The sooner you establish a bedtime routine for baby the better.
By the time your baby has reached eight weeks it should be starting to follow a set bedtime pattern. If a pattern is established then baby will quickly fit into this regime. It is important that you stick to this pattern it will make life much more pleasant for baby and for you.
So what should a routine consist of?
Well that's really up to you but it should be consistent, here is one, I favour. Start the routine in the bathroom. Your baby will appreciate a warm soothing bath it will help it relax and sleep and because it is a very obvious activity baby will soon realise that she is going to be put down for the night.
Don't forget that the babies' father can play a big role in this routine. Perhaps dad can even do the bathing it will have the added advantage of letting him feel needed, especially when mum has spent all day with the child. Bathing is also a great social activity and one of the bests ways of creating a bond between parent and child.
Follow the bath by a diaper change and after that put baby into her pyjamas. At this stage you should clean her gums and teeth. Start this habit early in life and it will become a lifelong habit.
Before settling baby into her cot for the night you might like to play a quiet game with her on the bedroom floor. Again this is something you and dad can become involved in. Don't, however, get the baby over excited, a quiet game of peekaboo or I spy, can be quiet and entertaining.
You've finally placed baby in her cot for the night. Don't leave the room immediately spend sometime talking to her. Tell her a bedtime story or to help you unwind you might even tell her what you got up to during the day. It doesn't really matter if she understands; if you speak in a soft reassuring voice then baby will know she is safe.
My partner sings to baby. Her voice is soft, soothing and calming. She has a small number of what we call 'goodnight songs', and she sings or hums two of these and then leaves the room. You'd be surprised but babies soon realise that when mum has finished her two songs that it is time for her to close her eyes and go asleep.
When talking or singing to baby you might consider sitting in the shadows, just enough for baby to know that you are there but not enough for her to focus on you and finally whatever bedtime regime you adopt be consistent.
Kevin Hart lives in Armagh City, Ireland. He is an author and researcher. More articles on babies and toddlers can be found on his website at http://www.babies-worldwide.com
