728x90
my iParenting
From Our Sponsors
e-newsletters
Sign up to receive our free weekly e-newsletters

new terms of use
new privacy policy
award-winning products
The iParenting Media Awards program helps parents find the best products for their families.
Home › Articles › Sleep Issues › Bedtime Rituals

Bedtime Rituals

Routines Help Babies Slip into Quiet Slumber

By Beth Hering

Pages:  1  2  3  4  

Clean and relaxed, a baby hopefully will be ready for the last step – bed! A goodnight kiss, a prayer or perhaps a pleasant lullaby at this point can make for a special moment or two before your child is finally out for the night.

Changing Rituals

While predictability is a key to helping a baby learn to fall asleep peacefully, there are bound to be times when the routine gets altered. Perhaps the parent who usually takes on bedtime duties needs to work late or the family is staying at a hotel while on vacation. In these instances, Dr. Shu recommends keeping the routine as consistent as possible. "Keep the time of starting the ritual and the order the same," she says. "If possible, maybe read the same bedtime book."

Likewise, parents who have not yet established a good bedtime routine should not fret. "All is not lost," Dr. Shu says. "It just may take a little longer for your child to get used to a new habit."

Finding a routine that works, however, is definitely worth the effort – both for the baby, who can get a good night's rest to help him develop, and for the caretaker, who can then turn her attention to her own nighttime rituals.

Pages:  1  2  3  4  

Want to see more?

Comments

There are no comments for this article yet.Be the first to add a comment.

Post As:
Enter your comment below:
Title
Comment Text
CAPTCHA
Please note that any comments submitted become the property of Disney Family / iParenting and can be edited and posted at our discrection.