Baby’s Guide to a Great Night’s Sleep

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Sleep. It used to be just a part of my everyday routine. That time between the end of one day and the start of the next. Now that I’m a mom though–those precious hours in dreamland are something I treasure. Because I’m not far removed from my days of baby sleep deprivation (which this video sums up well), I know better than to take a full night’s rest for granted!

Babies wake for all sorts of reasons throughout the night, many of which just aren’t preventable. Teething, sleep regression, developmental spurts, needing to eat 27 times a night (okay, that might be an exaggeration)…they’re all just phases, and I promise they won’t last forever! However, I have learned over the past 3.5 years that a good bedtime routine can really make a difference in how your baby sleeps. While I know everyone does it a little differently, here is the nightly routine that helps our babies get a great night’s sleep.

1. Bath. This is a step that we rarely skip in the first couple years…not because babies are dirty (although they sometimes can be!), but more so because it helps them to realize that it’s time to relax and wind down. Even tiny ones love to know what’s coming next, and this signals to them that it’s almost time for bed.

2. Lotion & Songs. Next we head to the changing table to moisturize. Gotta keep that sweet baby skin nice and soft! I usually sing songs to keep Nash occupied–and less interested in squirming away!

3. Diapers & Pajamas. This step is an important one because it can determine whether or not your baby (and you!) will sleep through the night. At one point we were waking up once a night to change not only Nash’s leaky diaper–but his pajamas and sheets too! Then we switched to Huggies OverNites Diapers and were so happy with the results. The all-night leakage protection and wick away layer kept Nash dry and resting peacefully for 12 hours.

Another thing to keep in mind is matching baby’s pajamas with the temperature of their room. Being too hot or too cold can most definitely affect their sleep.

4. Books. After everyone is smelling fresh and in their pjs, we pile into the rocker and read. Three is the magic number for our family when it comes to books. For you it might be more or less–just keep it consistent so the little ones know what to expect. This is my favorite part of every day. The kids are so relaxed and snuggly, and I love that we get to end our day together.

5. Songs & Prayers. After books, the light goes out and the white noise comes on softly. I rock and sing a few songs to Nash–and he chimes in every once in awhile too. Then I say a little prayer as I lay him into the crib and kiss him goodnight. I usually make him say “love you, mama”…in hopes that someday he’ll do it without prompting!

As you can see, our routine is super simple. I actually think it’s the fact that we’re consistent that makes it most effective. By the time we get to songs and prayers, Nash is yawning and rubbing his eyes because he knows what’s coming next.

We also owe some of our baby sleep success to Huggies OverNites Diapers. They’re the #1 nighttime diaper as well as Huggies’ most absorbent…and Nash has not had a single leak since we started using them. Since that translates to more sleep (and less laundry) for me, I’m one happy mama! Another favorite of mine is the Huggies Natural Care Wipes. They’re 99% water and so gentle on that soft baby skin…but they can still clean up a big mess when they need to. You can find both of these things on your next Target run…and don’t forget to grab a coupon here!

Are there any parts of your baby’s bedtime routine that I missed? Whatever it is, I hope it’s giving you all some extra Zzzz’s!