Bedtime Routine? (Kinda)

[Doodlekitty]

Hi all
For the first time I'm attempting to put my 13 week old down on his own (still in our room, but I'm planning on going downstairs for a bit). It's very nerve wracking but it has to be done sometime.

So, we have started trying to formalise what has always been a pretty flexible bedtime routine. So, we started at 8.30 with a bath, then baby massage, daddy dressed him for bed and now I'm bf'ing him to sleep to some relaxing music. At some point I plan to add a bedtime story, but at the minute he cries from the second he starts getting dressed until he is being fed. Can anyone share bedtime routines with me, give me any tips, add anything I'm missing?

Thanks

[ThreeWheelsGood]

I'd be interested to read replies as we're at 15 Weeks with our DC and no bedtime routine yet. In your case I'd suggest the crying is just hunger? Our baby feeds most in the afternoon/evening.

[HenD19]

I don't think you need to worry about stories yet. I didn't read bedtime stories to my children til they were 5 months. You found like you've got everything there that you need.....now lets hope your baby plays ball!!

[piemistress]

The crying could also be over tiredness? How long is he awake for,before Bedtime? Babies cant stay awake very long at that age. Consistency is the key If you keep doing the same thing in the same order every night baby will know whats coming next and be happier

[Doodlekitty]

Thanks for the replies. The crying seems to be just that he hates getting dressed! He went down for 30 mins, took a bit more of a feed and sounds a bit like he might stir soon, so far so good

[Purplecatti]

We started a bedtime routine around 10 weeks. It goes: bath, bunged into a onesie and feed (my baby is breastfed), burp, bit of rocking and down she goes.
To begin with we'd start at about 8 to half past but moved it forwards at 12 weeks as dd got grumpy earlier and it took nearly 2 hours to get her to sleep. Now shes 14 weeks old its bath time between half 6 to 7 and shes asleep by half 7 most nights.
The rules for us are no mobiles whilst changing and the room is dark and I don't talk to dd after changing.
She does shout once she's taken out of the bath but she is the sort of baby who needs to air her demons before she can let go and sleep.
I can put her down sleepy now as long as she isn't crying and I stay in the room untik she's asleep.