When your baby cries throughout the night or wakes up at all hours, it interrupts the necessary restful sleep that both you and your baby need. Establishing an effective bedtime routine is one way to help establish a baby’s sleep pattern that leads to a happier, more content child who is likely to sleep through the night. That’s how.
We are all creatures of habit. For example, you typically wake up each morning at 7 am, start making coffee, shower, get dressed, make a light breakfast, and take the time to enjoy a steaming cup of coffee before grabbing your briefcase and leaving. to work. But what if your alarm doesn’t go off until 7:30? Your routine is interrupted and often sets a different tone for the entire day. We function best with some consistency in routine, just like your baby.
Solving your baby’s sleep problems can be as easy as establishing a regular routine to teach him to sleep through the night. Start with these ideas:
Calm the environment.
Overstimulating your child just before bedtime will make it difficult for you to put your baby to bed easily. As bedtime approaches, reduce activity in the home, including the volume of the television and the sound of your voices.
Participate in a relaxing activity.
Your baby’s bedtime routine can start by giving him something as simple as a warm, soothing bath. A quiet activity that you can do each and every night will soon become something baby associates with bedtime.
Turn off the lights.
By making a noticeable change to the lighting in your home or baby’s room, you’re giving your baby a visual cue that bedtime is approaching.
Dress (your baby) for success (at bedtime).
One last diaper change and dressing your little one in pajamas is another sign that bedtime is approaching.
Snuggle up and provide comfort and security.
Instead of rocking the baby to sleep, place him in the crib and sit nearby. You can play soft music, read a story, or gently sing a lullaby. If the baby starts to fuss, gently stroke the face and head to make sure, but try to refrain from pulling the baby out of the crib. The goal is to get him used to the environment, including being alone in the crib.
The above routine is just a suggestion. The important thing is that you establish a routine that you can stick to night after night that allows your baby to gradually “rest” from the day’s activities and paves the way for restful sleep. Since babies and toddlers are creatures of habit (just like adults), the predictability of a routine will calm your baby faster and dramatically increase the chances he or she will sleep through the night—and so can you. do it.