Frantic Bedtime

[SVAV2014]

Hi there

I am after a little bit of advice as I feel like I am getting it all wrong with my 5mo and I'm worried that he isn't happy because of it.

Bedtime is always so frantic and ends up with an upset baby. We have a routine that we stick to every night, it doesn't always happen at the same time every night (as it depends on when his last nap was as to when I think he needs to go to bed) but it happens. We limit play an hour before bed to quiet play (as much as possible), bath (and I will normally have a bath with him), into the dark bedroom, a quick massage then sleeping bag and try to get him to sleep.

Frantic behaviour starts before bath where he will get very grizzly and shouty. He is happy in the bath but thrashes around and splashes and giggles. Once he is dry and we start to get him dressed for bed the tears start and he will be Very cross at this point. We then alternate between walking him around and me feeding him but usually he cries a lot and it takes a long time to get him off to sleep. Tonight it took an hour and he has just fallen asleep.

Friends are doing story time with their lo before bed and I feel like I could never even dream of that because it's all just such a shouty, frantic mess.

I'm worried I'm not getting something right and it's detrimentally impacting my baby. Feel lost and clueless about what I should do and how I should do it. Any advice appreciated.

Many thanks

[Lules]

You won't be detrimentally impacting your baby. Babies cry, especially when they're tired.

It might be that he's overstimulated and there's just too much going on at bedtime? I always bathe mine in the morning because he's too tired in the evening and gets too grumpy. My mum said she always did the same for the same reason. But there might not be a particular reason at all (helpful I know!)

[SVAV2014]

Thanks Lules, I hadn't thought of that. The bath does seem to rile him up a bit so I'll give it a go. Perhaps I'll bath when my husband gets home and then we can start to wind down from there. Thanks again for taking the time to reply.

[Sparrowlegs248]

I would definitely start earlier. My ds loves a bath but if I start too late he cries even before he's in it (he's 1 now)
We do play time, upstairs, bath, two stories, feed bed. I do tend to start it at the same time every night, 6pm and aim to have him asleep by 7. Doesn't always work though!

[SVAV2014]

Thanks nottalotta - will try it earlier and see what happens!

[Sparrowlegs248]

I'm.no expert BTW but hated the frantic bedtime you describe, it can be hard timing it when you have a rubbish napper like me. Another option is doing bath and bed clothes early, then at least he's ready for bed and all you have to do is milk and sleep, even if you have some playing in between. Hope it works!