Bath, book, bed. Those three little words are supposedly the ticket to a hassle-free bedtime, but the question is when is the best time to start a bedtime routine?
Two weeks? Two months? Two years? Or is it just a case of doing what feels right, like feeding them to sleep and co-sleeping, regardless of what the βexpertsβ say?
Littlest B is coming up to four months old now and we havenβt started putting her βdownβ at night.
She basically stays up with us, mainly because as baby number three itβs the only time she gets our undivided attention.
But have we missed the boat on the positive sleep associations front and are we setting ourselves up for trouble later on?
I asked some fellow bloggers when they think is the best time to start a bedtime routine, because lots of heads are better than one,Β and this is their verdict:
When is the best time to start a bedtime routine?
1. From birth. βWe had a bed time routine from birth. It included reading a story, and going into a dark room and putting our baby to bed while she was still awake.β Irina at Wave to Mummy.
2. Two weeks. βIt’s never too early for a bedtime routine. From about two weeks we have always done bath, book, boob, bed but I do lay with mine while they settle or co-sleep.β Emily at A Slummy Mummy (who’s expecting baby number 4 btw, so I’m assuming she knows her stuff!)
3. Three months. βThe sooner the better for everyone in the family. We got our first into a routine at aboutΒ three months.β Alex at Dad F.C
4. 18 months. βI fed both my babies to sleep for the first 18 months, but we had a routine of bath, book, milk to sleep from very early on. By the time I stopped feeding them to sleep there was very little fuss about going to sleep.β Vivienne at The Mothers Room
5. Two years. βOliver was about two before we started a ‘proper’ routine. He was breastfed until about then so maybe that’s why. The only routine we had before then was that when he looked tired I’d feed him and he fell asleep then we’d put him down in his cot!β Natalie at Diary of an Unexpectant Mother
When did you start a bedtime routine? Was it the right time or do you wish youβd started earlier or later? Iβd love to hear your experience!
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The first – 6 weeks. The second much later as we enjoyed all the cuddles and evening time. Took the second a little longer but now she sleeps well. I think everyone gets there in the end! Thanks for sharing with #bestandworst x
It’s interesting to read others routines and experiences. We had a bath, bottle, bed routine from birth and pretty much kept it until the early toddler years. These days we don’t really have a routine. #bestandworst
As with most other things in parenting, what works for one won’t necessarily work for another. I’m such a routine oriented person, and so we’ve had one since the very beginning and just adapted as our little boy has gotten older. I do love reading how and when others incorporated routine.
I made mistakes with my first born and learned my lessons. With number 2 we had a strict routine and now with the twins I am even firmer and bed means bed otherwise the house would descend into chaos. The older two have really good routines of brushing teethe ect before bed now and don’t even have to be prompted. #Ablogginggoodtime
Absolutely no idea. I remember in the beginning just doing what felt right to us. With no.2 he joined in story time with no.1. But didn’t go to bed until later. Perhaps about 18 months we started a routine. But I think it depends on culture, family circumstances, the child etc Thank you for linking up to #ablogginggoodtime
I think earlier on is probably better but we left it until much later, and actually even now we are working on the routine, it’s ever changing! #bestandworst
We have always done bath, book, bed with our 3. Zach is now 14 months and sleeps through the night as well as the older 2. #bestandworst
I think our youngest stayed downstairs with us until around 6 months. this was also when she moved into her own room and the routine of bath, milk, book started. With my oldest I think we started this earlier but he never really settled properly till he was around 8 months.
#bestandworst
Thanks for including my comment! I don’t know how much it really helped us to begin so early – she was a terrible sleeper just like my husband so much is probably due to genes π
Snappy settled into a routine pretty quickly, a routine he decided on apparently. #kcacols
My kids never had a set bedtime until they started school, I didn’t mind them staying up with me as it avoided being woken up early in the morning! #kcacols
I can’t remember exactly when we started the bedtime routine, but it was quite early. Maybe at 4 or 5 weeks old? I think you have to do whatever works for you. Thanks for linking up with #KCACOLS, hope to see you again next time. x
We started a “proper” routine when they started sleeping through the night which was about 3 months.
#KCACOLS
I think we started a routine around 4-5 months. The boys loved having a bath, story and milk. For a while we did a dream feed about 10.30pm and they would sleep until 7am but then everything changed once they they were weaned. They started sleeping through properly around 13 months old. We still try to read a story every night before bed. #KCACOLS
I think it’s best to start right away but it doesn’t have to be such a structured routine in the beginning. There should always be a routine that leads up to nighttime sleep. It should consist of anything that works. As time goes on, the routine changes. #KCACOLS
I love all the different answers in this post, as far as I’m concerned that just goes to show that there is no one right answer, just what is right for your family and your child. I think with both of mine we started a bedtime routine when they were a few months old, and we still do bath, book, bed now they’re aged 6 and 3. x #KCACOLS