Go to sleep my little baby! PLEASE!!!!!!

Establishing a good bedtime routine

Go to sleep my little baby  boy  PLEASE!!!! PLEASE, PLEEEASSSSEEE!!!!!

September is always a tricky month for us. We have both had the summer off  so late evening strolls, trips to the beach after tea, playing outside until dark and staying late at Granny and Grandads all results in our summer routine being: no routine! And we LOVE it! But getting back to business in Septemeber is always tricky. This September we moved house and I started a new job, so getting into a good bedtime routine and quickly was vital.  Thankfully those great people at the groCompany sent us a Gro clock at the most perfect time. While it did take us a full month to settle back into a good routine, I'm glad we have now nailed it! (for now!)

And the gro Clock played a mojor part. This updated version of the Gro-clock uses fun images of the stars and sun to communicate when to go back to sleep and when it's time to get up, and was a tremendous success. The gro clock comes with a story book explaining the benefits (and consequences) of not following the stars to sleep. The book worked so well the first night: our DS was so afraid to run to the toilet!!!! Note to self: don’t stress the consequences so much! But it's a really nice addition to the gro clock and fits perfectly into our bedtime routine.

So here's our routine....not over complicated.....but works everytime! 

We try to make our evenings screen free, from 4.30 onwards (until little boy is fast asleep), but always from 5pm onwards. I believe there is just no need to have such a little mind racing when calm down and sleep time is so close.

Our bedtime routine begins at 6.30pm on no bath nights and 6pm on bath or shower nights. No drinks or food are given after this time.

Pajamas are put on and bedroom and/or playroom toys are tidied with curtains drawn. This sets the ‘calm down’ tone of the next 30 mins.

We try not to rush or get too excited before bedtime. Seán is bursting with energy all day and with only an ounce of encouragement would be bouncing off the walls! While the slow pace is super
annoying we calmly tidy away the toys.

Teeth are brushed, I wont lie… there is a bribe of a new book at the end of the week if teeth are brushed with my help each night. It work's though! 

After teeth, face and hands are washed and then its good night kisses to Dad/Mom.

Two stories are picked out and into bed he hops. Prayers are said and two stories are read. Tucked into bed and a kiss on the head and Seán and teddy are ready.

Seán then gets 5 minutes with the nightlight on to read his own stories. He usually throws the book out of bed himself and turns over to sleep.

Obviously the above is the good night. There are bad nights (even ugly ones!) but these nights are usually when the routine hasn’t been followed and we think were back in July! This lovely fresh evenings at the moment are killing us! But the gro clock is really great to kick us back into action. On the gro company website there is downloadable reward chart that I now plan on introducing. Just to ensure the routine is maintained and the sense of excitement and fun is still a part of the routine. (download groclock reward chart here).

So whats more to say  only GO OUT AND GET A GROCLOCK!!! Its another brilliant product from the amazing gro company. Simply click here to purchase today. We were very kindly gifted this groclock but they retail at approx. €30.00. Which I personally think its great value for such a great product. I, like Orla loved the gro bags for the baby years, we have other gro products also such as the gro anywhere blind and the gro chair harness and Im so thrilled to see this company never rest when it comes to making life a little easier with a growing boy! The gro light will be my next purchase. What will be yours? Have a look here to shop products by season, age and gender. 

Hope this post may be of some help to you getting into a bed time routine, and remember thats all it is:routine. You can do it and you will. Before you know it you will be wondering what to do come 7.30pm (other than clean, tidy, make lunches, wash clothes, iron, plan for tomorrow etc etc etc!).

And now its off to bed for me, Good night all.

Night Night, Sleep Tight, Dont Let the bed bugs bite xxx

Thanks for reading. 

Kerri and Orla xx

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We were kindly gifted this groclock, however all opinions are our own.