A 5-Step Baby Bedtime Routine | Here’s Everything You Need to Know

There are many things you can do to make your baby drift off faster and sleep better.

The aim is to pay attention to their needs and make them feel as comfortable as possible.

We’ve shared five of these tricks, which make for a wonderful bedtime ritual.

P.S. Make sure to read our blog “The Yawning Brigade” to understand signs of sleep readiness.

Infant Massage

Kickstart your baby’s daily bedtime ritual with a nurturing massage. This helps to relax their muscles and regulate sleep patterns. A mother’s touch is also effective in releasing the feel-good hormones, oxytocin and dopamine, which induces a sense of calm and peace. Use a mix of essential oils and a combination of light, rhythmic strokes to perform the massage. Remember to observe your baby’s body language and respond to cues accordingly. 

Relaxing Bath

A warm and relaxing bath is a natural progression from an infant massage. It is also a great way to stimulate a child’s senses and trigger sleep. The temperature change helps to soothe a baby and lull them into a state of relaxation. Consider lathering your baby’s skin with a gentle and mild shower gel. Rinse it off with water. If you have a tub, you can add some bubbles too.

Soothing Feed

After a massage and bath, your baby is one step closer to being bedtime ready. This is the perfect opportunity to give them their last feed. Whether you put them on the breast or bottle, nursing is a powerful inducer of sleep. It will help your little one feel much more calm, safe, and secure.

Gentle Lullaby

Play a soothing tune to help your baby fall deeper into a relaxed state. What’s even better is if you sing yourself. Your voice is the most powerful sleep potion there is. For some babies, white noise can be very effective too. Experiment with ambient sounds. Please note - you can try this step alongside step 3.

Rock to Sleep

Massage, check. Bath, check. Feed, check. Lullaby, check. At this point, your baby would have definitely drifted away to dreamland. To make sure their eyes don’t open any time soon, rock them in a gentle fashion. This helps to regulate digestion and set the stage for better quality sleep. Make sure to be steady and consistent with the beat. Checkmate.

Sometimes, your baby may even fall asleep after the second or fourth step.

Don’t be so focused on the steps that you forget the whole point of the exercise, which is to help your baby sleep better.

Remember, the more comfortable they are, the better the chances are of peaceful slumber.

Keep a pacifier in hand and dim the lights for the best results.

What’s more, explore Greendigo’s range of sleepwear, sleep sacks, and swaddles.

Made out of velvety-soft organic cotton, our pieces were designed for the little dreamers of the world.