Bedtime Routines for Babies

You might think that it is only older children who benefit from a good bedtime routine, but the truth is that your infant can as well. In fact, babies tend to sleep through the night sooner if they have a routine for going to bed. It seems to give them comfort and they know what to expect.

The whole idea of a bedtime routine is to calm and prepare the child for sleep. If he knows what is coming, he won't be as resistant to going to bed. Even small babies are capable of anticipation and will quickly realize that this series of events means it is time to sleep. This helps the infant go to sleep faster and soothe himself to sleep alone, allowing you to sleep more, too!

Obviously, a baby's routine will be slightly different than that of an older child who is able to actively participate. You won't be asking a newborn to pick out a story, for example. However, many elements can and should remain the same. This means you can gradually alter the routine as your baby grows, without changing it drastically when he reaches toddlerhood and then the preschool years.

A baby's nighttime routine depends on what you decide and what tends to calm your baby. It should be a gradual winding down process that lasts from 15-30 minutes at least to give the baby time to get used to the idea of going to bed. Most parents find that starting the routine with the last bottle of the day is a good start.

You might try reading a simple board book to your baby while feeding or you can wait until after his bath. After the bottle or dinner, it is a good idea to give your baby a warm bath. There are aromatherapy soaps available for infants that include lavender, a natural sleep-enhancer. You might find it useful to use this in the baby's bath.

After the bath, dry your infant thoroughly and give him a nice body massage with lotion in a warm room before dressing him for bed. If you wish, a story or a gentle game or song can be added to this part of the bedtime routine. Even very little babies will enjoy a nursery rhyme or two at this point.

It is a good idea to have a lullaby or short song like "Rock a Bye, Baby" to sing to your baby right before putting him down. He will quickly learn to associate this song with going to bed and it will put him at ease. Sing it while rocking him gently in your arms, then put him down with a kiss. You can turn on the radio very low or a fan for white noise, as well. Then just leave the room.

Babies adapt very well to routines and it is a good idea to choose one that can be carried out anywhere so you can continue the same routine even if you are visiting grandparents or have to leave your house for a night or two. Bedtime routines are the ideal way to get your child to go to bed without problems and by starting early on in life, you avoid tantrums later on!