😴Our Baby Bedtime Routine (That Might Work for You Too)
Let me share our real bedtime routine with our baby girl, who is now 8 months old. We’ve been following this routine (with some changes along the way) since her early months — and it has worked beautifully for us.
But let me be honest… it wasn’t always this easy. Getting here took time, tears, and many sleepless nights. If you’re in that stage right now, I see you. I’ve been there too.❤️🩹
😓 The first months: crying, worry and frustration
When my baby was born, the nights felt endless. I used to be afraid when the sun went down because she would cry for nearly two hours straight and I would be so scared. We often found ourselves packing up to go to the emergency room, only for her to finally fall asleep crying in our arms…
It was exhausting. And heartbreaking.💔
For me, as her mom, it was painful and made me so nervous and anxious to hear her crying and not be able to figure out what she wanted, what she needed, or what bothered her.
We tried everything: swaddling, un-swaddling, holding her, offering breastmilk, offering formula, walking around with her, playing soothing music. Sometimes it worked, but the second I stopped moving… she’d cry again.
We took turns — my husband would walk with her when I couldn’t, especially while I was still recovering from birth. But he was exhausted too, coming home from long workdays. We were overwhelmed and scared. Once or twice, we did go to the ER. Doctors told us it was normal: colic.
We read everything we could about colic, gas, reflux (she was later diagnosed with reflux). We tried meds, tummy rubs, upright feeding, warm compresses — anything and everything to help her feel better.
🌿 Slowly building a routine that worked
Eventually, I noticed something: bath time helped her relax. It was like magic. She would sleep much better afterward.
My husband also started helping by taking turns holding her at night so I could rest. Little by little, we started creating a routine that brought peace to all of us.
The secret? Finding what worked for us. Every baby is different. Every mom is different. There’s no “right” way — just your way.
🧸 Our 8-Month Baby Night Routine (Realistic & Simple)
Here’s what our current bedtime routine looks like:
🕖 1. Playtime (6:00–6:45 p.m.)
She plays with her walker, her baby jumper, or in her Dream On Me playpen. We do tummy time and movement activities to help her use up some energy.
🛁 2. Bath time (around 7:00 p.m.)
I’m not strict about the time. I want her to adapt to changes in schedule without getting upset.
Before the bath, I prepare:
Her baby tub and warm water
Body & hair shampoo
Soft washcloth and bath toys
Her towel, baby creams, diaper and pajamas
👉 Click here to see my favorite bath products
Products we use:
CeraVe Baby Moisturizing Cream: Shop here
Aquaphor Baby Ointment (for overnight protection): Shop here
Huggies Diapers: Shop here
🍼 3. Bottle time
She doesn’t like her milk warm — she prefers it cold or room temp. Right now we’re transitioning from breastmilk to formula (I’ll write a full post on that soon!).
Her favorite bottles?
Definitely Comotomo! Easy to hold, easy to clean, and perfect for small hands.
👉 Shop Comotomo Bottles here
👶 4. Pajamas + white noise
Our favorite pajama brands:
Carter’s (our #1)
Gerber
Wonder Nation
Carter’s pajamas are soft, breathable, and affordable. I love the ones with dual zippers — perfect for late-night diaper changes.
We also turn on the white noise machine to help her stay asleep longer.
👉 See the white noise machine we use
It has multiple sounds, adjustable volume, and it’s rechargeable — perfect for travel too!
🌙 5. Sleep time
After the full routine — bath, creams, clean diaper, cozy jammies, bottle and sound machine — I lay her next to me and gently rub her head or hair until her little eyes close.
Most nights, she sleeps 8 to 9 hours straight.
Lately, she’s been waking up at 10 p.m. like clockwork for a bottle. So now I prepare her bottle in advance, gently change her diaper, feed her — and she goes right back to sleep until 7 or 7:30 a.m. 🙌
Try it! You might love it too.
💛 Mama, do what works for YOU
This is our routine — not perfect, just perfect for us.
Do what brings you peace and makes your baby feel safe. Every mom, every baby, every home is unique. That’s the beauty of motherhood.
If you loved this post, feel free to subscribe to my blog and follow me on social media:
📸 Instagram: @mamisunshine04
📌 Pinterest: mamisunshine04
🎥 TikTok: @mami.sunshine04
📘 Facebook: Coming soon!
🛒 Note: Some links in this post are affiliate links. If you buy something, I earn a small commission — at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting this mama-run blog! 💕
