Bedtime Routine

Your bedtime routine will continue throughout the baby phase and into the toddler phase, with some small changes as your baby becomes a toddler. Your bedtime will be after your 7ish PM feeding (some may feed closer to 630/645/7/715 PM, this is ok). There are exceptions for some families. Here are some things to consider when setting your bedtime:

* Bedtime happens before the dreamfeed. So if you feed at 7 PM, then dreamfeed at 10/11 PM, your bedtime would be after your 7 PM feeding. You would just then wake up your baby, feed him, and put him right back down at dreamfeed. In setting your bedtime, make sure it is consistent from day to day.

* Pick a time that you are willing to be home to stick to. Yes, there is an occasional BBQ, friends birthday or some event that you may be out a tad later...but try to be consistent most of the time.

Before bed time, start your routine that you enjoy and like to do. A simple routine could look like this: Bath, read books, swaddle (if younger then 4 months, sleep sack if older then 4 months), feed, bed. Some like to swaddle after the feed incase of blowouts, but if your baby is having a hard time going to sleep after the 7pm feed, try swaddling before the feed to settle your baby down. Your bedtime routine will be a sleep cue every night that it is bedtime. Enjoy this time, sit in a chair and enjoy your baby’s bedtime.