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May 2012 Moms
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Bedtime Routines?

ClaireOtomsClaireOtoms member
in May 2012 Moms

We are still struggling to come up with a bedtime routine that works for us.  I guess the hardest part is consistency.  For a while we were doing a walk and a book before bed, but sometimes DH doesn't get home until 7 or so, at which point we are all too tired for a walk.  I'd like to come up with a routine that is simple and short enough that we will be able to do it every night.   Baths are definitely out - LO screams and screams if we bathe him at night, but loves to take a bath first thing in the morning.

 What do your bedtime routines look like?  How consistent are you regarding time/order/doing it every night?  



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Re: Bedtime Routines?

  • lucylove619lucylove619 member
    We usually do a bath, which it sounds like won't work for you, but the rest of the routine is lotion massage with lullabies playing, dad reads a book (we skip this if she is fussy), we sing a few songs and then nurse. I am currently nursing her to sleep, but when she is 4 months I am going to try and stop, so we will nurse before the bath probably. We do the same thing almost every night, unless we have been out somewhere past her bedtime (around 7:30). She definitely knows that it is time for bed!
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  • stemms8810stemms8810 member

    Ours includes a bath every other night.  On no bath nights usually I do a little massage with baby lotion instead, pj's, swaddle, rock, and nurse.  This takes me like half an hour tops.  The time isn't exact every night but usually around 7pm but I do use the same order.  Sometimes he nurses first downstairs and then I do everything else but it always ends in the rocking chair either just rocking, nursing or both.

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  • winter-shockwinter-shock member
    Bath, nurse, bed. Every night is the same and she is out between 7:30 and 8. The only time it is different is if we are away from home, then we just do our best to make it happen. If DH works late he does miss out on seeing the girls but he understands how different the girls are if they stick to their routine. Days when they are super out of routine are very hard days. 
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  • mrsbecky07mrsbecky07 member

    We do baths every night. the few times we have skipped a bath recently he takes a lot longer to settle down. Sometimes the baths are longer than other times though.

     So we typically give him a bath, get him dressed with his overnight diaper and his pajama, then I read one or two books to him, then I feed him as I watch tv (lol) and he dozes off that way.  We tried to get him out of the habit of nursing to sleep for naps but at night its the best way to knock him out and I enjoy it too.  Then we put him in his crib - some nights he goes to sleep right away, some nights he wakes up, and we have to soothe him and put him back down - last night it took about 45 minutes, but then he goes down and sleeps straight through the night.  We dont start getting him ready until 8 or 830 though, so he's not going to sleep until 930 or 10, but he's sleeping until 6 or 7 so I guess it's working. 

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  • hoping4stickyhoping4sticky member

    I sometimes feel that the 'you must do the exact same bedtime routine' is a bit excessive. I am a big fan, however, of sleep cues. We started using the seahorse with my DD around 2-3 months and at almost 2 she is still using it. I turn it on before naps and bed and now, if she is still up or wakes up, she will reach over and turn it on herself. Our routine has changed as she has grown, but she is a fantastic sleeper and the seahorse really helps when we are traveling or when she first started daycare.

    I'm also the cliche. With my first I was so adament about doing everything right - started laying her down awake early, strict on naps etc. and we were fortunate and it worked, she has slept 7-7 since about 6.5 months old. This time, I realize how short the cuddle stage is and if I rock him to sleep for a few months, it is ok. He will sleep on his own at some point.

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  • bellelambbellelamb member
    No real routine here never have been set on routines. We get my oldest in bed say prayers and then me and the babies, 21 months and 3 months go downstairs all in pjs we watch some tv. I put lo in his pnp and he plays or falls asleep so I can cuddle with my toddler then take the toddler to bed put him down with a bottle and a blanket say good night, come down stairs. If lo is awake I get him and we cuddle and watch tv if not I leave him in his pnp untill I go to bed and take him to his bassinet then.
    I do not see the point of an elaborate drawn out bed time routine, the more flexible a child is the better. My kids can go camping or on overnights with no problems.
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  • ClaireOtomsClaireOtoms member

    imagebellelamb:
    I do not see the point of an elaborate drawn out bed time routine, the more flexible a child is the better. My kids can go camping or on overnights with no problems.

     

    I was kind of wondering about this.  I mean, if LO is going down at night ok without a specific routine, do I really need to start one?  



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