Establishing a Bedtime Routine For Babies – When to Start, Benefits and Tips

When Should You Start a Bedtime Routine For Your Baby?

Experts say it’s ideal to appoint a particular and fixed bedtime routine for your infant as soon as possible. From 6 – 8 weeks, your infant can solely get aid from the habit of the correct bedtime routine. For most babies, you can start establishing a sleep routine when they are around 3 months old.

Don’t impose a bedtime routine forcefully as soon as you welcome your baby to the house from the hospital. Though babies require an abundance of quality sleep, the newborn needs time to recover from the effort of being born as well. And so does the mother!

Therefore, a mother can approach the infant with a shorter bedtime routine after two months of the baby being born. And that has to be a cuddly and comforting session.

Amazing Benefits of Establishing a Bedtime Routine For Babies

The bedtime routine is vital for various reasons.

• Familiarizing your baby with a bedtime routine will enhance their nighttime sleeping pattern.
• It also allows the baby come to admire the consistency of sleeping.
• The baby will be trained and informed of what’s coming next, which will help them relax and go to bed effortlessly. So they can fall asleep without much howling.
• Parents must always maintain their baby’s sleep routine even if they are away from home.
• While you are in an unfamiliar place, environment, or circumstance, the struggle of setting down your baby will be much easier with the help of a bedtime routine.
• Bedtime rituals are paramount for the sound fitness and well-being of your little bundle of love.

How Long Does it Take For a Baby to Get Used to a Bedtime Routine?

It usually takes roughly 6 weeks for your baby to get acquainted with the sleep routine. This period may vary from baby to baby. Some may be able to fall into the routine earlier while others take time.

Factors such as illnesses, teething, sleep regression, and growth spurts can all play havoc with the sleep training process. Patience and consistency are the key here.

Top 4 Tips For Establishing a Bedtime Routine For Babies

Here are a few tips and suggestions you can follow to ensure that you are able to get your baby into a proper bedtime routine.

1. Maintain Consistent Timing

Record the time and sleeping patterns of your baby precisely. Also, track the longest sleep time during the night. A baby can sleep 5-6 hours constant or not, at night. So, monitoring the sleep pattern will help you set a fixed routine for everyday bedtime. Once you evaluate the whole timetable, try to practice 30/40 minutes of pre-sleep ritual for the lengthiest sleep stretch.

2. Create a Cozy Environment

Make sure all bright lights are off or in dim condition. Also, close all curtains. Make a shade and calming environment, turn all volumes off and set a piece of relaxing music to soothe your baby.

[Read : Why Should Babies Listen To Lullaby Songs?]

3. Keep Changing the Strategies

Initially, a baby might fall asleep by just a bedtime lullaby, story, soft music, or the mother’s cuddle. However, as the baby grows, their requirements change. As a result, babies become inconsistent while sleeping. The mother needs to adjust to these changing necessities. So, you can adopt unique bedtime strategies to build a new routine like a baby massage, creating a more relaxing atmosphere, bath time story, etc.

4. Maintain the Same Sleeping Place For Your Baby

Babies seek comfort, consistency, coziness, and warmth more than anything. You can choose a cradle or a crib or your bed to make your baby sleep. But make sure you don’t change the place frequently. It’ll disrupt their sleeping pattern. Maintain this ritual for at least a couple of months until your baby sleeps more soundly.

By following this guidance, you can skillfully train your baby with a soothing sleep routine. Once the little bundle of joy realizes something pleasant, cozy and consistent, they will experience better sleep patterns. All these will make sleep time much easier for you and your little one.

[Read : Baby Safety- Crib and Baby Bed Safety Tips]

FAQ’s

1. Should Feeding be Part of the Bedtime Routine?

Yes, absolutely! Ensure you feed the baby right before the baby goes for a longer sleep stretch. Often, babies fall asleep at the moment of feeding, making the bedtime task easier.

2. Shall I Include Any Activity in a Bedtime Routine?

Yes! You can skillfully include relaxing bathing activities, bedtime story sessions, soothing infant massage, lullabies, and soft music in your bedtime routine.

3. Should I Cuddle My Baby During Bedtime?

Cuddling your baby while making them sleep is a superb approach to putting your baby to bed quickly. The baby will feel more relaxed and pleasant in the mother’s warmth while cuddling and have a better sleep.

Read Also: Reading to Your Baby – When to Start And Benefits