Bedtime routine

We do similar naps vs bed. Bedtime changes slightly depending on if it's a bath day or not. Bedtime: bath (if bath day), bottle, we all go upstairs together, change diaper and change into pajamas, put into sleepsack, dad cuddles and turns off light while I refill humidifier and grab pacifier and turn on mobile. Dad says goodnight and hands off to me and closes door. I give pacifier, cuddle, and rock for a few minutes, single a lullaby if crying (only happens if overtired). Put into crib and leave room, close door, and sit outside with the silenced baby monitor until he's asleep. I do sometimes have to go back in and resettle him, but we gentle sleep trained when his 4 month regression happened, so usually only once or twice. For nap, it's usually me or a grandparent. Put into sleep sack, grandparent holds until asleep then sets down, I do the same as nighttime: rock/cuddle, set in crib, sit outside. Setting a routine helps them know bedtime is coming and get them into sleepy mode. It helps later to do now.

@Kai thanks for the idea! How young was your LO when you started that routine?

@Danielle pretty much day 1. It did adjust slightly. We used to swaddle him until he was rolling and hold him until he was asleep, and we've had to change it up a bit as he's teething and with sleep training, but everything before setting him down has been pretty consistent since the beginning

@Kai that's amazing! I tried to set a routine but honestly he is pretty chaotic right now. The only consistent thing is the sleep swaddle!🙈

So my routine from day one. Naps: in the light, loud environment and in moses basket. I just go by his queues. I'll hold him after his bottle to see if he will sleep and then put him down if he does go. If not I lie him on his play mat or swing for a bit for a change of environment. Sleep: we have a toddler too so around 7.30 we make the living room darker and quieter for bedtime. Do a bottle for him and then get the toddler to bed between 8 and 8.30 toddler goes to bed. 10pm I take baby into the dark bedroom and change for bed then feed in the quiet and dark before settling in the moses basket. Soon I'll introduce bath time into his routine, same time as toddlers, then I'll introduce story time as well. Xx

My LO is 2 months. I open the blinds when she wakes in the morning after 6am. Show her the day and sing so she knows its morning. I play with her and let her kick and play until she seems sleepy then settle her for a nap. The challenge at the moment is putting her down for a nap. Husband is better at it than me. But there's progress there. She is currently asleep on me in a sling wrap so just leaving her be, enjoying the closeness. But yes will keep in well lit areas and not be afraid to make noise in the day. Nighttime. When she has a feed after 7pm, (usually around 9ish, but not in a consistent feeding routine) I will have low lights on in the room, put her in the sleepsack and once she is finished eating and fallen asleep, will lay her down and she usually has a block of sleep, between 4 and 7 hours