This is why I’m so strict about an early bedtime for my baby
Once our daughter turned four months old and was officially out of the newborn stage, we started to experience a lot of changes in her sleeping habits (hello, four month sleep regression). To help her (and us) tackle this progression, which commonly happens among babies at this age, we began slowly moving up her bedtime, amongst other things.
As a newborn, she was going to sleep between 9pm and 10pm every night, but once we started following age-appropriate awake windows, it did not take long before she was going to bed around 6:30pm and sleeping well throughout the night. I cannot give her early bedtime ALL the credit for helping our now 11-month-old become a super star sleeper (see our 4-12 month class for all the tips and tricks), but there are a few important reasons why I am so strict about an early bedtime.
1. It can help baby fall asleep and stay asleep.
A baby who goes to bed too late could potentially be going to sleep overtired, making it hard for them to self-soothe and fall asleep. An overtired baby may also wake up frequently throughout the night, finding it difficult to connect their sleep cycles. Following age-appropriate awake windows and ensuring that your baby is not going into night sleep overtired can help your baby fall asleep independently and prevent these hard-to-tackle wake-ups throughout the night.
2. It can help prevent early morning risings.
Contrary to what most parents might think, a later bedtime does not necessarily mean that your baby will sleep in later in the morning. If your baby is going to sleep for the night late and in an overtired state, this can cause an early wakeup (before 6am). I do not, however, recommend a bedtime earlier than 6pm, and, as always, it is important to follow age-appropriate awake windows to make sure your baby is going to sleep at their optimal bedtime.
3. It allows for “me time”
Whether I am enjoying an evening to myself or spending some quality time with my hubby, parents need that time to “refill their cup.” Especially now, while we are at home more due to the current pandemic, parents need to take care of their mental health so that they can be the best versions of themselves for their families. When our daughter goes to sleep for the night and we’ve finished tidying up around the home, we have some uninterrupted time together (or sometimes on our own), which helps us recharge, connect, and ultimately be better parents and partners.
There will inevitably be nights when we have plans and an early bedtime cannot happen. We follow the 80/20 rule, meaning that 80% of the time we prioritize sleep (which means an early bedtime), while the other 20% allows us some flexibility to enjoy and live our lives. More often than not, if we do NOT stick to our usual early baby bedtime, we will experience wake-ups throughout the night and an undesired early start to our day. For these reasons and more, I will continue to be strict about that early bedtime and reap its benefits!
Related articles:
Five reasons your baby is waking so much at night
Sample sleep schedules for 0-18 months
This is how early your child should be going to bed
Here’s why consistent bedtimes are more important than you think