This night-time routine has been perfected. It may take awhile but Carter really responds well to it, and I think if I forgot a step, he'd remind me... "Mom, you forgot to read about George."
Recently I have been having a very hard time getting Carter to sleep for longer periods during the night without waking to nurse, or play... (Yes play. At 3am for an hour.) I decided to start a very long bedtime routine and delay his actual crib time until 9 or even 10pm.
This is what has been working: Starting at 5:30pm or 6:30pm depending on the day. Ending at 9:00pm or 10:00pm
6:30pm- 45 min last nap.
7:30pm- Last round of Daddy time. The ultimate in play time.
8:30pm- Jolly Jumper. Carter needs to tire himself out, and he will jump like a crazy baboon for almost 45 min. We play music and dance with him or sing songs. "One little monkey jumper on the bed..."
9:00pm- Bath. He will spash and laze in that darn tub for a half hour, or until he's completely absorbed the water into his fingers and toes.
9:30pm- Lavendar lotion massage and change into PJ's
9:45pm- Final nurse. He cluster feeds at this time, and we usually take breaks to burp and read Curious George.
10:00pm- Put in his crib awake to listen to his music and cuddle his blankie. He falls asleep on his own.
This routine has Carter only waking twice in the night. Both times just to quietly nurse and go back to sleep.
Dear Lord, let this not be a fluke.
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