Secret of baby sleep? It’s routine
STICKING to a bedtime routine helps young children to sleep better – and benefits mothers.
Researchers at St Joseph’s University in Philadelphia proved the value of routine in tests on 405 children aged seven months to three years, all with sleep problems.
Mothers of the babies were told to give them a bath, a massage and to cuddle or sing to them.
Lights were turned out within 30 minutes of bathtime ending.
Mums then put the babies to sleep as normal, perhaps by rocking them.
The routine was followed with the older children, the only difference being that mothers applied a lotion to them instead of giving them a massage.
Lead researcher Professor Jodi Mindell said: “Maternal mood and children’s sleep impact one another. The better a child sleeps and the easier bedtime is, the better a mother’s mood will be.”