I have three children and here is a picture of my little cuties:
As you can imagine, bedtime is a little crazy around here. In fact, I have a love/hate relationship with it. I love that it is the end of the day and I will get some much needed time to myself, but I hate that it is so much work! For my eldest, Kiera, she has had the same bedtime routine since she was 6 months old. Only one thing changed when the twins came along: Special Time!
So a typical night in our house looks like this:
5:30 Dinner for us
6:00 Dinner for Babies
6:30 All kids get a bath.
Babies first, then Kiera. While she plays, I nurse the babies.
7:00 Babies Bedtime Routine
For now the babies bedtime routine is Food, Bath, Lotion, Nurse, Swaddle, Sleep. It never changes.
7:15-7:45 Kiera's Special Time
Kiera chooses what she wants to do with Mommy or Daddy for this time. Some of her choices have included Hide & Go Seek, Board Games, Science Experiments, Playing with Shaving Cream in a Pan, a Puzzle, Playing School, and once we even went and got ice cream in her pajamas! This has been such a good addition to the bedtime routine because it is the only time Kiera gets all our attention. Also, we get to see all she is learning on a day to day basis.
7:45-8:00 Kiera's Bedtime Routine
Read 2-3 books, Pray, Hugs & Kisses, Music On, and then we leave. She prefers her lights on and door open and we oblige because every night she falls asleep and doesn't wake up when we turn off her light and shut her door.
Hugs & Kisses is my favorite part of the routine and probably hers too. I sing this silly little song with her at a slow, medium and fast rhythm and her Daddy does jumping Hugs & Kisses where he helps her jump on the bed. We don't do it the same way because we want her to have something special with each parent. On occasion we both put her to bed and do both sets of Hugs & Kisses. It's a lot of fun.
I am a huge proponent of reading each night to your children. Some of our favorite books right now are:
At about 6 months, I will add a book to the twins bedtime routine right after nursing. I want them to be able to put themselves to sleep (not fall asleep nursing) and also enjoy the love of reading.
Sometimes when we come home late at night, we still do the bedtime routine. Very rarely we will drop the bath or Kiera's special time, but the story, praying, and Hugs & Kisses is always done.
So, I am curious, what is your bedtime routine? Do you stick with it? Do you have any suggestions as to how I can incorporate special time with my twins when they are older?
I have never been able to stick to a bedtime routine with my kids (who are almost 8 and 4 now). Our life has always been one of traveling and late nights out, so my kids have always been late to bed. This is the one thing I really wish I had been able to incorporate into my life. I feel as if there is never anytime for my husband and I - Is it ever too late to start a bedtime routine? I at least try to sing or read books with the kids before bed...This is something that I will have to put some thought into...Thanks Jenn for sharing!
ReplyDeletenope never to late to start! lol. i always had a bedtime routine for my older son Nick but didn't really start it till he was about 4 or 5 months old. Took us awhile to figure out what worked best for us both. We stuck to that routine until he felt like he was too old for stories at night anymore lol (he was about 9) but kept everything else in place. He even added a special goodnight kiss that had 4 kisses and now that he's 12 we still have the kisses but not much else. During the school year he has a routine but it's not the same as when he was little (which i miss). Emily is now 3 months old & i'm trying to get her routine established now. Like Jenn i want her to be able to put herself to sleep. The routines change as they get older and you just kind of have to figure it out as you go depending on the child. My son doesn't like me to read to him anymore but we spend time talking about his day or silly stuff or playing Wii.
ReplyDeleteBecca, I don't ever think it's too late to start a routine. Just start with 2 or 3 things. Try to have dinner at the same time each night. That will set the tone for the rest of your evening. Then follow it by a bath and then one book. Do that for a couple weeks every single night. Then you can add prayer and a song and have a full blown routine within a month. I would suggest an 8:00 bedtime. That gives you and your husband a good two hours alone before you hit the sack. Oh and we are a traveling family too. We don't adhere to that strict of a schedule when we are gone, but jump right back into it upon returning home.
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