The Trick to Timing Bedtime Well

When should I put my baby down for bed?

Question of the century! As parents to a new baby or toddler you might be desperate for sleep and wonder if keeping your kids up later would be helpful for getting them to sleep. When is the best time to begin your bedtime routine? When should your baby be going to be??

Great questions!

Why a good routine is necessary?

Babies thrive on routine and so do toddlers. Predictability for them makes life more grounded which makes life consistent for you as well. Beginning routine early in your baby’s life allows them to become comfortable with routine and know more about what to expect in their life. It will also help you transition into better sleep as soon as they are old enough to sleep better.

So when should you aim to put your baby down to bed?

Little babies, newborn to about 10 weeks will wake often to eat, that’s normal, but they should still be put down to bed early, sometime around 6:30/7pm. This may seem early, but establishing a routine early and at least setting the tone for bedtime early on is the best thing you can do for your baby. These habits will carry over to toddlerhood and beyond!

But why would I put them down so early if they’ll just wake up at 9??

There is a really common misconception that if you keep babies up, then they will sleep better or longer, but with babies, lack of sleep does not beget sleep. Sleep begets sleep! A good routine and more sleep will help your baby sleep the best! Even if your baby wakes up at 9pm to eat, the ideal time for them to go down to “bed” is still 6:30/7pm so that they can get optimal sleep early in the night.

Earlier bedtimes for kids from newborns to toddlers will start them off on the best foot possible. If your baby is over tired, they will begin to run on adrenaline, and get stuck in a cycle of being overtired and overstimulated. The best way to set your baby up for sleepy success is to establish healthy sleep habits and nighttime routines from the beginning. If you do that, things will not be perfect by 3-4 months, but they will be easier! Your little one will be in the habit of sleeping, going to bed early, and going down awake.