12 week old bedtime routine

[Blubell1981]

Hi. I’m a first time mum & so confused by the bedtime routine posts I’ve read. DS sleeps in the next to me bed at night & mainly on us during the day. I’ve seen people have a bath at 7pm, put the baby to bed etc. How does this work when they’re sleeping in your room? Would we do the bath then let him sleep downstairs with us until we go to sleep at 10pm? I’m sure I’m being thick Thank you for any help.

That's exactly what we did with DD. Upstairs for bath & into sleepsuit. Downstairs for milk and a story, then down to sleep until DH would bring her up to our room around midnight (after her midnight bottle)

I don't think babies really need a strict routine like that so young plus it just doesn't really work when they have to sleep in the same room as you anyway. I think the routine will naturally develop but for now just take your baby's lead, especially if they are sleeping ok.

I do the full bedtime routine then into the pram in a quiet corner of the living room. Dreamfeed when we are going to bed then put down in the cot. It’s earlier than recommended but at 4 months we starting putting his sister down in the cot upstairs and coming back down with the baby monitor as she could no longer settle downstairs. We haven’t reached that point with the DS yet but plan to play it by ear.

I am all for a routine (which goes against keeping baby with you totally until 6 months, so do what works best for your family). My 13 week old has the bath, change, feed etc and I put him into the next to me crib with the monitor on. Come downstairs whilst he settles and have tea etc. Then go to bed at whatever time I like, he’s fast on by the time I go to bed. I’m totally comfortable doing it this way, but as comments above it also works bringing baby back downstairs ☺️

Thanks so much ladies. That’s really helpful & so good ideas ☺️