Sweet Dreams: Beginning Your Bedtime Ritual
Author: Heather Slee
Do newborns need a bedtime ritual? "Need" may be a strong word, as your newborn will be awake and sleeping at all different times of the day and night. However, establishing a bedtime ritual at the very start will set up good habits for you and will be a wonderful opportunity for bonding with your baby.
Decide what you want to include in your ritual. Here are a few options (pick a few or all or think of your own): bath, story, lullaby, swaddle, snuggling, rocking, pajama time, fresh diaper, infant massage, bedtime snack, or a meal. Choose activities that are fairly low-key. Something stimulating will not help you settle your little one down. When picking your bedtime rituals, note that it is strongly recommended that you include reading aloud to your baby from day one, according to the University of Minnesota Amplatz Children's Hospital. Researchers say that reading aloud to your newborn teaches them about communication, builds listening skills, enhances memory, and more. Also, remember to pick bedtime rituals that you enjoy too so that bedtime is soothing and enjoyable for everyone.
Pick a time you'd like your little one to settle down and go to sleep. Choosing a set time will help you determine when to begin the ritual. If your baby is two months old or younger, this is really just a goal and can have a wide range on either side. Even if you bathe, put on jammies, read a story, and rock, and your baby's eyes are still wide open, just keep rocking or add another story or two. Don't worry about it going on all night; newborns sleep a lot and often!
If you have a colicky baby, you may want to try Dr. Harvey Karp's method of soothing an upset baby. I highly recommend reading his book, Happiest Baby on the Block. It may be able to help your fussy baby relax and enjoy bedtime too (It worked for me!).
Try to remain consistent every night. Experts say that it takes around 21 days for a ritual to transform into a habit. This kind of habit is a good thing, something you stop even thinking about and just do automatically. Once your baby is a little older, they will appreciate the predictability and the comfort of easing into bedtime. Not only that, but you'll probably experience fewer bedtime meltdowns because their winding-down time will be a natural and expected part of the day.
Bottom line-a bedtime ritual is a time of the day away from work, cleaning, cell phones, email, and other stressors. This is a beautiful time spent with your baby, just focusing on comfort, relaxation, and love. Be sure to take time to enjoy these moments with your little one.
