When our daughter was a little girl we established a bedtime routine starting at around age 1 and I found it to be the most beneficial way to get her to settle down for the night.
Our bedtime routine started right after dinner when I would give her a bath and put her pajamas on. We then would snuggle and read a book or watch a little TV. When it came to bedtime, she knew the routine and knew it was time to settle down and get to sleep.
We were not perfect with our routine and sometimes we strayed from it when we had special family obligations going on but 90% of the time…we kept with it.
I know some parents struggle with getting their kids into bed without a fight but I swear, having a routine that is learned from a very young age, really helps! Kids need to relax and unwind from their day just as much as you do!!!
Do (or did you) have a bedtime routine with your kids? If so, what does/did that routine consist of? Where you consistent with it or just apply it from time-to-time? Got any tips or advice to share with the moms, dads and grandparents who read the TwoClassyChics blog? If so, share them below!
We had a routine very similar to yours and tried to,stick to it. It did make bedtime easier.
As an aunt, I know any kid staying the night is going to fight the idea of bedtime. And I just don’t have the will to fight that battle, lol.
I had a routine when my kids were little that was similar to yours. Bath, jammies and bedtime books. My kids would be in bed at a reasonable time and we could then get some things done and have a decent nights sleep. Don’t think I could have functioned without them being on a bedtime schedule.
We always tried to have a bedtime routine for oue daughter, to get her ready for bed. TRIED. It seemed though that she was the one who had who had US on a routine/schedule!
We had a routine with Jenelle when she was little. I am so glad that we did that. She had one now with Gia and it’s working really well too. She will start the routine back up 2 1/2 weeks before school starts to get her back on track again.