A familiar sequence is enough
Your baby does not need a complicated bedtime production. A calm sequence in the same order can help bedtime feel predictable. Katrina’s guide suggests about 20–30 minutes as a starting point. Choose steps you can repeat on busy nights.
An easy routine to try
Begin with a feed, then a fresh diaper and pyjamas, an appropriate sleep sack, a short book or song and cuddles. Finish with a familiar phrase. For a healthy baby around four months or older, you can consider placing them down calm and awake with responsive support.
Let feeding and comfort stay important
Moving the feed earlier can create a small gap before sleep practice; it does not mean reducing a needed feed. Follow feeding guidance and comfort your baby when needed. Newborns need frequent feeding and hands-on care rather than an awake-settling goal.
Try this tonight
Prepare the room first, choose one short book or song and share the order with another caregiver. Notice which step feels calmer and which needs help. You can build familiarity gradually; one unsettled evening does not erase the routine.
Coaching and healthcare have different roles
This guide offers general education, not a medical assessment. Talk to a qualified healthcare provider about health, growth, feeding, breathing or persistent distress. For an urgent concern, seek urgent medical help.
Reliable parent resources
Health Canada: safe sleep for every sleep
Canadian Paediatric Society: healthy sleep