Bedtime Routine

[Tw1nkle]

Hiya,

I have a 22 month old daughter and have always had a great bedtime routine - Upstairs to bath, change, have milk on my lap in nursery, then story, on my lap.

I've recently got rid of the 'baby bottle' and now use a cup - which has gone well.

I'm now struggling to find a new routine, as I don't want her to have her milk and a story whilst sitting on my lap (She' getting big now!!).

I'd like to give her her milk downstairs, change her downstairs, and give her a story whilst she's in her bed - but how can I fit bathtime into this routine? and brushing her teeth? I don't want to bath her after her milk. I bath her 3 times a week.

Any advice? What are your bedtime routines?

Thanks.

why don't you want her to have milk and story on your lap? she isn't even 2 yet, she's still a baby!

Maybe - I do love the bedtime routine - and so does she!

I think I'll do the milk downstairs, then keep the story telling on my lap for a bit - she loves looking at the pictures too.

Thanks!

One of my friends only moved the milk to the quiet time after dinner whilst watching Cbeebies once potty training, so they didn't have fluids too close to bedtime. I thought that was a time to have it. I always given the milk with my dinner as a child to drink once older.

My 2 DCs are just turned 3 and 19 months I need an hour before bedtime to begin the bedtime routine, to give plenty of time to play in the bath first, then they both get out and go in their room (they share) and I dress them both, they drink their warm milk whilst I read several stories and then they clean their teeth after and then I turn out the light. I don't like rushing bedtime with them as they're happier and so am I if we take our time about it, they're always asleep by 7pm. So dinner has to be at 5pm. I bath my DCs every night as they love it, unless we've been out somewhere late and then I change them into the PJs before leaving and transfer them to bed when home asleep. So they can be flexible if needed.

My DD has a tommee tippee explora active sipper which she uses now and is no spill. My son who is 19 months still has a bottle but I plan to move him to the same cup as DD shortly.

DD still sits on my lap at age 3 with the milk too. She likes being close and hugged whilst I read.

Those are my initial thoughts. HTH

*good time to have it

There are a lot of typos in my message, the more I read it back. Sorry, hopefully you can vaguely understand what I am trying to say

I do understand - thanks!

I used to do exactly the same as you, so I'll carry on I think!

Except on the nights when she doesn't have a bath, then I'll let her decide where she wants her milk.

She loves routine, so I want to make sure I'm clear as to what it is!!!

We recently changed our routine as ds wasnt going down very well-he was really hyped up for some reason and taking ages to settle.

We do bath and into pyjamas, then he comes downstairs and has his milk while watching one episode of childrens tv, I tidy away toys and then sit with him...he goes back up to brush teeth, last wee and gets into bed. I read him his story snuggled up on the bed with him so we still get cuddly time, and then its time for sleep.

Would this work for you?

Hiya,

Yes, that would work well I think - at least she'll get her milk after her bath that way - and teeth brushed after that!

We do tea, then straight to bath and then have an hour downstairs with jigsaws/tv/books and milk. We did this as DD1 started getting too tired to have a bath before bed and would tantrum about getting out the bath and getting PJ's on.

Then we do wee/teeth and 2 stories in bed