by Vanessa Bartlemus

Created on: January 17, 2010

Ask any new parent what they want more of and their answer will be simple: sleep. One of the strategies a new parent can use to get more sleep is to establish a bedtime routine. This will help not only now but in the long run when your baby becomes a toddler and beyond.

First…decide how much time you would like to set aside for “settling down time.” This should be somewhere between 15-45 minutes, depending on how many steps to the routine you want to include. The important thing about a routine is that must be done every day to establish a sense of predictability. Children like to have predictable routines where they know what is coming next.

Begin by letting your baby know it’s time to start getting ready for bed. Your baby may not understand you yet, however, it is good to have an auditory cue that baby may grow to associate with bedtime. Here are some ideas for steps for a bedtime routine; select the ones you feel are best suited to your family and the time you can allot to the routine. You may need to readjust it as your child grows; an active crawler or toddler may need more time to settle down from the day’s activities than a younger baby.

Bath time: A nice warm bath at the end of the day is very calming. Add some lavender and chamomile bath oil or bubble bath to make it even more relaxing.

Massage: Right after his bath, give baby a little massage. Use baby oil or massage gel made for babies. A massage helps moisturize baby’s skin while relaxing him and helping get rid of any possible gas. Use gentle strokes on the arms and legs and a circular motion on his little tummy and back.

Pajamas: Dress baby in some fresh clean pajamas. When your infant turns into an opinionated toddler, you can add the step of letting her choose between two pairs of pajamas. This way she feels like she has a say in the matter, while at the same time

Story time: Reading is beneficial to all children, no matter how young. Choose a short and rhythmic story book with colorful pictures.

Bedtime feeding: Give your baby her last feeding before bed while you rock her in a rocking chair (if you have one) and sing to her.

Lights out: Say good night to your little one as you turn off the lights and slowly leave the room. You may choose to stay with your baby till he falls asleep, or leave the room to let him fall asleep on his own. If you choose to stay with your baby, you may want to sing him to sleep. Some babies also like their tummies rubbed or their backs patted to help them fall asleep.

A few tips for babies who have trouble staying asleep:

White noise: If your baby is having trouble falling asleep (or staying asleep) you may want to invest in some sort of white noise machine. There are teddy bears that attach to the side of your baby’s crib and play calming sounds such as rain, ocean sounds, or heartbeat sounds. Or you can get a CD with white noise or bedtime music and play it as baby falls asleep. On hot summer days, a fan can be used to produce white noise. Just make sure it isn’t blowing next to your baby’s face.

For very small infants, it can be hard to be far from mommy during the night. If your baby sleeps in a crib, leave a piece of your clothes that you have recently worn in the crib with him. It will have your scent on it and will help baby feel comfortable. Just make sure you tuck it into the corners of baby’s mattress so that it won’t get loose and suffocate baby.

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