Bedtime routine vs Husband

LO is 12 weeks old. I am trying to set up a bedtime routine, having LO sleep at 9pm, winding down from 7pm. But my husband likes to play with LO and sing (rock and roll) to him around 8pm, after dinner, often leaving him excited and hyper before bedtime. I’ve told husband a couple of times I am trying to set up a bedtime routine, but he doesn’t listen - he works during the day, so only has evenings to play with LO. Husband sleeps in another room and is less affected by LO’s sleepless nights. Should I leave husband to play with LO and perhaps move LO’s bedtime later?

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I think routines at this age are so hard to do as things constantly change. However your husband should get on board if you are the one dealing with bedtime.

Your bub is only 12 weeks old. You have so much time to implement a routine. They’re only a newborn once. Let dad have quality time with your baby since he works during the day. No harm in a later bed time especially being so little. Bedtimes can be altered, dad missing out on special time can never be replaced. Your baby will remember these special times forever.

Maybe have husband do bath time? He can play but it also can be soothing and help wind baby down. My son is 18mos now and bath is essential to get the last of his energy out before bed.

I’d say let them have their time it’s really important for them to bond and now I’ve gone back to work I understand how my partner must have felt all those months seeing so little of baby. We had a very late bedtime until I returned to work so my partner would see baby for the maximum amount of time in the evenings - it worked for us! I really wouldn’t stress about routine etc with such a young baby. You’ll find your own with time x

Let them have their time and You don’t need to move bed time 30 minute should be enough to wind down

My daughter is 1.5 and a crazy 30 minutes before bed has always helped her settle down for bed and go to sleep faster. Before it got dark so early we would go run around the playground for 30 minutes. I wouldn’t move bed later but see if it changed how baby sleeps

2 hours to wind down is a long time, and if a routine is cutting into their time together it’s not worth it in my opinion. I’ve never been super strict with a routine, and even know let our boy stay up later if it means he gets to see his dad before bed. They will literally be wrestling, but he’ll be in bed and asleep 15 mins later. Rough housing before bed has actually been shown to help sleep, as it releases stress and tension.

It’s hard to have an established routine by 12 weeks, I think if hubby is showing an interest & wanting to play let him. It’s how he’s bonding with baby especially if he works all day. My husband was the same and I had no issues finding an established routine by 4-5 months but one that worked for all of us:) xx

Thank you for all the comments. I guess I didn’t think about it that way. I was with LO all day, juggling between baby and housework, already exhausted. Husband played with baby for an hour or so in the evening and got LO all hyper. He then went to another room watching a film before sleep, and left me a baby crying half a night. After reading the comments, I realise husband showing interest to play with the baby is a good thing; I guess I can tolerate it longer till there is a routine to suit all of us. Xx

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