I have been compensated by AVEENO and JOHNSON’S® Baby for this post; however, I am sharing my own thoughts. All opinions are my own.
Sometimes the hardest part about parenting is bedtime, especially when you’re at the mercy of a baby. Through four kids, I’ve found maintaining a bedtime routine is your best bet at making it easier.
When they were babies, I started a bedtime routine with each of my kids as soon as they could take a bath after their belly button fell off as a newborn. Bedtime does get easier as they grow up, but I love the routine of baby bedtime. Here’s what I like to do:
First, we tend to eat dinner between 7-8 pm because my older kids usually have extracurricular activities. After dinner, I use one of my favorite baby products — JOHNSON’S® Hand & Face Wipes — to clean up that sweet little baby face and hands after dinner. These wipes make clean up gentle and easy. Then, as the other kids are taking baths or showers in the bathrooms, my husband and I clear out the dishes for the baby’s bathtub in the kitchen sink.
Next, it’s bath time! We take a bath everyday since Ivy loves it, but we don’t wash everything every day. With baby’s delicate skin that can be just too drying. On days we wash from head to toe, I always use either JOHNSON’S® HEAD-TO-TOE® Baby Wash or AVEENO® Baby CALMING COMFORT® Bath. My favorite is the AVEENO® Baby because I just love the scent.
On days we don’t wash I like to add a bit of baby wash to the bath like a bubble bath and we spend more time splashing and playing than washing. Then, it’s time to snuggle up in a towel. I love hooded towels for the baby so she can be snuggly and warm while we get dressed.
There are two baby products I like to use after bath. First, she tends to get some eczema under her bottom lip on her chin, and AVEENO®
Baby Eczema Therapy Nighttime Balm works wonders on clearing it right up. I just add a little to her chin and by morning it’s usually gone. Second, her legs can get dry, so I give her a little baby massage with some JOHNSON’S® HEAD-TO-TOE® Extra Moisturizing Baby Cream. This is a great way to relax the baby before bedtime.
Next, we get dressed in footie pajamas. Ivy sleeps so much better when she wears footie pajamas than anything else. Then, we check on the big kids and make sure teeth are brushed. She doesn’t have any teeth yet, but when my babies have teeth, we brush teeth at the same time as the big kids.
Then the teenagers go off to do homework or watch a show. My 7 yr old loves to read to the baby, so we have story time in big sister’s bed before tucking her in. Then, it’s time to nurse to sleep.
Ivy nurses herself to sleep and then I have a secret to getting her to sleep in the crib. I didn’t discover this until baby #2, but I’ve done it with all my kids since. I found that transferring them from my warm body to the cold crib often wakes them up after nursing. So…just before bath time, I put a heating pad in the baby’s crib on low heat. When it’s time to put her down, my husband completely takes the heating pad out of the crib. I lay the baby down, and she stays perfect asleep!
I found by continuing the warmth from me to the bed it helps her stay completely asleep and most nights she sleeps for 4-6 hours before waking to nurse again. We also turn on a white noise app on my phone as with such a big family, she sleeps better when it’s not totally quiet.
I’d love to know your baby bedtime routine. Tell me in the comments!
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12 comments
Sounds like a good routine. Babies need routines to help them fall asleep.
These sound like some great products to help get you and your little one into a good bedtime routine.
These are some good products, I even use them and I am an adult.
A great habit to get your child into. They will soon associate this with sleep time. Starting early is great, never too early to teach good habits and routines.
There is nothing quite like children just doing their routine and going to sleep is there. My boys still have a bath routine now (just not daily anymore).
We are practicing attachment parenting so just take our cues from her.We don’t follow a strict routine, rather just go with her needs. It works for us for other people a routine is a life saver.
I remember those nights of trying to get a baby to sleep, so glad my kids are older now. I love the products you use to help your kiddos with a bed routine.
We love Johnson’s Brand for baby care. We always used their body wash and lotion for the babies. Having a bedtime routine is essential!
I love Johnson’s bedtime lotions and bath washes, I still buy it even though my “babies” are 8!
I have no doubt that these two brands Aveeno and Johnson and Johnson are the best baby brands. I’ve grown with these and we love them.
I love the scent and the way my skin feels when I use Johnson and Johnson products.
I love using Aveeno products. Johnson and Johnson is also great as well. I know that they are trusted brands and I do not feel bad using them on my own family.