October 09, 2017
A good bedtime routine is essential for babies, and for you. We are all creatures of habit (that’s human nature) and we function well when we know what’s coming next. For babies, having a good routine helps to establish good sleeping habits and promotes longer and better sleep. So it stands to reason that a good bedtime routine could be the key to more sleep for you. And you want that, right? Read on for some tips on how to calm the storm in your home…
Start Young
Your baby is never too young to start getting used to the pattern of every day life. Routines need to be flexible here though, because newborn babies are changing and developing at such a fast pace. A good routine at bedtime for very young babies helps to regulate their systems and helps you to keep order too. Your days may seem chaotic, filled with feeds, dirty nappies and visitors, but your evenings can be a lot calmer if you make them.
Establish Good Habits
View bedtime as the most important time of the day. A chance to unwind. To relax. Even very small babies benefit from this and there is no reason at all why older kids can’t fit in easily with a new routine too. What you put into your routine is up to you, but there are a few golden rules you should consider:
Be Flexible
Yes, it’s important to stick to the same order of events every night, but that doesn’t mean that you HAVE to stop what you’re doing at precisely 7pm to pop baby in the bath because that’s what your routine dictates. Don’t let your routine dictate to you. Let it guide you. If you’re running late for whatever reason, don’t stress. Start your routine when you can, making sure that you stick to the correct order of events so that baby knows what to expect.
Elements That Make Up a Bedtime Routine
You might want to include all of these in your own routine, or you might want to skip some, depending on baby’s age and temperament.
Make Sure the Routine Works for the Whole Family
It doesn’t matter if you put your baby to bed at 7pm or 11pm. If it works for you and your family, go with it. Find a bedtime that suits you all and don’t worry about what anyone else thinks. Take some or all of the elements above and combine them in a way that works for you.
Falling asleep depends on body chemistry, and the things that we do in the lead up to bedtime helps to trigger sleep cues, thus leading to a better night’s sleep. This is why a good bedtime routine is so essential!
Rebecca Michi is a Children’s Sleep Consultant, who prides herself on becoming the youngest Childcare Manager in the United Kingdom for a national childcare chain by the age of 23. Since then, she has worked in a number of different childcare settings with children between the ages of 6 weeks and 8 years old, quickly advancing from Nursery Nurse to Officer in Charge (Manager).
Rebecca attended East Berkshire College, England, UK where she received the National Nursery Examining Board (the qualification has since been renamed CACHE level 3), one of the most recognizable Childcare qualifications in the world. These qualifications provide students with an exceptional level of hands-on experience in addition to a strong academic curriculum that covers the physical, educational, social, emotional and intellectual needs of different ages. Her other areas of study include health and hygiene, play, and First Aid.
Rebecca grew up in The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, England, UK. She stopped working in a childcare setting in 2001 when her husband’s job took them to Brazil for four years. Matteo and Rebecca celebrated the birth of their two daughters whilst living in Brazil. Since leaving Brazil, their family has lived in Europe and the United States, eventually settling in Seattle.
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