As grown-ups, sleep is perhaps more something we look forward to as a rest and re-fuel, and the baby and children's bedtime is the point at which, prior to your own, you can have some grown-up time, alone or quality time with a partner....it can be easy to want to rush through the bedtime routine! 

For your little one, however, bedtime is the start of the biggest separation time they have from their safe place (you!). They might be very sensitive to the impending lights off, door closure and your departure for hours and hours...especially if they're in a separate room from you past 6 months..

So, if your little one, older baby or toddler (because newborns will always expect and need to be close to you), is showing signs of struggling with this point of separation, baby is not wanting to lie down or is standing up wanting to be cuddled, your toddler is in and out of their room asking for another glass of water, a snack, another cuddle....

Try adding more connection time into the routine:

• Sit together, in or out of bed and read

• Go around saying goodnight to items in the room together

• Lot of kisses and cuddles

• Sing to them

• Lots of eye contact

• Bathtime together

• Look ahead to next time you'll see them "I can't wait to play with you in the morning", "I'll come and give you a kiss when I go to bed", "What are we going to go together tomorrow?"

• Lie with them/next to them to reassure them as they fall asleep

You can also help them during the day to see their room as a safe, positive space not 'just' a place of night-time separation. Play with them in their room, together and then popping in and out, always reassuring them you'll return and doing so! 

Does your little one struggle with night-time separation?