Bedtimes – new routines, baby massage and earlier nights.

A couple of weeks ago, I posted about our bedtime routine and mentioned that I was trying out JOHNSON’S® 3-step Bedtime Routine. I’ve kept a sleep diary for the past fortnight, the first week we carried on with our usual bedtime routine, and the second week we changed it up {slightly} and used the 3-step routine.  As i mentioned last time, the 3-step routine isn’t that different to what we do – we always did bath, book, bed so we just added in a little baby massage when implementing the 3-step routine.

As a reminder, the 3-step routine is made up of these steps:

B A T H ~ beginning a bedtime routine with a warm bath, with a bedtime bath/wash and incorporating some play time/songs

M A S S A G E ~ follow the bath with a soothing massage to relax baby {and indulge in some post-bath cuddles}

Q U I E T    T I M E ~ reading a book or singing some lullabies before bed to help baby wind down.

Vega doesn’t sleep through, and I had no expectation that this would miraculously change that. Babies aren’t programmed to sleep through {or even toddlers] though obviously some do. I really don’t mind the night feeds, the one thing that I did want to change was bedtime taking so long. By the end of the day, I’m exhausted and ready for an hour of peace before my own head hits the pillow. Previously, I realised that while our basic routine was good – the one big problem was that between bath & bed there was a ‘play’. I’d bath Vega, feed him, dress him in his PJ’s, then he’d go play with his sisters while I brushed their hair, filled their hot water bottles, got hem drinks, etc.. Cute but it meant he got excited again after bath so I had to get him chilled out again.

So for the last week, I’ve switched our routine around. That means getting us upstairs a little earlier than before so that I can have anything the girls need from me ready before baths. Then Vega hops in the bath at 8pm on the dot {often accompanied by Baya}. He has a good 15/20 mins playtime – he loves rubber ducks, the Peppa Pig toys and a couple of empty bottles to play with. Then when he gets out, I give him a dry, massage him with some lovely lavender oil {which is also great for the dry spots on his legs} and then get his PJ’s on. We do this in my bedroom, with just the fairy lights on. Then he sits on my bed with a book while I plait Baya’s hair after her bath if she’s washed it. We then read a book or two together, I wrap him in his sleeping bag then we cuddle up, he nurses and falls asleep on me.

This has meant that for the past week he’s been fast asleep by 9pm, which for us is great, as before it was often half past 9, and sometimes later by the time I got him in his cot. As I said before, we’re not early risers, so while his bedtime may seem late for some, it works perfectly for us. I sit up for a couple of hours before I go to bed, and he feeds once or twice in the night {somtimes it’s less about feeding and more about a quick cuddle!} and we get up for the day around half past 8.

Changing our routine slightly and adding in a little massage has made a big difference. Bedtime is much quicker, and less stressful as I’m not spending ages calming in down and trying to get him to sleep. Bath, massage, quiet time is a perfect routine to wind your little one down at the end of the day, it’s made the last hour of my day far more enjoyable and much less stressful!

Sponsored blog post by the JOHNSON’S® brand. I have received payment incentive and samples but all opinions are my own. JOHNSON’S® clinically proven bedtime routine consists of bath, massage and quiet time, tested on babies 7 months+, 1 week+ use.