Baby bedtime pattern development

What is it about babies and bedtimes? I mean seriously, you spend all your energy trying to set up a baby bed time routine, the bath, the massage, the milk, the cuddling, the lullaby and what not…… all along hoping against hope that the baby will fall asleep and soundly too. But no, no no! That would make life so simple and easy, right? Like they say what’s the fun without the risk, the adventure and the unpredictability of the babies sleeping patterns. It’s like when you become a parent you automatically apply for a position in the Olympics. No wait, actually several positions. Let’s see now….. 1) PREP: Getting the bath things ready, all together within arm’s length of you and baby so as to ensure no time is lost. After all, you need to ensure the baby falls asleep in time for you to catch the next episode of American Idol. 2) WARMUP: The massage. Very very essential. Since the baby is too young to do any exercise herself, you are helping her exercise by massaging her muscles causing her to get more and more tired with each stroke. Continue to massage till the time the baby finds it difficult to keep her eyes open. (I would have said “tired enough to hold her head up” but a lot of the younger lot won’t be able do it anyway, massage or no massage.) 3) MARATHON: This is the actual bath. Water temperature, CHECK. Surrounding temperature, CHECK. Baby soap, shampoo, rinse cup and wash towel, CHECK. Babies clothes, talcum powder, rash cream, CHECK. Note: It would pay to adopt this order, you might actually make it to the start of your show. Ready, steady GO! Start bathing. 4) GYMNASTICS: Changing baby post bath is no easy task. It’s quite similar to completing a gymnastics routine. Picture this, crying, squirming baby (she’s crying due to the temperature change from bathtub to towel), drying, powdering, diapering, putting on a romper or a tee…. phew! 5) FENCING:  sorry no offense. But the milk is really a pacifying tool. Yes the baby of course is hungry and it’s like you offer the white flag. Baby gets what she wants, and you hope that you will get what you want (fingers crossed) 6) TRAMPOLINE: Next comes the rocking part. Rock, rock, rock the baby, lull the baby to sleep. If this does not work, you add some singing, unfortunately that is not a guarantee to pacifying baby further thus please practice with caution. 7) AWARDS CEREMONY: And finally you see the tell-tale signs of a tired baby about to close her eyes and dose off into dreamland. Hurrah! Prayers have been answered. Hopefully the same routine will work again tomorrow (fingers crossed again)