Bath Time

Bathing your child before bed is a GREAT stage to have in your bedtime routine for many reasons. Firstly, the majority of little people love a little splash about and this is absolutely fine and should be encouraged. Bath time should be a fun and bonding activity, so please don’t think they have to simply be sat there all Zen.

Secondly, having a bath raises our body temperature and then as it drops when we get out, this aids relaxation and supports the body’s production of the sleepy hormone melatonin.

Now, I appreciate that some little people’s skin can be more sensitive than others so instead of a bath you can always offer a little bedtime massage. I also worked with a family who’s child had severe eczema, so the parents popped her into an empty bath full of toys on alternate nights. Baby loved it and that crucial part of the bedtime routine was still there.

Ideally, you want a bath to last around 10-15 minutes max. Too long and we can run the risk of them becoming overstimulated and get their second wind!

There are a few products I swear by and they are ones that contain lavender. Please ensure that you check the product is ae appropriate! Also, plain magnesium flakes are also a winner in a bath too. Magnesium is a great mineral to relax the body, so a small amount in a bath is a great way for them to relax before bed.

You may be thinking that surely a bath can’t be that vital in improving my child’s sleep? Well, I can tell you first hand that it’s a great first step in a bedtime routine. The idea of these routines is that baby learns that they signal sleep is on its way. This then supports the process as they jump into the toddler zone!

As always if you have any questions related to bedtime routine or baby/ child sleep in general then please get in touch.

Love

Alex

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