My 7 Month Old's Bedtime Routine while Sleep Training

Hi friends! I hope each and every one of you are doing well on this fine Fall day! If you’ve been following my sleep training series, you'll be happy to know that today I’m covering our 7 month old daughter's bedtime routine that we’ve used throughout her sleep training experience! The goal of this routine is not only to alert her that it’s time to sleep, but to cover all of her needs prior to placing her in her crib, at the same time each night, drowsy. This gives her consistency and the best chance of soothing herself to sleep! Follow along, and I hope my sharing can be of some help!

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1. Turn on the sound machine

A sound machine is a great way to send the signal that it’s bedtime! I love to turn it on right at the beginning of our bedtime routine! It muffles out any noise our daughter may otherwise hear, and wake from, since we live in close quarters. She instantly associates it with bedtime, and immediately shows signs of wanting to nurse. My husband finally purchased a sound machine for our daughter and we love it! It has more of a “low hum,” and less of a “harsh noise!” (In the past, we used loud ocean sounds for our son which were a bit too abrasive for overnight guests, haha!) I’ll leave the sound machine we use in my affiliate link here!

2. Close the shades

Lowering the shades and creating a darker space is a great visual aid for your baby to also associate with nighttime for a longer, deeper sleep! For anyone wondering, I did this with my son, and although it was a great aid for sleep training, he is still able to sleep in well lit places for naps and such.

3. Change her diaper

I always give my kids a fresh diaper before bed! It’s comforting to know that they’re going to bed completely dry, and therefore, more comfortably! 

4. Bicycle kicks

Possible discomfort from my baby feeling “gassy” is something I’m always aware of. Luckily, I discovered bicycle kicks (which you can see in this youtube video here)! These motions help relieve trapped gas. My baby girl always laughs during them and seems to LOVE the relief they give!

5. Pajamas and sleep sack

If you’ve read my previous Motherhood blog posts, you may have noticed my love for sleeveless sleep sacks! I prefer them over swaddles because they allow your child to learn how to sleep “arms free,” while allowing for a safe wearable blanket while sleeping. I use a 100% cotton sleep sack for when it’s hot, and a fleece sleep sack when it’s cold. You can click for both in my affiliate links below!

6. Sing to her (or read a book)

It’s great to find a special song to sing, or book to read, specifically at bedtime. We sing “Jesus Loves Me,” or read “Goodnight Moon,” which is another way of relaxing, and prompting her that it’s time for bed.

7. Sit in a chair/rock her

I sit with my daughter and rock her as I prepare to nurse. It’s most comfortable for me and my back which is something all of us nursing mamas have to be aware of to avoid problems in the future!

8. Breastfeed & massage

I nurse my daughter and lightly massage her belly in a downward motion in an attempt to both relax her, and relieve any last minute gas from feeding!

9. Burp her

After feeding, you cannot forget to burp! Some babies burp better when being held in certain positions. Find that position for your baby, and don’t be discouraged!

10. Kiss her, and place her in her crib drowsy

I then lay a big fat kiss on her, we pray, and I lastly say the phrase…“I love you…Time for ‘night night’…See you soon!” I will continue this loving phrase at bedtime which will provide her with her last cue for sleep. Our whole routine takes between 15-30 minutes depending on the night, and how long she feeds!

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And that wraps up my daughter's bedtime routine during sleep training! I love that we can take it with us everywhere, and she can easily adapt to her sleeping environment anywhere! Thanks for stopping by on your busy Thursday! I so appreciate the time you take to learn with me and go through life with me. It's so easy to feel alone in motherhood! Well, you're not alone...we have each other, and I thank God for that! What's your favorite part of you're child's bedtime routine? I'd love to hear! Mine is when my daughter plays with her full head of hair as she nurses…so stinking cute! Have a wonderful day and a restful sleep, my beautiful friends!

If you’d like to read how my first week sleep training my 7 month old went, you can click here. If you’d like to learn how we sleep train, you can read here.

Cool, Calm, and Collectedly Yours,