Establishing a relaxing bedtime routine is key to ensuring peace of mind for both parents and baby. It may not guarantee you a full night of sleep but it will help you survive the witching hours and deepen the connection with your baby.
Sarah Ezrin, author, yoga educator and maternal mental health advocate, suggested bathing with your baby, creating a spa-like experience. “Soaking with your child and savoring the sweet smells of both your baby and the bubbles invites you to slow down and be present,” she said.
“Lean back and lay your baby against your chest, wrapping your arm around their tummy or holding under their armpits. Once you are both comfortable, take five full breaths — babies co-regulate with their parents’ breathing, so you may notice the baby’s breath slowing and expanding to match yours.”
Calming a baby with a light massage can also be a powerful and effective tool that has been shown to help relax their muscles and improve circulation and respiration.
Once you have a bath time routine in place, ease them into sleep mode. Ezrin recommended using supportive items like a weighted sleep sack to help them fall and stay asleep. Or, some parents prefer to cradle their baby tucked inside a soft comfortable wrap, which cues that it’s time for rest.
Movement in general can help set the right tone. “Dancing slowly while you sing a lullaby is an incredible co-regulation tool,” Ezrin said. “Rocking and singing or speaking in a prosodic voice both create a sense of deep calm for you and your baby.”
Whether it’s learning a few gentle massage techniques or opting for a bath gear upgrade, fine-tune your assembly of goods to help minimize the stress levels and elevate the calm for a peaceful night.
When bath time is over, let the fun continue and wrap your baby in this Elegant Baby Rust Fox hooded towel. Personalization is optional for an additional charge. $44
Put your mind at ease with Dream Sock by Owlet, a hospital-grade monitor that snugly wraps around your baby’s foot and tracks their vitals to ensure a healthy sleep pattern. For ages 1-18 months. $300
Self-care is just as important as caring for your baby. Warmies neck wrap and eye mask can be heated in the microwave or chilled in the freezer and come scented with French lavender. From $30
Encourage self-soothing and calmness using this doctor-approved Dream Weighted Sleep Sack from Dreamland Baby Co. It’s light enough to allow for movement and evenly distributed to feel like a gentle embrace. $98
Every step of your nighttime ritual is covered in this LoveBubbsi newborn starter set. It includes three essential sensitive skin-loving body care products such as coconut oil body wash, balm and cream. $78
A mom-approved best buy is the Sure Comfort 4-in-1 reclining bathtub. It adjusts with your baby through all their developmental milestones. $40 at TheFirstYears.com
Connect with your baby through touch using Tubby Todd’s highly-recommended massage oil. Infused with organic lavender and rose hip, it will elevate your nightly routine. $22
You don’t have to tackle bedtime routine alone. The SoundSpa Lullaby plays up to six soothing sounds, along with nine different animal images, and has an auto-off timer. $35 at Homedics.com
Keep them close to ease those nighttime feedings. The SnuzPod4 bedside bassinet comes with rocking stand and incline options. $299 at Snuz.com
Generally, when baby sleeps, so should you, but if you have to get things done, keep them snug as a bug in this soft one-size-fits-all wrap carrier. $30 at Amazon.com
