Create a Simple & Soothing Bedtime Routine for Your Baby

It’s almost 7:30 PM, and all you hear is...

Crying.

Screaming.

Stomach growling.

Sighs of exhaustion.

And that’s not even your baby, that’s just you! By the end of the day, you’re beat (rightfully so). Bedtime probably feels like another chore most days. But winding down baby’s day with a consistent bedtime routine can actually make it more enjoyable and less stressful.

Make bedtime easier by creating a soothing nightly routine for your baby. Simply implement these 5 B’s: Bath, Body, Book, Blessings, and Bed. No, this isn’t a magic formula for 8 hours of sleep. However, these five practices can promote healthier sleep patterns.

Bath

Bathing your baby at night provides benefits like regulating body temperature to fall asleep more easily. You can also help induce relaxation by opting for clean products that are formulated with calming scents such as lavender, jasmine, or peppermint.

For more bath time tips, please visit our previous blogs on Bath Safety and Best Baby Bath Products.

Body

Spend a few moments making sure your baby’s body is comfortable. Verify the room temperature is not too hot or cold, use a swaddle, perform a gentle baby massage, and double check there’s nothing out-of-whack (hair around your baby’s finger, dry skin, diaper rash, etc.) to assure maximum physical comfort. This is also a good time to administer Colic Calm or Colic Calm Plus if you have a gassy/colicky baby who suffers from symptoms at night.

The more comfortable your baby is, the more likely he/she is to sleep better and longer.

Book

Reading to children, even babies, provides many developmental benefits. According to Kids Health, reading to infants regularly supports social and emotional development, as well as critical thinking skills. Books have the power to teach them about communication, introduce important concepts such as numbers and colors, help build memory and vocabulary skills, and more.

When you read to your child at night, it can help them fall asleep faster. The science behind it: if reading a book before bed becomes routine, they begin to associate the act of reading with rest overtime. Imagine the long-term benefits of this. As your child ages, they’ll gravitate towards grabbing a book rather than reaching for the remote when they’re sleepy.

Blessings

Even though your little one is still learning how to verbalize thoughts, this is a great window to cultivate habits you want to instill in your children. This time of “Blessings” can be used to pray over your child or practice gratitude out loud—however your family wants to teach your child to recognize the blessings in every day.

Bed

Finally, lay your little one down for bed. If he or she is still awake, that’s okay. Some health experts suggest putting your little one down while they're drowsy but still awake is best. This helps infants learn to fall asleep independently. However, every baby is different. Some babies need a little more snuggles to fall asleep. That’s okay, too! Listen to your baby’s needs and adjust as they change overtime.

After you’ve given your baby a bath, read a book together, said your blessings, and laid your little one down for bed, it’s time to for you to catch some ZZZ's too. Sweet dreams, mama!