“At what age will a baby start to understand a bedtime routine and that they are to go to sleep at the end of it?”

Thank-you for your question! I am not sure exactly when a baby starts to understand a bedtime routine, but a baby benefits from a bedtime routine quite early on. The basic sleep foundations that are important and beneficial for sleep such as a dark environment, white noise and a temperature between 65 and 70 degrees should be in place early on in your baby’s life.

When?

It is at about 6-8 weeks is when you want to start a bedtime routine that you keep consistent so that it is predictable for your baby. Routines are beneficial for many reasons and babies find comfort in knowing what is going to happen next. Routines help babies to wind down, they signal that it is time for sleep and they even help their bodies produce sleep-inducing hormones!

Keep it Simple

The key is to choose a routine that is easy for you to do and is easy for someone else, such as a grandparent, to do as well. Stick to routines that are 15-30 minutes long and that are very calm and relaxing and offer opportunities for you to connect with your baby. Your routine can include a bath, massage, brushing teeth and pajama time and end with a story or a song. You can breastfeed or bottlefeed as part of your routine as well or offer a snack if you have a toddler. Not all babies find baths relaxing and some might get too excited with songs or even massage. Choose a few elements that you know calms YOUR baby.

You will want to keep lights dimmed and voices low and hushed and remember to make it a positive time for your family. Sleep should never be used as a punishment or framed in a negative light. Lovingly tell your baby how lucky she is to get to sleep and what a lovely time sleep truly is. It will not take long before your baby recognizes the bedtime cues and even looks forward to bed!

As for going to sleep at the end of it…well, there are a lot of other things to consider if your baby is having trouble going to sleep at the end of the routine. You may need to address wakeful windows, diet, whether baby is overtired, is baby napping enough, is bed too early or too late, is there health concerns, illness, teething or developmental milestones that might be interfering with sleep? Don’t get overwhelmed though because sometimes all it takes is a consistent bedtime routine to get your baby sleeping well.

Hopefully that helps!

Hali