There is no secret formula to make all babies fall asleep in the same way, but we can find routines or sleep rituals that make it easier for our little marmots to fall asleep. Sleep can also be taught, and it is one of the most important aspects! If you want ideas for pre-sleep routines for your little one, we recommend you keep reading this post!
Baby Sleep Rituals
As we said, it is very important to teach good sleep habits, and for this, pre-sleep rituals are very necessary for your baby to fall asleep peacefully and on time.
It is important for babies to know how to differentiate day from night, and this is where sleep routines play a very important role: by repeating the same habits every night before putting them to bed, the little one will learn to associate activities with sleep and will understand night as bedtime.
0-10 months
In addition to creating good habits, it is very positive to take this pre-sleep ritual as a moment of relaxation, calm, and connection between the little one and us. It is the perfect time to give them all our affection! Therefore, we believe a good routine could be the following:
- Create a calm environment to relax them: let them know that the day is ending and it's slowly time to go to sleep.
- Relaxing bath before feeding: little ones love warm water, and it's a perfect time to talk to them, give them a massage...
- Put on their sleeping bag: once little ones get used to the routine, they will know that putting on the sleeping bag means it's time to go to sleep; they will feel sleepy!
- Give them their feeding. Speaking softly to them will help them fall asleep, unlike television noises.
- Relaxing lullaby.
- Turn off the lights: it's bedtime!
10-24 months
It is important to maintain the routine as the little one grows.
- Bath and dinner.
- Time to brush teeth: make them aware of how important it is!
- We create a calm environment by lowering the light intensity.
- Relaxing games or a story: creating a calm environment will be key; the baby will notice if we are nervous.
- Put on their sleeping bag or blanket sleeper.
- When you see that the little one is relaxed, you can put them in their crib: it will be time to turn off the lights and sleep!
- Comfort object: if the little one is going through a change or a new situation, you can give them their favorite doudou or stuffed animal. It will help them to stay calm and feel that their parents are with them while they sleep.
Keys to Baby Sleep Rituals
Share the rituals with your partner: let them get used to being with both of you!
Has it ever happened to you that your little one only wants to fall asleep with you or your partner? It is very important to create good habits that help them identify when it is time to sleep, but it is also important that both of you are part of their routine: this way, your little one can fall asleep with either of you.
The Role of Daytime Sleep in Sleep Rituals
Another key point is to know how to identify the baby's daytime sleep to be able to guess what nighttime sleep will be like: for example, if your little one has a lot of trouble sleeping at night, you can try to reduce their daytime naps.
There isn't a single answer to how many naps babies should take, but there are some parameters based on approximations. Below, we provide a guide so you can get an idea of how many hours of naps your little one should take during the day:
The Importance of Creating an Adequate Environment
Finally, without a doubt, it is super important that the environment is appropriate: calm and dark. Also, as we always recommend, no screens before going to sleep!
In addition, it is also important that the little one is comfortable with the clothes they wear to sleep: nobody likes to sleep uncomfortably! That's why we always opt for organic cotton; it's the best for the baby's soft and delicate skin!
What did you think of this post about baby sleep rituals? What are your routines? We'd love to hear from you!
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