Evening bedtime routine must be in line with your child's needs, not the dictates of a clock. Let's talk about Dinner, Bath, then Bed.
Dinner: At the end of the day tired children are: cranky, easily upset, wingey and so on. It is my experience that young children are ready for dinner about 5pm'ish, sometimes a little earlier. Let their tired signs indicate when to begin the bedtime routine. Dinner usually consists of solids followed by a serve of milk or water. Drinking should be kept as apart of the meal, not after the bath or just before bedtime.
Bath: Immediately following dinner is bath time. Bath time allows the food to settle before bedtime. Bath time does not need to take forever or be over stimulating.
Bed: Once bathed, dry and dress for bed. You may want to read an age appropriate story book, then bed. Again, the time between bath and bed should not take forever.
Remember, overtired children are more difficult to settle and often night wake. Recognising tired signs is essential for a healthy bedtime.
Bedtime is not clock dictated. Your child is tired so into bed they go. Not another round of playtime or wait for Daddy to get home. Children are not there to meet our needs, we must meet theirs.
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