babies we know, we pray for things that are going on the next day. We will also pray over Caleb, for the person we want him to become, etc.

It's sweet, since this is part of our routine, Caleb knows it's coming. He always wants me to hold him (not DH who usually says the prayer) and he lays his head on my shoulder to listen. I love it.

Tess12 · May 2009

Mama Jan:
Yes, we pray with DS every night before bed. We don't have a prayer/poem that we recite, we just teach him to pray the way we would throughout the day. We thank God for different people or things that happened that day, we pray for babies we know, we pray for things that are going on the next day. We will also pray over Caleb, for the person we want him to become, etc.

It's sweet, since this is part of our routine, Caleb knows it's coming. He always wants me to hold him (not DH who usually says the prayer) and he lays his head on my shoulder to listen. I love it.

That's really cute.

LukeAndAmanda · May 2009

Same routine for us everynight as well. We go in her room, plug the nightlight in, stand her up in her crib, say our prayer with her hands together...
Now I lay me down to sleep
I pray the Lord my soul to keep
God watch over me through the night
And wake me with the morning light
Amen

Then we turn the mobile on, she kisses me three times from three different parts of her crib (And I'm amazed, but its exactly three times from the exact spots every night), I turn the fan on, the light off, and out I go!

JoyousJulia · May 2009

Mama Jan:
Yes, we pray with DS every night before bed. We don't have a prayer/poem that we recite, we just teach him to pray the way we would throughout the day. We thank God for different people or things that happened that day, we pray for babies we know, we pray for things that are going on the next day. We will also pray over Caleb, for the person we want him to become, etc.

It's sweet, since this is part of our routine, Caleb knows it's coming. He always wants me to hold him (not DH who usually says the prayer) and he lays his head on my shoulder to listen. I love it.

This is what we do. We also add in friends or family who might be in need. (For example: we've been adding my mom since she really needs a job.) Never underestimate the prayer of a child.

Stacyc625 · May 2009

yeah- i have always done it- since she was born. just a simple and sweet. god bless momma, and dadda. and the 'now i lay me down to sleep' prayer.

she knows that its coming. Its right after her bedtime book.

Oct03Bride2Be · May 2009

We do it while we are rocking before bed;

Goodnight dear God now I must sleep
I'll close my eyes and slumber deep,
I know you watch me from above
and cover me in your sweet love.

Amrice78 · May 2009

I've done them with him since we started a bedtime routine. They are just informal prayers like "Dear Lord, thank you for mommy and daddy and bailey bear (his stuffed animal), thank you that I had fun at daycare today, please help me to sleep good tonight so mommy can sleep (lol)", etc and then I add stuff like "please help grandma feel better" or something like that when someone is sick.