TTMA Bedtime

[pghtruelove]

We've had to switch Lo's bedtime routine up a bit now that she is getting older and I was wondering about everyone else's routine. The main thing here is that she doesn't nurse to sleep anymore and basically makes us do an entire dance routine to Old Dominions "Meat and Candy" album, while holding her. So tell me about your routine... Has it changed at all? What do you think helps get LO to sleep best?

[mrsmonogrammed]

I was just wondering about this...we're still nursing to sleep but I'd like to switch that up soon so we can start the weaning process! Right now it's just jammies and then nurse to sleep. I think I'd like to start flipping to to nurse, jammies, book? But not 100% ready yet!

[pghtruelove]

Apr 23, 2016 20:05:37 GMT -5 mrsmonogrammed said:

I was just wondering about this...we're still nursing to sleep but I'd like to switch that up soon so we can start the weaning process! Right now it's just jammies and then nurse to sleep. I think I'd like to start flipping to to nurse, jammies, book? But not 100% ready yet!

That's a good idea. I didn't think about switching when I nurse her. I feel like I'm doing a ton of extra work because I keep trying to nurse her to sleep. I just end up getting bit.

[mrsmonogrammed]

Apr 23, 2016 20:08:50 GMT -5 pghtruelove said:

Apr 23, 2016 20:05:37 GMT -5 mrsmonogrammed said:

I was just wondering about this...we're still nursing to sleep but I'd like to switch that up soon so we can start the weaning process! Right now it's just jammies and then nurse to sleep. I think I'd like to start flipping to to nurse, jammies, book? But not 100% ready yet!

That's a good idea. I didn't think about switching when I nurse her. I feel like I'm doing a ton of extra work because I keep trying to nurse her to sleep. I just end up getting bit.

When it's one of those nights were it's just not happening I'll finish nursing, rock her for a minute or two, kiss her goodnight and out her in the crib. At most she'll cry for 10min but me going in there just riles her back up so I stay out. Sorry I'm not too helpful:(

[beersandweirs]

We do diaper, jammies, nurse, brush teeth and then story and put her in her crib awake.

[jessila]

Bath (every few nights), diaper and fresh pjs, sleepsack. H is the one to change him for the night. If O seee me in the room he screams. While they do that I set up for nighttime and clean up dinner. Then its snuggles, nurse, into crib. Sometimes he's asleep after nursing but recently he's been putting himself to sleep. If he doesn't want me to snuggle him to sleep he'll wiggle and fight until I put him down.

[carolyngrace]

The only thing that's changed for us recently is that oscar will generally play when we put him down for 10-15 minutes. Then he sits/stands and cries because he can't figure out how to lay down. So I literally walk in, tip him over, and walk out, and he's usually asleep in minutes.

[jillywilly]

We mixed up our bedtime routine a month or two ago to try to break the bottle to sleep association, and I think it's actually helped us a lot. So now once we can tell bedtime is imminent, we dim the lights and turn off the tv/music. I normally walk around and snuggle DS while H reads Harry Potter while a bottle is warming. Then I give him the bottle downstairs still while H continues reading. Depending on the level of fussiness, we sit and snuggle while H finishes a chapter, or we just go straight upstairs where it's bath (about three times a week), diaper/Jammie's/sleep sack, then I dance around the nursery another couple minutes with him, singing his night time songs, and then in the crib. Sometimes hell fuss/cry for a bit, sometimes he plays for a bit, sometimes he goes straight to sleep, but I rarely have to go back up after that.

[jillywilly]

Also, this thread is making me realize we still need to integrate brushing teeth into this routine. Mom fail.

[Widget123]

LO still wants to eat around 7, Consistent with his old bed time, but now wants to stay up until around 8 like his sister, so we have been snuggling to bed around then, but i have less time to get stuff done in the evenings without distraction

[Deleted]

-6 Dinner
-Then both kids have quick TV/play time while H and I clean kitchen
-630 Bath every other day. Sometimes everyday
Pjs
-7 Book which usually means I read to DS while LO crawls around his room pulling books off the shelf and trying to eat them
-730 then H puts DS down while I take LO to our room and nurse her to sleep. Curious to see when she will stop nursing to sleep..

