So, bedtime is kind of hit or miss around here. Some nights are outstanding and others are just horrible. I've read some articles about bedtime routines and apparently it should go something like this:
* First, establish a good time. All children require different amounts of sleep, so choose a time that best fits your child. For young babies, this time should be early. Early bedtimes have proven to yield better and longer sleep for infants...and they most always sleep for a longer period of time when put to bed early.
* Bathtime or something equivalent. If the child hates bathtime, don't do it right before bed...it'll only make things more difficult. The equivalent would be washing face and hands and brushing teeth/gums.
* Let off some steam. This could include gentle, quiet playtime on the floor, bedtime stories, saying goodnight to toys/people/etc., talking about the day or about tomorrow...anything to wind down. This is apparently an important part as it prepares the child/baby for lights out and/or bedtime feeding.
* Lights out and/or bedtime feeding. Turn all lights out except for nightlight and feed and burp baby. Many articles suggest that babies should not be fed until asleep and others say that comfort feeding to go to sleep is perfectly okay. The majority say that the child's last memory before the crib/bed should be of the crib/bed, not mom or dad. This is said to prepare the child for later when he/she must go to bed without eating in mom or dad's arms. The trick is to get the child as sleepy as possible without being asleep so that he/she will put him/herself to sleep.
* Offer comfort object. This could be pacifier, blanket, stuffed animal. Of course, infants aren't supposed to sleep with blankets or stuffed animals...so I guess pacifier it is. Jayna only takes a pacifier sometimes...mainly when she's extremely overwhelmed or has a bellyache. And she usually has neither of those when it's bedtime.
That's how things are supposed to happen. That's not how we've been doing things. It isn't necessarily that I think we're doing things wrong, just that we could be doing them better. Here's our routine:
* Bathtime is the beginning of bedtime. We begin bathtime at 7:30pm. This gives me 30 minutes before I begin feeding her to bathe her, change the diaper and put on her pj's.
* We currently don't do the "let off some steam" step. I think I'll try adding it tonight to see if that helps. I usually take her in to tell Chris goodnight after her pj's are on and before I feed her. I think the transition from being so very awake for bathtime and clothes-changing to lights out for eating and sleeping is too much. We need a little something in between.
* I've been feeding Jayna and letting her fall asleep...mostly because it's easier. The problem is that when I go to put her in her crib, she jolts herself awake and then either cries to be picked up or wants to eat again even though she just emptied me. The past few nights, I've sent Chris in to give her the pacifier without picking her up (if she doesn't need a new diaper or something) so she'll learn to go to sleep in the crib. He's way better at resisting picking her up and holding her than I am.
* Since last Thursday we've begun offering her the pacifier. She initially takes it everytime, but sometimes spits it out right away and doesn't want it.
So, everyone, what's your routine? If you had/have a routine for your child, I'd love to hear about it. And here are some of my questions:
* Do/did you let your child fall asleep while taking a bottle or breastfeeding? Why or why not?
* Do/did you read to your child or something before bed?
* What time do/did you begin your routine?
* Do you have any helpful hints for those of us who are having difficulty?
I'd love to hear from you all and, as always, if you don't want me to publish your comments just say so. I'll read them and delete them. Here's to a good night's sleep...
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