What Is Your Bedtime Routine?

Updated on October 11, 2011
K.R. asks from Durant, OK
7 answers

We have just moved to a toddler bed for my 20 month old. She is still breast feeding so that is how i put her down, but i dont plan on doing that much longer. (thinking about #2 and my husband and i would like a little break before i get pregnant.)
How do you put down your little one at night?

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J.T.

answers from Victoria on

I nipped that issue in the bud when we first changed beds. I put my son to bed in his toddler bed. While in the kitchen I heard him walk up behind me. I never looked at him and told him in a very stern voice" You better get back in that bed right now...and do NOT get out". I closed my eyes and hoped it worked. Turned around and he was gone. Back in bed. Perhaps not the kindest way to handle it but it kept him there for a year or more...now its a entire other issue of pushing the limits!

1 mom found this helpful
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E.S.

answers from New York on

I'm in the same breastfeeding bedtime boat as you and mine is 20 months old, too!

I hold her, sing to her and then put her down. She's almost weaned from that very last bedtime feeding.

Other times, grandma or daddy has put her down. If you want to completely wean, I would suggest mixing up who puts her down.

Good luck.

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❤.M.

answers from Los Angeles on

*Bedtime routine just includes:
*bath about an hour before bed
*pj's
*time w/family in living room trying to wind down
*read a story in the living room
*last cup of milk (breast milk dried up) before bed
*brush our teeth
*off to bed w/kisses, hugs, 3 short rhymes & I stay in his room w/him until
he falls asleep
(p.s. there is a night light in room that helps him feel secure)
ours may be different than most but I did what worked for my child & we
are all happy for it. :)
Hope that helps

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S.S.

answers from Cincinnati on

try to replace it with some other kind of snuggle time with mommy. Story time, song time. My son gets a story read to him by daddy and then a song with mommy, and then we both go in and tuck him into bed. I don't like giving my toddler liquids before bed anyway because he is more likely to leak through a diaper.

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A.L.

answers from Alexandria on

We struggled with bedtime until just this year, and my son is 4! I have found predictability no matter the routine, just so that it is the same everynight, is the BEST thing. Until your little one can self sooth and not need as much time from you at bedtime atleast.
We brush teeth, use potty, read a story, tell a story, say prayers, and then I lie down with him for what started out (6 months ago) at until he was sleeping, now we are down to 3 minutes!!!! He sleeps in his own bed in his own room all night. This is very important being that baby is due this December!
My 8 yr. old only needs a book, prayers, and a little talk time with me. 10 minutes tops!

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L.A.

answers from New York on

Our son will be one this week. He gave up b/f shortly after I went to work at 5 months. over the last two weeks, he's been rejecting the bottle. Our evening routine includes dinner, a bath, some playing, 4 oz of milk in a sippy cup on the sofa, a story if he's interested, then I carry rock him for two lullabyes, and put him in his crib, I say good night sleep well so you can grow stronger and play longer, and mommy and daddy love you. I then put on his projector mobile, leave the room and close the door. I get myself a cup of coffee in the kitchen. By the time I am through my cup, he is sound asleep, and I throw open his door for circulation.

We did ferber early, and he's a pro at sleeping.

A.P.

answers from Laredo on

We started our son in a twin bed when he was about 13 months. He is now 26 months. Our bedtime routine has been the same ever since, and the only problems we have had are that he goes through phases of getting out of bed. We fixed that with a child proof knob on his side of the door. We go potty one last time, put on the pull-up, get in jammys, read a book if there is time, say prayers with mommy and daddy, I say good night and get kisses, and then daddy says good night and gets kisses. Then we close the door, and he goes to sleep on his own. He has always been so amazing about going to bed. I know I got lucky with him.

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