Toddler Bedtime ritual ??

Toddler moms - are you noticing its harder to get your kids down at night - or is it just me?

If you are having problems - are you doing anything to change night time rituals?

Also - what time are your kids going to sleep?

Re: Toddler Bedtime ritual ??

16 mths old and bedtime is 7-7:30, close to 8 if she woke up from a late nap.

Ritual...hmmm....
dinner is 5/5:30 (sometimes 6 if she ate lunch late and snax late).
then some play time to allow for a stinky diaper to happen
then bathtime which can last 30 minutes
then down stairs for some Good Night Show and to finish her milk.
then upstairs, brush teeth (or what we call brushing) and we let her roll around and play on our bed...she has a few books that are for bedtime only, sometimes we tickle or she wrestles with our pillows

Then we take her into her room, put on the crib player, give her a binky sway a bit, then she leans into her crib.

Most nights it's easy, some nights she puts up a fight because she's overtired or teething or just doesn't want to go down even though she's tired.

We have a rocker AND a glider in the garage, just need to get them into the respective rooms and then book time will be in her new room.

Re: Toddler Bedtime ritual ??

7:30 to 8:30 and later on the weekends

I don't let him nap after 3

It has gotten easier for me he was a very difficult infant, I had to rock him to sleep till about 10 months old. Now he just drinks his milk, watches a little tv and in he goes.

I try not to let him get worked up before bed that is why I put Sesame Street on and sit him on the couch with me.

Re: Toddler Bedtime ritual ??

For the most part Sofia doesn't put up a fight- maybe a little 2 sec cry. If she is sick well that is a whole other story .

She gets her dinner anywhere between 5:30-6. Usually let the meal settle and maybe get a dirty diaper. About 6-6:30 she gets her PJ's on, brush her teeth and reads a book or two. We also play a little (more like tickles and hugs). For the most part DD goes down anywhere between 7-7:30. She typically sleeps straight till about 6-6:30.

Re: Toddler Bedtime ritual ??

now that we have 1 nap its a breeze with 2 naps it was a struggle

dinner at 6 or 7 depending on the day. - one night we have playgroup and other nights i walk with her


bottle at 8-815 down within 15 minutes.

Re: Toddler Bedtime ritual ??

Our bedtime routine is a bit long, but makes for an easier bedtime with our little guy. Bath, pjs. Then We read 2 books of his choice while he eats cheerios for a snack(He used to complain of being hungry at night. The less complaining the better.) Then brush his teeth and read one last book. HIs daddy kisses him good night and I cuddle him for a few minutes while I sing songs in the dark like Twinkle little star. He needs cuddling at night cause he is on the move all day. I rub his back while I tell him about his day. He is so weird he loves to hear about his day(we skip any bad parts.) Then I leave the room. On rare nights when we get home late or have little time I cut back on books.

OUr bed time routine was shorter originally, but we extended it a bit cause he seemed so wound up. I'd like to start including prayers too.

Summer bed time is 8pm and he wakes between 7 and 8am.

Message edited 5/3/2007 9:45:04 PM.

Re: Toddler Bedtime ritual ??

Carlie goes to bed between 8 and 8:30

She has dinner around 6:30-7 (depending on when we get home), then playtime, bath, read a book and off to bed.

She is pretty good about going to sleep. She has her says when she puts up a fight, but mot times it is because she is overtired of teething.

Good Luck!

Re: Toddler Bedtime ritual ??

For the most part bedtime is easier now than it was before. We just put her in bed awake and the majority of the time she goes to sleep. It takes a while but she doesn't cry. If she does cry we either soothe her or bring her back downstairs for 15-20 minutes and usually the second time around she goes right to sleep.

Re: Toddler Bedtime ritual ??

Usually for us, bedtime is our bestest most favorite time of the whole entire day!

Dinner is about 5.45, then we play in the living room, chase the kitties around, do some ticklling, do the webcam with grandma and grandpa on LI, go upstairs, wander around, chase the kitties, have a bath, sing some songs, have a bottle, and daddy takes Noah into bed! Thats the way it goes every night.

Except for last night. Oy did we have a tantrum!!!