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Any sleep advice? (slrpnk.net)

submitted 1 week ago by oeuf@slrpnk.net to c/parenting@lemmy.world

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Can anyone offer some advice on getting an 18-month-old to sleep at night?

Until now the three techniques we've had are 1) feeding to sleep on the boob, 2) walking to sleep in the sling and 3) falling asleep in the car. Number 3 is only good for naps in the daytime, number 2 is getting difficult as our kid is getting big and heavy (and is a PITA at night anyway, and number 1 is starting to become less reliable/effective.

What have you learnt about getting kids (particularly this age, if relevant) to sleep?

Many thanks!

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[–] Windex007@lemmy.world 15 points 1 week ago (1 children)

For us, having a rigidly consistent routine helped that kinda dovetailed into bedtime. Supper at the same time, baths/teeth brushing at the same time, pajamas at the same time, etc etc.

Maybe you're already doing that, but it helped for us. Every kid is different, so obviously your milage may vary

[–] oeuf@slrpnk.net 6 points 1 week ago (2 children)

Thanks for your advice. I don't think we've been consistent enough with routine. What are your timings roughly, if you don't mind me asking?

[–] paranoid@lemmy.world 5 points 1 week ago (1 children)

For me it was less about what time I start the routine, and more about what's involved (although starting around the same time is very helpful).

I always do dinner, bath, books in the rocker, then bed. I try to keep things chill by playing some jazz during dinner and bath time (there's a great playlist on Spotify called Dark Academia Jazz). You don't have to do that, of course, but avoiding anything super exciting (like tickle fights or Megadeath) is key.

Five years later and it still works like a charm

[–] divingdonkey@sh.itjust.works 4 points 1 week ago

Also, it'll take some time before it works. It's new for them, you'll need loads of patience. It took me months to get where I'm with mine, but now it feels like flipping a power switch ( at the end of the entire ceremony ofc).

[–] Windex007@lemmy.world 3 points 1 week ago

530 to sit down for supper, after supper a little outing like a bike ride or car ride to the store, be home by 7, yogurt at 730, then straight to teeth brushing/bath. Pjs/books (with the light already low, then crib.

Also super consistent with nap timings. If he wakes up during his nap windows, we just let him chill in the crib.

Hardest part for us was just getting everyone into the routine. Did take a few weeks.

That being said, I'll relay the best parenting advice we got, which was "every parent thinks what works for them is the objectively ideal approach. Every kid is different. Take it all with a grain of salt and figure out what works for you"