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The 3-Step Bedtime Routine: Get your Baby Asleep Faster and for Longer

The 3-Step Bedtime Routine: How to get your baby asleep faster and for longer in just 7 days without sleep training!

The 3-Step Bedtime Routine: How to get your baby asleep faster and for longer in just 7 days without sleep training!

 

If there was one thing I most appreciated after becoming a new mom for the first time was my family coming to visit and watch the baby so I could get in a nap. That was something I really came to appreciate after having baby number two, Ava, when nobody came to my rescue. Needless to say, sleep was a commodity I could never have enough of with a newborn and a toddler on my hands.

Things got better, and we all somehow survived and adjusted and sorted it all out. It seemed like forever though before I could wake up feeling rested. In reality, little Ava was sleeping through the night by 10 months old without any type of sleep training and while still breastfeeding.

 

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Ava is now a strong-willed, fearless, funny and big-hearted two year old who loves her sleep. She asks for naps, and tells us when she is tired. Once asleep, she sleeps through the night and rarely wakes up too early. Ava’s problem though? She just cannot fall asleep for the night after dinner.

That is a problem.

Some nights she climbs out of bed 5-6 times before giving in to sleep. Her troubles range from “I just want a kiss and hug” to “someone was knocking on my door!” That, by the way, is two year old talk for “I can’t get to sleep, help me!”

 

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Good news for other struggling moms, a good night’s sleep doesn’t have to be a thing of your past! Beyond your own physical and mental health, we know that quality of sleep directly impacts physical, emotional and cognitive growth and development in baby too. This is why Johnson’s has developed a new 3-step routine that can help your little one (and you) sleep easier. The routine has actually been clinically proven to help baby fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer within just one week of starting the routine.

 

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Johnson’s 3-Step Bedtime Routine

Step 1) Bathtime

Bath time is a great way to start you baby’s pre-bedtime sleep routine. It can be relaxing and enjoyable for both you and baby. In our home, bath time is also a nice break for me, as Daddy takes over for some bonding time with the girls.

 

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Create a relaxing experience by using a gentle and soothing wash like JOHNSON’S® BEDTIME® baby cleansers in order to help your baby sleep better. Research has actually shown that babies bathed with a fragranced bath product (compared to those who weren’t) spent nearly 25% less time crying before sleep.

 

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Step 2: Massage

Most people enjoy massages – they are so relaxing, aren’t they? Babies enjoy them too! Your baby will enjoy the bonding time and benefit greatly from the feelings of security that come with it.

Try using a lotion with a relaxing scent like JOHNSON’S® baby BEDTIME® lotion – it will leave your baby’s skin soft and smooth while soothing and relaxing at the same time.

 

 

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Step 3: Quiet Time

Help baby finishing winding down with quiet time activities such as reading, singing quietly or listening to music in a calm and cozy space. Ava loves to have a bedtime story read to her in bed and drifts off to sleep while I sing her favourite song – Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. It doesn’t matter what you do, as long as baby is happy and you are spending quiet time together. If your baby does enjoy listening to music before sleeping, you can find lullabies on the Johnson’s Bedtime app.  

 

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After doing this routine for 7 consecutive days, I noticed that Ava does go down to sleep much easier and is not jumping out of bed at all any-more. Our normal bedtime routine was very similar to the Johnson 3-step routine but we weren’t consistently doing all three steps. Some nights I would rush through bedtime and that was definitely contributing to our sleep problems. So now there will be no more rushing through bedtime and instead we will be carefully following the 3-step routine.

If you are struggling as a new parent to get your baby to sleep, I think it’s time to give Johnson’s 3-Step Bedtime Routine a try.

 

 

 

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Johnson’s® Baby Canada in conjunction with Blog Meets Brand and I have been compensated for my participation. All opinions are my own.

Elva Roberts

Saturday 20th of August 2016

I read your post about bedtime with great interest. It certainly makes sense to me. I think we all sleep better after a relaxing bath. A massage would be heavenly. Quiet time is so essential to good sleep . This post is a must for all mothers of babies and/or young children. If baby relaxes and sleeps, then there is a great chance Mom will as well. Great Post.

kathy downey

Friday 12th of August 2016

This looks like a great bedtime routine for little ones !

Cheryl

Monday 8th of August 2016

I just love their products!! Not just for my baby but for me!! :)

kathy downey

Saturday 6th of August 2016

I wish I would of known that when my grandson was young!

Ann Bacciaglia

Saturday 6th of August 2016

Having a bedtime routine is so important. We love Johnson's products.