Bedtime routine & tips
Establishing and maintaining a bedtime routine is very important and in our case, we started it when my son was 6 months old. The bedtime routine helps babies and children to settle down for sleep, after a busy day. In a way, it means that the day is over.
I think that there are many benefits and based on psychology, repetition is comforting to children and structure helps them feel safe. Furthermore, the bedtime routine is also a daily opportunity to build our relationship with our child.
We have a pretty standard bedtime routine and below you can read it as a step-by-step process.
Create a routine
Avoid screens before bedtime (we avoid them in general)
Have a calming song to mark the beginning of the bedtime routine
Work as a team. Tidy up his/her room together and use a role-play to put plush toys to ‘’sleep’’
Involve your toddler in preparing the bathtub, towel, PJs, etc.
Dim the lights to stimulate melatonin production which is our sleeping hormone
Have some relaxing music in the bathroom like lullabies
Make the bath time enjoyable and relaxing
Read bedtime stories
Have a security object in bed like a plush toy
Make sure the bedroom is dark and quiet
Being calm as a parent during this process can only make it easier
Tips for uninterrupted sleep, based on my experience:
Establish a bedtime routine
Make sure that their tummy is full. Yogurt is excellent before going to bed if your baby/toddler has missed the last meal. I do not offer fruits before bedtime, but there were a few times when my son due to teething, had a -not fully ripe- banana (yellow with green tips). Ripe bananas are a quick energy booster and you don't want that before bedtime. Instead, we prefer it before or during outdoor activities
Activities, activities, activities. A tired child could sleep like an angel
Hydration. Always offer some water, especially for toddlers who don't drink milk before bedtime
I hope that all the above tips will be of help for you too and if not all, I am sure some of them will have a positive effect on the bedtime routine of your little one.
Thank you for taking the time to read my post and see you soon!
All the best,
Clio
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