When you’ve got a young baby at home, self care can go out the window. Let’s face it, they might be a bundle of joy, but they’re also a bundle of hard work! Their needs (quite rightly) take priority, which can in turn, leave your own needs neglected.
What I found helped was getting involved in a joint night time routine. All of my babies shared my bedroom until they were at least one. They were all reasonably bad sleepers too, which meant I would keep them with me during the evening – if I was in the lounge, so were they, and if I went to bed, they came with me.
A calming night time routine for the both of you really helps you wind down at the end of the day and helps to give you a better night’s sleep.
Calming Night Time Routine For Mum & Baby
Below are some of my best tips for a calming mum and baby night time routine. I’ve tried a few things, and this is what I think works best.
Try a little yoga
Some very gentle postpartum stretches are a good way to get you off the sofa in the evening. They’re not so intense that you won’t have the energy to do them, but they’ll get your blood flowing. It’s good to move around in the evening and give your muscles a little work out, which will give you some endorphins before bed.
Take a bath
My favourite way to relax is to take a bath, and babies tend to love baths too. There’s something incredibly sleepifying about having the warm water wash over you. Tailor your baby’s bath to give them gentle products designed for them. Kids’s skincare is made for sensitive young skin and will help with cleaning and moisturising them before bed.
Look after your skin
Mum and baby alike need a calming skincare routine before bed. The little ones need cleaning and moisturising, and mums need to get their makeup off, cleansing and moisturising too. Naif is a lovely brand that has products for both mums and babies. Lots of their range is hypoallergenic and nourishing. The range includes lots of skincare essentials, including sunscreen.
Fill your tummies
It’s really important to keep your baby full up if you want a good night’s sleep. I always had hungry babies who would like to wake for more milk, but on nights they had had a really good feed, they always slept a little better. This is true for mums too. If you’re breastfeeding you need to make sure you’re eating enough to make enough milk. Even if you’re not, being a mum is a busy job and eating well gives you energy, so a late night nibble wouldn’t go amiss.
Watch your favourite TV shows
As you’re winding down for the night, take time to do something you enjoy. Chances are, you’ve been watching kids TV shows all day and you’ve missed your favourite soaps. Find your favourite shows and try to get at least half an hour of TV before you go to bed for the night.
Once you’ve completed the checklist, you’ll be ready to get to bed for the night. Enjoy your good night’s sleep!