So I’m thinking of getting my 6 month DS’s bedtime routine published as a recommendation for other parents, based on what he did this evening - what do you reckon?
6.30 - final feed in order to remove feeding as a sleep association.
7.00 - bath
7.10 - book
7.15 - actual final feed, because who are we kidding.
7.30 - attempt to unlatch
7.35 - attempt to unlatch
7.40 - attempt to unlatch
7.45 - realise baby’s head is boiling hot against your sweaty arm and you have probably cooked him to sleep. Place comatose baby in cot and sneak out.
8.03 - baby wakes, send husband to settle.
8.05 - inhale dinner while listening to baby shout at husband.
8.15 - rescue husband
8.15 - 8.30 - sway baby fruitlessly in 27 degree heat.
8.30 - place shouting baby in cot in case he magically self settles this time.
8.32 - turn baby onto side for bottom pats and head stroking. Endure baby’s withering gaze.
8.40 - start swaying again, this time with reiki music
8.45 - curse reiki music for giving you false hope when it worked for one nap yesterday
8.50 - remember that thing you read on Mumsnet and retrieve yoga ball from spare room. Knock over baby monitor in your hurry to leave the room.
8.50 - 9.05 - bounce on yoga ball with baby, feeling like a bit of a dick, but consoling yourself that at least it’s some exercise too. Endure baby’s laughter.
9.10 - try swaying again. Listen to baby chatting to wardrobe like drunk elf.
9.15 - decide the issue is probably that baby’s sleeping bag is too small now, lay him down in bed to switch him to the bigger one.
9.16 - take off sleeping bag, watch baby roll onto tummy, only to remember he can’t roll back yet and start shouting.
9.17 - point travel fan directly at baby despite SIDS guidance, cos what the hell.
9.18 - attempt baby massage - this will chill baby out for 10 minutes. Text husband to let him know the baby is really taking the piss now, but it’s working.
9.27 - baby starts shouting again. Put sleeping bag back on.
9.30 - Give up and feed to sleep again.
9.40 - place sleeping baby in cot.
9.41 - trip over yoga ball.
9.42 - sneakily roll yoga ball out of room, close door and go downstairs.
9.44 - remember the baby monitor is still on the floor, swear, go upstairs and put it back.
9.50 - wine.
Obviously if any parents need a bit more flexibility then they can remove certain elements, or shift the routine back or forward 5 minutes or so, perhaps by 1 minute each day.
Thoughts?