Hi, I was just wondering what your bedtime routines are like? I am struggling with ours at the moment, we usually do bath, stories then bed but it just dosent feel very 'waldorfy', would love to hear about other families routines...also what do your kids play with in the bath, favourite books etc...Thanks<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/thumb.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="thumbs up">
What are your bedtime routines?
1 - 12 of 12 Posts
DS takes his bath while I make dinner, and then we eat dinner by candlelight. I don't turn on any electrical lights after this point. After dinner, we clear the table together, and then light our bedroom candle from the table candles and ds snuffs them out. We head to the bathroom to brush teeth and pee, then to kiss Papa, and then to the bedroom for a story (Winnie the Pooh, or a Grimm's fairytale). After story, we blow out the candle, and ds goes into his own bed right next to ours, and I sing him a goodnight song.<br>
Et voila!
Et voila!
Joined
·
5,270 Posts
zansmama ~ Your evening sounds so lovely!! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/love.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="love"><br><br>
Bedtime has been an issue for me lately. We have always laid down with our kids as they fall asleep, which is really NOT working for me because I end up falling asleep with them at 7 o'clock and then waking up in the middle of the night and not being able to get back to sleep. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/nut.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="nut"><br><br>
So...now I'm trying something new where I don't lie down with them so that I can keep my energy up and stay up a little later to have some time for myself and time with my DH.<br><br>
We're now doing bath (every other night) after dinner and then DS (20mos) and I stay upstairs and settle in. DD (3.5) gets to go back downstairs for some special 'big kid' time (puzzles, board games, drawing, sewing...stuff she can't do when DS is awake) with Papa.<br><br>
When I put DS in his bed I've been sitting at the bottom of his bed and singing/chanting and doing some yoga stretches. This helps me to be more patient with him as he tosses and turns and crawls around and then finally settles down and I slip out.<br><br>
DH and I take turns putting DD to bed but when it's my night I bring her up and she puts "nighty-night balm" on her wrists, we read one story or do a few yoga stretches or I tell one story or we do a guided meditation then we say our blessing and she adds what she is thankful for from the day. Then I put some soft music on (not totally Waldorf-approved, I know but it works for us <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/wink1.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="wink1">) and then I sit on the floor near her (our) bed and do some more yoga or write in my journal while she falls asleep.
Bedtime has been an issue for me lately. We have always laid down with our kids as they fall asleep, which is really NOT working for me because I end up falling asleep with them at 7 o'clock and then waking up in the middle of the night and not being able to get back to sleep. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/nut.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="nut"><br><br>
So...now I'm trying something new where I don't lie down with them so that I can keep my energy up and stay up a little later to have some time for myself and time with my DH.<br><br>
We're now doing bath (every other night) after dinner and then DS (20mos) and I stay upstairs and settle in. DD (3.5) gets to go back downstairs for some special 'big kid' time (puzzles, board games, drawing, sewing...stuff she can't do when DS is awake) with Papa.<br><br>
When I put DS in his bed I've been sitting at the bottom of his bed and singing/chanting and doing some yoga stretches. This helps me to be more patient with him as he tosses and turns and crawls around and then finally settles down and I slip out.<br><br>
DH and I take turns putting DD to bed but when it's my night I bring her up and she puts "nighty-night balm" on her wrists, we read one story or do a few yoga stretches or I tell one story or we do a guided meditation then we say our blessing and she adds what she is thankful for from the day. Then I put some soft music on (not totally Waldorf-approved, I know but it works for us <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/wink1.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="wink1">) and then I sit on the floor near her (our) bed and do some more yoga or write in my journal while she falls asleep.
<div style="margin:20px;margin-top:5px;">
<div class="smallfont" style="margin-bottom:2px;">Quote:</div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="99%"><tr><td class="alt2" style="border:1px inset;">
<div>Originally Posted by <strong>dharmama</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/10316367"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">zansmama ~ Your evening sounds so lovely!! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/love.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="love"><br></div>
</td>
</tr></table></div>
<br>
Yeah, I guess I should add that this is our "ideal" routine, without the 5-minute chase to put pajamas on and the bouncing on the bed while I put <i>my</i> pajamas on.<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/winky.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Wink">
<div class="smallfont" style="margin-bottom:2px;">Quote:</div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="99%"><tr><td class="alt2" style="border:1px inset;">
<div>Originally Posted by <strong>dharmama</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/10316367"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">zansmama ~ Your evening sounds so lovely!! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/love.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="love"><br></div>
</td>
</tr></table></div>
<br>
Yeah, I guess I should add that this is our "ideal" routine, without the 5-minute chase to put pajamas on and the bouncing on the bed while I put <i>my</i> pajamas on.<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/winky.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Wink">
Joined
·
19 Posts
I love the idea of using candles from dinnertime until bedtime. I'll have to try that. My little guy has a hard time transitioning to bedtime so I'm mostly just bumping this thread to see what other ideas are out there. One thing he does like is his books on tape or MP3 to listen to while he falls asleep.
Joined
·
5,270 Posts
<div style="margin:20px;margin-top:5px;">
<div class="smallfont" style="margin-bottom:2px;">Quote:</div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="99%"><tr><td class="alt2" style="border:1px inset;">
<div>Originally Posted by <strong>zansmama</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/10316759"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">Yeah, I guess I should add that this is our "ideal" routine, without the 5-minute chase to put pajamas on and the bouncing on the bed while I put <i>my</i> pajamas on.<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/winky.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Wink"></div>
</td>
</tr></table></div>
I SO appreciate you saying this.<br><br>
I've definitely gotten caught in the trap of comparing other people's good days to my challenging days and feeling really down on myself because I can't seem to get into this beautiful flowing rhythm that I desire.
