Infant Bedtime Routine

My son is 15 months now but he was about your sons age when we started establishing a bedtime for him. We set his at eight. On mornings I work I wake him up at ten til seven and on the weekends he'll sleep till about seven thirty. At first it was a little painful because he would scream when we put him to bed, but after a while he eventually got used to it, and now goes to bed every night at eight with no problem. He also started waking up in the middle of the night after he was sleeping through the night with no problem. I know it sounds harsh but I would just let him cry himself back to sleep. As my mother put it he's training you instead of the other way around. If you get up with him every time he crys he's going to get used to it and continue doing it. You have to stay strong and remember that he's going to cry but he will get used to it and he'll be okay. Hope this helps
M.

My son is a "late night baby" also. When he was your son's age he went to bed aroung the same time. Now he goes to bed a 9. (My hubby doesn't get home from work until then and wants to be able to say goodnight.) When he is ready, and you will know, he will give up one nap and probably start going to bed earlier. Each child is different and should be treated as such. Trust your instincts.

Hi D.,
I understand your worries about a earlier bedtime. It just seems to make sense that putting him down later would make him sleep through the night. However, a earlier bedtime is what I have to suggest. Do it slowly, 30 minute increments. When my son was 6 months old, he was in bed by 8pm. When I did this, he slept through the night again and actually slept later in the morning! His bedtime will get earlier as he ages. When he drops the third nap, that is when he will easily move to a 6:30-7 bedtime. We did the usual: bath, bottle, books. I also have curtains in his room to block out the light for these long days! They are called "eclipse" curtains, I got them at target.
Anyway, just try it! It didn't make sense to me either, but it worked! I'm glad you all are doing well!

Hi D.,

I understand the "stuck" feeling you get when you want to change something for the better, but you're afraid you'll end up shifting things around in a worse way. I think the others' responses about skipping the late afternoon nap can help a lot, and also the need to slowly increment your way towards an earlier bedtime (i.e. 11 PM one night, 10:30 a couple nights later, then 10 etc).

However, every baby is different, and some have more "give" than others in this area. We have learned how to keep baby occupied in a low-key way, so that hopefully she can get through that long stretch between the afternoon nap and bedtime without melting down. Even now though (she's almost 9 months), it can be hit or miss.

Also, one thing not mentioned yet - babies do not sleep progressively more & more as the days go by. Mine has always slept 3-5 hours at a stretch on a good night. Then when she's teething, she is awake every 1-2 hours at least. Tylenol helps but we try to use it minimally (it's hard on their liver).

When they're going through big developmental stuff, they tend to sleep less and/or they're more restless while sleeping. We just try to keep in mind that she's going through a lot... even though we're sleep-deprived too!

Hope this helps!

I agree with Maryanne. The best thing I ever did was take away the 3rd nap. My daughter used to be awake until 9:30 or 10 at night, then a friend told me not to let her sleep past 4:30. I tried it, and 2 days later, she was in bed at 7:30 and now goes to bed at 7 and has for 4 months. And she has never woken up in the middle of night. Good luck!

It seems as if you do have a bedtime routine already. A bath (shower), food, and a rock to sleep is all they really need at this age as a bedtime routine. You may want to add a massage to help him further relax. The best thing to do is to watch his cues from here on out. You will see that he will set his own routine. My son did. You will find that during the day he will want to eat and sleep and play at around the same time of day. AT night prior to bedtime start with a bath, and go from there, make sure nighttime is quiet and the lights are dimmed so he knows the difference. My son's bedtime routine consists of Bath, Massage, naked time, pj's, books, sippy cup, bed. He is 2 now, but has been on this routine, that he set himself, since he was about 1 month old.

AS far as him getting up at night to eat. That is normal. He is probably going through a growth spurt right now. If it makes you feel any better my son didn't sleep compeletly through the night (those 10 + hrs that is. techincally, peds define sleepin gthrough the night as 5+ hr stretches between wakings) until he was around 1 yr old. At this age, he may very well need a nighttime meal.

HTH
B.

D.,
It is normal for a newborn to not have a very set sleeping schedule (he has days and nights mixed up), but as they get older, it helps to start having more of a night time routine/bedtime and start developing naptime schedules. Babies love and thrive on consistency and routine. It sounds as if you are already starting a routine, but I feel (from experience and from what I've read) that 11:30 is too late of a bedtime for a 5.5 month old. Logically, you'd think keeping a baby up later would help them to sleep thru the night, but actually it risks making him over tired thus not having as good quality sleep and maybe resulting in more night waking. Night waking is normal though at this age. Babies sometimes wake up because they need to (for added nutrition, because they are going thru a growth spurt, illness, etc.). I agree with some of what the other ladies are saying-- cut out third nap (don't let baby sleep past 4:00 or 4:30), and slowly work your way back on the clock at bedtime (don't try to do it too quickly) until you get him to bed at a more desirable time. I would also say (from experience) that good, scheduled naps where your baby is getting quality sleep actually helps baby sleep better at night. I thought early on, oh, my baby didn't get much of a nap today--he'll probably sleep better tonight. Doesn't work that way--he would actually be over tired, and it backfired on us. Remember babies need 12 to 15 hours of sleep during a 24 hour period. THere are many books on sleep and your baby. I would invest in one. Good luck and sweet dreams!

D.,

You would think that the later they stay up the later they sleep...WRONG!!! I have three kids and once they were all about 4-6mths I started putting them to bed by 8. If they were then waking up at night then I would give them cereal right before bed. Hes old enough now for that so I would try it. Dont just severly change his schedule at once ease him into it. One good thing to remember is if he is going to go to bed earlier then NO naps after 4:30pm. If they nap any later then that they wont go to bed early. I have a 10mth old now she is asleep by 8:30 at latest every night and wakes up at about 7am. It can be done. Good luck.
A.