by Keri Withington

Created on: September 04, 2009

You have probably heard of a magical thing called a bedtime routine. According to parenting magazines, it will make your life easier and your child's life better. You've probably heard other parents talking about one. Whether you are already an advocate of bedtime routines, or just trying to find out more about them, here are some reasons why bedtime routines are beneficial both for your child and you.

Bedtime routines create a sense of security and rhythm. This helps your child to calm down for bed, resulting in falling asleep more easily, and to feel more confident and safe. These feelings of confidence and safety are good at bedtime (can help disperse fears of monsters under the bed, etc.), but also spreads into their daily lives. To read more about this, click here.

Babies and children who have a sleep routine fall asleep faster and then sleep better than children without a bedtime routine. For evidence supporting this, click here. Because they have a set time to prepare for sleep, they will usually fall asleep faster and on their own. Even young babies can go through their bedtime routine with their parents, then be kissed goodnight and left to fall asleep on their own in their own bed. As these children know how to fall asleep on their own, and feel calm and safe in bed, they normally wake up less during the night, and are more likely to put themselves back to sleep if they do stir. This means that you, the parent, don't have to wake up with them as often during the night. This helps parents to get enough rest themselves, resulting in happier, calmer, healthier parents.

There is also some evidence that consistently following a calm bedtime routine can help avoid bedwetting, nightmares, and other common night time problems. Bedtime routines also benefit children in school (for more information, click here).

Also, because your child has a bedtime routine, it creates continuity even when there are changes. If a babysitter sticks to the same routine, it will help your child to fall asleep even if you're not there. It can also make transitions, like starting school or moving, easier on them.

Having a good bedtime routine means that there is a guaranteed space for quality family time each day. This time before bed can be very important for family bonding, and can help improve family relationships. To read more about this, click here.

Not only does a bedtime routine benefit children, it's good for the parents too. A recent study concluded that using a bedtime routine resulted in improved maternal mood. In other words, mothers were happier and less stressed when their kids had a bedtime routine. To read more about this study, click here. Having a bedtime routine means that your child (or children) goes to bed at the same time each day, and you then have the rest of the evening to yourself. This can be an important time for couples to spend with reach other.

For advice on establishing a bedtime routine, click here.

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