[tiffbot]

Between 6-7:30: I bath both kids together after supper. PJs, teeth brushing, etc. H plays with them after while I go shower.

7:30 stories, right now it's working best that I read to DD in her room since she's usually pretty tired by then and only wants to sit for one book, and H and DS read in his room.

Bottle, bed. Lately she's been down before 8.

[holliberry28]

Last bottle is usually at 6-6:30. Well do bath, every two days, pjs, bottle, then if he's still really awake well let him watch this Russian musical cartoon, then books (around 3-4) say goodnight to rooms, and rock to sleep.

Up until a month ago, he would not let me rock him to sleep and would scream bloody murder. Now he falls asleep in my arms after 10 or so minutes while I sing to him, so I'll take that instead having to listen to him cry himself to sleep for 10+ minutes.

[heartofglass]

Apparently I need to get a better routine, or a routine...A has started pushing his bedtime later because he just won't go to sleep. Our baths aren't normally right before bed because that's my crunch time for prepping, so we get them when we can in the afternoon.
5:30-6 supper then play time
7-7:30 diaper change, pj's
7:30-8 in the zippy and nurse to sleep. Lately he's taking longer and longer to get into a deep sleep at night. @babybean9 you're not the only one holding your LO. I hold A until I go to bed unless I'm not able to get all of my prep done before bedtime. He won't stay asleep and honestly I enjoy snuggling him. I am scared of what this will become once I wean because I have never put him to bed at night any other way.

[pghtruelove]

@babybean9 and heartofglass I may start wearing her for bedtime since she has been sleeping in bed with me. It's be a constant fight to get her down it may just be easier to get to to fall asleep being worn and then put her down when I go to sleep.

[sammyca]

5pm - dinner
5.40ish - bath or shower every night (am I the only one??) then PJs and teeth - this can take awhile as it's x3 children; once done a quiet play. No screens after bath.
6.20ish - tuck the big kids in; F "must" get in both their beds for a snuggle
6.30 - nurse
6.45ish - song and cuddle then into crib awake

[heartofglass]

Apr 24, 2016 18:57:10 GMT -5 pghtruelove said:

@babybean9 and heartofglass I may start wearing her for bedtime since she has been sleeping in bed with me. It's be a constant fight to get her down it may just be easier to get to to fall asleep being worn and then put her down when I go to sleep.

I really don't mind it. I get snuggles and H takes care of tidying some things, then it makes me sit on the couch for some wind down tv time with H instead running around doing chores. If wore him I'd definitely be up getting things done but I honestly haven't thought to try it.

[erbear]

5:30-6ish: dinner
After dinner- playtime/bath time. The tv is off and we usually let her crawl/walk all over and we read books.
Close to 7: upstairs for massage with night time lotion, pj's, sleep sack
7: nurse to sleep

I plan on continuing nursing to sleep as long as she wants. Problem will be when I'm not home for bedtime and she's not getting a bottle at night...

[pghtruelove]

We also do baths every night. We don't always use soap though. Every other day is just for playtime/to keep in routine. I wash her hands and feet everyday since they are always disgusting.

[periwinkledaydreams]

Our routine doesn't stay too strict to the clock around here.. things like where we've been that day, how naps went (they are ALL over the place), and when SO gets home from work all play in to when dinner happens and when "evening" starts timewise. Ultimately though, its jammies somewhere around 7:30, reading books, bottle, rock/snuggle to sleep. She does not put herself to sleep for bedtime or naps, and usually fights sleep like its the last thing she'd chose to do.

I know a better routine could really help many of our sleep struggles, I seem to try and try and fail at establishing one that works. I keep telling myself that she's young yet and just keep following her cues, hopefully we'll figure something out but I need to buckle down and get this shit sorted.