This is a sponsored post on behalf of Hallmark. All opinions are my own.
Here are FIVE things to include in your bundle of joy’s bedtime routine, guaranteed to make the transition from day to night easier!
Getting a good night’s rest seems nearly impossible for all new parents. As you enter the world of parenthood, it becomes more of a past time than an actual necessity. Have you ever seen a walking “MOMbie?” Yes they exist and they’re typically running on a pot off coffee instead of brains. If you have at least once child then you know the struggle all to well. By the second you learn to live on 3-4 hours of sleep a night and when the third comes along, caffeine becomes a life line. Regardless of how many times you’ve gone through it, every sleep deprived parent can appreciate the consistency of a bedtime routine that actually works.
When Toodie was born, it was a challenge to get her to sleep through the entire night. Tackling the transition from day time to night can be very frustrating when your little bundle of joy does not want to participate! As a new mom, I was always over analyzing every little cry and coo that came out of her. After jumping at each faint mumble, gurgle, and whine – I regularly found myself dozing off during the wee hours of the A.M, only moments before she was due to be fed. Yes, I was that parent – the worry wart! I had to learn the hard way.
It wasn’t easy but several weeks of trial & error helped us get into the groove of having a newborn home. With a few changes in our routine, we were able to figure out how to make bedtime easier on all of us by getting Toodie to sleep the entire night.
Here are 5 things that worked for us and made the transition into sleep mode painless. New parent tested. New parent approved. New parent ESSENTIALS!
Swaddle blankets are an absolute must-have for baby. Swaddling is truly an art form and if done correctly, your little one will sleep soundly without any disturbances. Wrapping them up like little burritos may look funny but it actually makes them feel safe, secure, comfortable, and cozy. Think of them as a mini toaster. Before your baby’s internal thermostat kicks in, the swaddle blanket will help keep them warm. These feelings are also associated with being inside mommy’s womb which is why it’s a calming experience that will promote a better night’s rest.
A warm bath before bedtime can make all the difference in how well your baby will sleep through the night. JOHNSON’S® has created a 3 step routine that incorporates bath time and massage to promote relaxation before a long snooze. After bathing with JOHNSON’S® BEDTIME® Moisture Wash, a soothing massage can help them feel calm and ready for bed.
After a nice long bath and a calming massage, place baby in a comfy pair of pajamas. take this time to connect. Spending quiet time alone with your baby before you lay them down will also help them to feel more relaxed and at ease. Whether it’s by reading a story or singing a lullaby, this is the time to bond. The Good-Night Kisses Baby Gift Set has everything you need to set the mood for baby’s entry into dreamland.
At one point or another, every new parent discovers the beauty of the classic monotonous tunes known as lullabies. Not only do they help baby relax and drift of into a peaceful night’s sleep, the soft sounds remind them of being in your womb. Whether the music comes from a crib mobile or CD, continuous music will do the trick.
Before mastering a bedtime routine that actually works, make sure you have your feedings scheduled. By tracking your baby’s feedings, it will be much easier to establish a schedule that allows for lengthy naps and longer hours of rest at night. While newborns tend to wake up more often, every 2-3 hours, their stretches of sleep will increase as months pass. Hang in there! This may be the hard part but once your baby has gained a little weight, they will not need to be fed as often during odd hours of the night.
JOHNSON’S® knows exactly how important a good night’s rest is for parents and their babies. Their Good-Night Kisses Baby Gift Set has been curated to fight the bed time blues so all parties can sleep more soundly! You can enter to win your own set below. It contains the following items:
- JOHNSON’S® baby BEDTIME® bath
- JOHNSON’S® baby BEDTIME® lotion
- JOHNSON’S® baby shampoo calming lavender
- HALLMARK® GOOD-NIGHT KISSES Book
- HALLMARK® Plush Owl
The Good-Night Kisses Baby Gift Set is available at Target, Babies ‘R Us and Buy Buy Baby.
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