by L. Merlino

Created on: January 23, 2008

How making your baby feel secure encourages good sleep habits

Bedtime for baby heralded a truly magical time in our house, a time for dimming the lights in the advent of fairy tales and soft singing - a time when the bed becomes a stage and you get to narrate the play; the counting of little fingers and toes and roll call for cuddly toys; the Sandman, the owl and pussycat, pea-green boat and all; sock puppets, countless extra tucks and kisses ... and a time to suspend belief in rhyme and reason - except for nursery rhymes of course.

It could also be a time of monsters under the bed (take them seriously), fussiness, last-minute diaper changes, and more fussiness.

First of all, baby must be cozy, clean and dry, ALL cuddly toys in the audience must be well accounted for, all bedtime rituals must be adhered in some predetermined fashion or baby won't be counting sheep - nor will you. Yes, it's a time of ritual, of cardinal formula, and hopefully, of winding down. You may say that launching baby to sweet dreamland is rocket science - till you get the bedtime ritual down pat.

If Raggedy Ann needs to be perched at the head of the bed, or Thomas the Tank Engine has to be at the foot - so be it. Blinken always follows Winkin, with Nod at the rear - don't get them mixed up!

If you are breast-feeding, so much the better; baby will often fall asleep at the breast without coaxing. Still, a prelude of bedtime magic is always a good idea; it will make baby feel more secure and double your own odds of a good night's sleep, between nighttime feedings that is. Baby needs a full belly to sleep blissfully.

The mood your baby is in at bedtime, will predetermine what types of dreams will follow; it'll also predetermine the ease with which you can bed baby down the next time around. Babies are creatures of habit and thrive on repeat performances; if baby anticipates bedtime as a peaceful and enjoyable routine, your job will be that much easier, night after night. You set the pattern and the precedent. Baby responds with expectations and feelings of security.

Familiar lighting, sounds, touch and scents are all part of the process. Even if you are not musically inclined, the sound of your voice intoning a familiar rhyme or tune will soothe your little one. Cuddle. Babies are very tactile creatures; the scent of your clothing, of fresh, clean bedding, and soft textures combined are very reassuring.

A warm drink, an extra tuck and sweet dreams to you both!

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