Introducing quiet time to baby's bedtime routine
Getting your baby off to sleep each night can be challenging. After a full day of playing and stimulation, growing babies often have trouble relaxing at bedtime. Introducing a bedtime routine will certainly help get things going in the right direction and making quiet time part of that routine will make bedtime calmer and easier.
Here's what you need to know about quiet time:
- Before putting your baby to bed, it's a good idea to spend a little quiet time with her in her bedroom so that she can transition from the activity of the house to the quieter bedtime atmosphere.
-
- Prepare the room for sleep by drawing the curtains or dimming the lights, and pull up the bedroom door so that you can keep household noise to a minimum while you enjoy some quiet time together. Discourage other children from joining in on your quiet time as this will actually defeat the whole purpose of quiet time!
-
- Get her ready for bed by reading her a story, singing a song or having a quiet cuddle. You may find that your baby enjoys the same book, the same song or the same cuddle time each time you prepare her for bed. For many children, spending a little time on their own with a parent before sleep becomes an integral part of their bedtime routine.
-
- Your child may only need a few minutes of quiet time before she is relaxed and ready to be put in bed. But if your household is noisy and active when she withdraws for bed, she may need some extra quiet time to settle down before she is ready for sleep.
Related baby sleep articles