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The urge to set a bedtime routine is at its peak when the baby is 2-3 months old because let’s accept it, all we new moms want is some undisturbed S.L.E.E.P. A new mom needs nothing as badly as a good five hours of undisturbed sleep at night. And that is what brings so much focus to bedtime routine amongst infants.
To start with, parents should look to their children to get involved with decision-making. This step is often overlooked but vitally important. Children will be more likely to stick to the bedtime routine if they help create it. Getting kids involved in designing their own pre-sleep wind-down routines will help them feel more in charge and should help improve adherence to the new night-time schedules.
1. Involve & Evolve
Wind-down time is essential in bedtime routines for kids. Give timed warning 1 hour, 30 minutes, and 10 minutes until it’s time to start. You don’t want to drag this process out, but a little prep time goes a long way especially with more rambunctious children.
2. Start By Planning An Hour Ahead
This particularly helps in case you live in a joint family set up. A simple goodnight hug or wish to all family members by the child gives a signal to children that it’s time to get into the room as it’s time to sleep.
3. Goodnight Wishes
Think about bedtime rituals that are simple, short, doable and can be kept consistent. The routine should start somewhere between 30 minutes and an hour before you want your child to be asleep. Our Four B’s rule has been going steady for the past few years: – Bath – Brush – Books – Bed
4. Establish A Routine Or Ritual For Your Child’s Bedtime
Offer your child simple ‘either-or’ choices. This can be as basic as deciding what pyjamas they want to wear or which storybook they want to read. The idea is to make them feel involved and more in control of themselves.
5. Offer Lots Of Choices For Your Kid’s Bedtime
Particularly for older kids, keep distractions out of the bedroom. Having the whole family put screens away or off before bed is a great way to encourage healthy bedtime behaviours for everyone. Electronics like TVs, video games, cell phones, and computers are sleep distractions. Not only is the light from these devices not conducive to sleep, but they also don’t have a set ‘end time’, which means it’s easy to keep playing games or keep messaging friends.
6. Create A Comfortable Sleep Environment
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