Bedtime doesn’t have to be at exactly the same time each night. A bedtime “range” of about 30-60 minutes is ideal. For example: 7-8pm or 7:15-7:45pm. (This allows for flexibility based on when the last nap ended!)

What does a bedtime routine look like?
It can be this simple:

bath
diaper
pajamas
feeding
sleep-sack/swaddle
bed
It can look like this:

feeding
diaper
pajamas
goodnight book
bed
Here’s another one:

diaper
feeding
song
sound machine
swaddle/sleep-sack
bed
What about bath time?
I love a bath as part of the bedtime routine! Science actually supports that a bath before bed can help promote sleep! Here’s why: During a warm bath, blood comes to the surface of the skin. This is called vasodilation. When we get out of the tub, blood vessels are still open, so our body temperature drops a bit. This slight drop in core body temp promotes sleep for us and our babies! A bath at the end of the day (followed by a bedtime routine) helps cue a baby’s brain that bedtime is near. This can be an excellent way to prepare babies for night sleep.

But does that mean I need to give a bath EVERY night? You can, but you don’t have to. Some families enjoy bath time every night, and for other families, this just doesn’t work best. It’s up to you! Taking the bath out of the sequence won’t ruin your bedtime routine. It’s the consistency after the bath that helps!

This is what a bedtime routine could look like on bath night:

bath
lotion
pajamas
feeding
sleep sack/swaddle
rocking
prayers
bed
On non-bath nights the routine might be:

wipe baby’s face
lotion
pajamas
feeding
sleep sack/swaddle
rocking
prayers
bed
Should a feeding be part of your bedtime routine?
Yes! A good feeding before bed is an important part of getting in those much-needed daytime calories.

Expert Tip: Do your best to break up eating and sleep by doing at least one thing in between the two.