Wind down Routine

Most families have a bedtime routine in place that usually involves a bath, pjs, a book or a song, their last milk feed of the day and then bed! But, did you know having a 10-15min wind down routine before your little one’s naps can be equally as beneficial? 

Nap routines are shorter than the bedtime routines and usually involve taking your babe to their room, popping them in the sleeping bag, blinds closed & white noise on, and a nice cuddle to get them ready for sleep. This allows them to transition from awake and playing to ready for sleep, which can decrease the time it takes them to fall asleep.

Your little one may need a little less or a little more time to wind down. If your little one is taking a long time to fall asleep and the awake times and routine are perfect, they may need a little longer to wind down. Alternatively, if your little one is falling asleep in your arms, they may need a little less. We want to make sure that your babe doesn’t get a second wind during this time. You can keep an eye on your babe and see when they are getting nice and relaxed and ready to sleep and pop them down in the cot.

Babies (& adults) thrive on predictability! By having the same wind down routine for every nap, babies become to anticipate what’s coming next and relax and get ready for sleep. It can also help when someone else is doing the nap/bedtime to keep same familiarity. Similarly, the same can be said for getting your babe to sleep in a new/different sleep environment!