Brain Rules for Baby (John Medina) / quote 83 of 91
Consistent bedtime rituals help babies sleep
Sleep experts agree that one thing helps babies make this transition: having a consistent bedtime routine. This starts with choosing a time for bedtime, sometime around 6 months old. Around the world, bedtime depends upon baby and culture. Whatever time you choose, the advice is to make it consistent. Next, create a series of predictable bedtime rituals. These rituals can be almost anything, from singing favorite lullabies to turning all the lights in the house down low. Part of the ritual may involve giving your infant a warm bath, followed by a nursing session to “top off” the child before slumber. If the child is a tough sleeper, your routine may involve a slow ride over a bumpy road. The Medina family found this to be the most successful method when sleep was a problem. Whatever the activities, they should be consistently applied: same content, same order, same environment. Babies quickly learn to associate these behaviors, especially when dependably applied, with the fact that sleep time is coming.