I need a routine

[GingerCuddleMonster]

So DS is 9 nearly 10mo and I need a bedtime routine and he needs to learn to self settle.

so I've purchased a Ewan the Dream Sheep just to work him in on the routine, I'm a working mum on my own due to dp work so I don't have time for a lengthy bedtime routine so I was just going to do the following;

9pm enter dim lit room, put ewan on and give night feed

and then do pick up put down to help teach self settling with the possible help of Ewan.

Does that sound ok?

yeah I think I'm going to do a mix of pick up put down, shush pat and CC.

I'm thinking of letting him cry for 2/3mins then laying him back down in the cot and shushing him and repeat till he sleeps.

See how we go I suppose....

he's just getting too heavy to cuddle and cradle lol

The point I would note is that you are assuming your DS will attach himself to Ewan the Dreamsheep as a sleep comforter. What makes you so sure?

In my experience from parents I know (and my own children) comforter toys and/or blankets are something the child selects in a personal preference kind of way.

Given that you are trying to establish a comforter here, I would be inclined to supply a selection. Some babies like labels, some muslin, some teddies, some silky blankets, some those half-teddy-half-blankie things.

I never expected my son to attach himself to his Ted (since he had a dummy and I was never a fan of teddies so discouraged them). But he did. All done by his own preference and his own choice.

I wasn't going to use Ewan as a comforter as such ds has his dummy for that more of " the bell" in Pavlovs conditioning. The conditional stimulus for bed time.

hearing Ewan = Time for bed time.

Oh I see! In that case ignore me. As you were...

I know most people use a bath as a sensory Que for bedtime but I can't be bothered with that every night

If you're going to use the sheep I'd do it first of all at the same time as whatever you usually do when he's going down to sleep, to establish a positive association. I'd be wary of having a scenario where he associates it with crying etc.

I'm no expert though and struggling to think of how I am going to get my 5 month old dc3 into a bedtime routine!

Yes I'm hoping that putting it on whilst he feeds and has a cuddle will reinforce a positive connection to Ewan and long term a calming conditioned effect.