Do you have a set bedtime for your baby - or did you?
By Amy
@artemis432 (7474)
Abernathy, Texas
August 24, 2007 3:35pm CST
I live on base and it seems every monitor we buy - stops working within a week. Its not the channel or the batteries. So we have the crib in our room still - he's nine months. So usually we go to bed at the same time...I bathe him, read to him, feed him and put him to bed. Most times I'm exhausted even though its early and will go to sleep too - or I lie down and say, I'm just going to close my eyes for a few minutes. Other times, I will bring my husband's lap top (I have a pc) upstairs and surf while he's sleeping.
Some nights though, if there is something on the tv, or weekends when each of us have our own computer, I let the baby stay up - or fall asleep on my lap - as I do many times at nap times.
What do you say? Do you have a set bedtime or routines for your baby? Why do you think its important - or unimportant? If you have an elaborate ritual - what do you do when someone babysits (we don't have a nanny or babysitter - no family close by). I have babysat for some friends on base, before I was ever even pregnant and they had a really elaborate bedtime ritual which involved both of them - usually - and since I didn't know it - it involved music and singing and both holding him and swaying with him - they just told me to let stay awake. What say you?
3 people like this
5 responses
@Pinkie917 (27)
• United States
24 Aug 07
I think that bedtimes are very important for the parents and the children. I need the break from all the talking and giggling and noise of the day they go to bed at 8:00 everynight.
@artemis432 (7474)
• Abernathy, Texas
25 Aug 07
That's around the time we do - unless I've had a migraine all day, then I try to make it earlier. Usually he's okay with it, especially since on these days since I so desperately want to sleep I let him fall asleep besides me and move him when he falls asleep - he falls asleep pretty quick usually - though sometimes with a bit of crying - not good for a migraine - but better then staying awake! I can't take anything reallybecause one, I'm nursing, and two, I get headaches and migraines so often I would no longer have a healthy liver by now if I took them when needed.
My husband works nights but he helps on wknds. So if I have a migraine - at any time he'll take over. Such a lifesaver.
Thanks for the response
1 person likes this
@mystic_0318 (937)
• United States
26 Aug 07
Yes I have always had a set bedtime for my kids.And still do...I think it is very important to have bedtimes..From the kids needed their slepp and parent need their own time to themselves...
@artemis432 (7474)
• Abernathy, Texas
26 Aug 07
I agree about the kids - but especially the last. I adore my baby but its nice to have time for myself and I don't imagine this will change as he grows older.
@wdiong (1815)
• Singapore
25 Aug 07
I do have a set bedtime for my two kids. They go to their bedroom at 10pm and they will read for a while and we'll have a short time for prayer before they turn in. Ideally, I'd like them to go to bed earlier but they are not able to sleep. They'll be tossing to and fro on their beds.
@Gemmygirl1 (2867)
• Australia
27 Aug 07
Once our daughter was too big for her bassinet, she was put in her own room & in a cot - she's always gone to bed at 8:30pm :) This was since around 6 months!
We're just lucky i guess, even now (almost 15 months) she is always tired around that time & knows when it's time for bed. Once we started her routine she settled in to it pretty quickly & we haven't really had any major problems since then.
I think maybe you could try putting him to bed at a certain time but not staying in there just because he's in there, go do your own thing somewhere else :) He'll be fine & it will help him adjust & settle in to a routine for that time! You should be ok without a monitor at 9 months old, he should be ok to sleep in his room on his own without one, most Mums just automatically wake up when they hear a noise anyway!
Good luck & you just do what you think is good - for us, 6 months was a good time to have her in her own bedroom & in her new cot - this is when we started the sleep routine & it has done very well so far!
