As a first time mother, one thing I am eagerly awaiting is my daughter to start sleeping through the night or to have at least five or six hours of uninterrupted sleep.
I believe establishing a bedtime ritual will help in achieving this goal. Bed time rituals/routines are simply the winding-down activities you engage in with your child before putting them down to sleep for the night.
It helps your child to become accustomed to a pattern, which will help in calming them down no matter where you find yourselves. It also allows parents to spend quality time with their children.
When can you start?
There is no rule governing when you can start but it is better to start early to avoid introducing a pattern when your child is older, which might be a bit more difficult.
What can you do?
The idea is to keep it simple, consistent and interesting for both you and your child. You can start by changing them into their pyjamas and new diapers and giving them their last feed before bed. Also consider the following:
? Bathing/massaging - it has a calming effect and hence aids good sleep.
? Bedtime story - this will help your child develop language skills and learn new things through reading, it is also comforting for children
? Singing a song/lullaby - singing songs to your child can be soothing and calming
? Playing a simple game - it can be as simple as clapping or peekaboo. Do something together to bond.
You can experiment with a few different routines to see which ones they enjoy. Avoid establishing an elaborate ritual as younger children might not like it and you might not be able to be consistent. A simple act like rubbing your child's back and snuggling can be enough for some children.