The first few months of your baby’s life will be a whirlwind of unconditional love, lots of learning, and very little sleep for you and lots of sleep for them! Baby sleep patterns in the first three months are somewhat erratic. Attempting to put your baby on a sleep schedule before three months old isn’t beneficial. However, establishing a bedtime routine used at least once daily sets the stage for healthy sleep habits. Bedtime routines for babies should be simplistic but consistent. It might take a few weeks or even months to create the ideal routine, but the benefits of bedtime routines for babies are numerous for you and them!
The Benefits of Bedtime Routines for Infants
Establishing a bedtime routine is hugely beneficial for you and your baby. Like all routines, bedtime routines provide consistency and stability for your baby.
Benefits for Babies Include:
- Creating a secure emotional connection between you and your baby.
- Establishing a feeling of safety and stability for your baby. This is particularly important when someone else puts your baby to sleep.
- Helping your baby sleep better and longer.
- Signaling bedtime or sleepytime to your baby.
- Helping your baby develop healthy sleep habits.
- Promoting healthy brain development.
The Benefits of Bedtime Routines for Parents
Bedtime routines for babies benefit the parents, too! Routines are helpful for everyone. They instill consistency so everyone knows what to expect, and a routine keeps you on schedule.
Benefits for Parents Include:
- Allowing you to sleep longer because they’re sleeping longer and decreasing sleep deprivation.
- Reducing bedtime struggle, especially as your baby becomes a toddler and preschooler.
- Bonding time for parents and babies.
- Assisting in organizing the rest of your day and creating a daily routine.
- Getting your baby to sleep easily means more time for you and your partner to spend together.
Using Baby Daybook to Understand Your Baby’s Sleep Patterns
The Baby Daybook Sleep Tracker is a beneficial tool in understanding your baby’s sleep patterns. Using the sleep tracker, you can record when your baby sleeps and for how long, right from their first days at home!
This valuable information allows you to understand better their wake windows, the periods they are awake between sleeping, and their sleep patterns.
Once their sleep patterns are established, usually around two to three months old, you can begin implementing a bedtime routine ahead of their regular sleepy times.
The Baby Daybook app shares information on your baby’s sleep with all family members and users you’ve added to the application. Additionally, here are widgets for your Apple or Android watch so you’ll always be able to access information tracked on your little one.
Tips for Establishing a Bedtime Routine
In the first two months, you should follow your baby’s signals for feeding and sleeping, but once you’re familiar with their sleepy signals, you can begin incorporating a simple bedtime routine.
A bedtime routine can be performed in part or full before naptime, too, but eventually, you’ll want to have a particular routine just for nighttime to signal to your little one it’s time for a long overnight sleep.
It’s essential to remember that a baby’s sleep patterns consistently change as they age and develop; consistent use of the sleep tracker will help you stay ahead of the curve!
Dos and Donts of Establishing a Bedtime Routine
- Choose the order of events and stay consistent. If you skip a step due to travel or other reasons, that’s okay; just move to whatever step follows the skipped one.
- Include things like a baby massage, storytime, bath, teeth (or gum) brushing, snuggle time, lullabies, and a final bedtime feeding.
- Always place your baby in their crib, sleepy but not fully asleep, so they can learn to fall asleep independently.
- Do what works for you. There’s no perfect formula. Some families have a 3-step routine, while others might have a 6-step one. Just figure out what works best for you and your little one.
- Keep your routine between 15-20 minutes.
- Start the routine before they’re tired. Trying to put an overtired baby to bed can actually backfire. Use the Sleep Tracker starting around month two or three to discover your baby’s sleep patterns.
- Keep the bedroom cool, dim, and quiet. A soft nightlight provides enough light for them to see and for you to see them if a mid-night visit is needed.
- Avoid the use of screens before bed or in the bedroom.
- Don’t nurse them to sleep. Bottle-fed babies should have the bottle removed before they fall asleep.
Takeaway
Bedtime routines are simple steps and activities you follow every time your baby is getting ready for sleep. Bedtime routines for babies benefit the entire family. They help babies and parents sleep better, create healthy sleep habits, and instill a sense of security and safety in your baby. Establishing a bedtime routine is simple, and you can start by tracking your baby’s sleep patterns to find a pattern. Keep using the Baby Daybook Sleep Tracker to observe changes in your baby’s sleeping needs and use that information to adjust their schedule over time.
Sources
Pacheco D (2023). Bedtime Routines for Children. Sleep Foundation. www.sleepfoundation.org [accessed June 2024]