<div class="smallfont" style="margin-bottom:2px;">Quote:</div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="99%"><tr><td class="alt2" style="border:1px inset;">
<div>Originally Posted by <strong>zansmama</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/10316759"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">Yeah, I guess I should add that this is our "ideal" routine, without the 5-minute chase to put pajamas on and the bouncing on the bed while I put <i>my</i> pajamas on.<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/winky.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Wink"></div>
</td>
</tr></table></div>
I SO appreciate you saying this.<br><br>
I've definitely gotten caught in the trap of comparing other people's good days to my challenging days and feeling really down on myself because I can't seem to get into this beautiful flowing rhythm that I desire.
Joined
·
939 Posts
We have bath before dinner, then we eat, then depending on the season or the time we will take a long family walk (kiddos in the wagon, sometimes falling asleep) or play a game, have books/stories and then lay down and the kiddos go to sleep. Most nights they are asleep between 7 and 7:30pm.
Joined
·
247 Posts
We do not have electric lights in our house at all, so our eveinings also consist of candle, as well as firelight.<br><br>
We listen to mellow ambient kind of music while making and eating dinner, then sit around and watch the fire, listen to music or raido and play quietly for a few hours until Sage starts rubbing her eyes (usually around 8:00) then we get a bath by candlelight and I lay down and we nurse until she falls asleep. I tried reading to her but all she wants to do is eat the book...so I may try that one again a few months from now...LOL<br><br>
She is only seven months old so I imagine the rituals will change as she gets older.<br><br>
At dusk I would like to start doing some kind of simple ritual for saying goodbye to the day , maybe a little song or something. We sing a lot to her during the day, just things we make up about what we are doing...<br><br><br>
~ Pixie
We listen to mellow ambient kind of music while making and eating dinner, then sit around and watch the fire, listen to music or raido and play quietly for a few hours until Sage starts rubbing her eyes (usually around 8:00) then we get a bath by candlelight and I lay down and we nurse until she falls asleep. I tried reading to her but all she wants to do is eat the book...so I may try that one again a few months from now...LOL<br><br>
She is only seven months old so I imagine the rituals will change as she gets older.<br><br>
At dusk I would like to start doing some kind of simple ritual for saying goodbye to the day , maybe a little song or something. We sing a lot to her during the day, just things we make up about what we are doing...<br><br><br>
~ Pixie
Isa will brush teeth while I am making her bedtime snack. I bring her snack (usually w.w. bread with butter, half a banana, and warm cinnamon milk) and then light a candle. We just discovered this verse for candle lighting:<br><br>
Little Nancy Eticote<br>
In her white peticote<br>
And her red nose<br>
The longer she stands<br>
The shorter she grows.<br><br>
Then we read three stories (I want to get to a place where we are only reading one, we started the three book tradition long ago and I wish we had only done one before sleep), I turn off the light and Isa blows out the candle while give thanks to Father Sun. Then I nurse her to sleep (hopefully!) and sing lullabyes.
Little Nancy Eticote<br>
In her white peticote<br>
And her red nose<br>
The longer she stands<br>
The shorter she grows.<br><br>
Then we read three stories (I want to get to a place where we are only reading one, we started the three book tradition long ago and I wish we had only done one before sleep), I turn off the light and Isa blows out the candle while give thanks to Father Sun. Then I nurse her to sleep (hopefully!) and sing lullabyes.
<div style="margin:20px;margin-top:5px;">
<div class="smallfont" style="margin-bottom:2px;">Quote:</div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="99%"><tr><td class="alt2" style="border:1px inset;">
<div>Originally Posted by <strong>dharmama</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/10320771"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;"><br>
I've definitely gotten caught in the trap of comparing other people's good days to my challenging days and feeling really down on myself because I can't seem to get into this beautiful flowing rhythm that I desire.</div>
</td>
</tr></table></div>
Not to hijack the thread, but I think we all do this (I know I do.)<br><br>
It really helps me to remember that every day is really just a little stitch in the tapestry that is our life. (oo, good metaphor)<br>
And <i>nobody</i> has good days every single day.<br><br>
In fact, I think I'll start a thread about this.
<div class="smallfont" style="margin-bottom:2px;">Quote:</div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="99%"><tr><td class="alt2" style="border:1px inset;">
<div>Originally Posted by <strong>dharmama</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/10320771"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;"><br>
I've definitely gotten caught in the trap of comparing other people's good days to my challenging days and feeling really down on myself because I can't seem to get into this beautiful flowing rhythm that I desire.</div>
</td>
</tr></table></div>
Not to hijack the thread, but I think we all do this (I know I do.)<br><br>
It really helps me to remember that every day is really just a little stitch in the tapestry that is our life. (oo, good metaphor)<br>
And <i>nobody</i> has good days every single day.<br><br>
In fact, I think I'll start a thread about this.
Joined
·
5,270 Posts
<div style="margin:20px;margin-top:5px;">
<div class="smallfont" style="margin-bottom:2px;">Quote:</div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="99%"><tr><td class="alt2" style="border:1px inset;">In fact, I think I'll start a thread about this.</td>
</tr></table></div>
Off to look for it....<br><img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/thumb.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="thumbs up">
<div class="smallfont" style="margin-bottom:2px;">Quote:</div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="99%"><tr><td class="alt2" style="border:1px inset;">In fact, I think I'll start a thread about this.</td>
</tr></table></div>
Off to look for it....<br><img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/thumb.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="thumbs up">
1 - 12 of 12 Posts
Join the discussion
Join now to ask and comment!